Saturday, April 23, 2011

Little Fugitive (1953)

Back in 1953, when Little Fugitive was a brand-new movie, the New York Times critic Bosley Crowther (for almost thirty years writing (often-enlightening) reviews encased in quaint tut-tuts and dry observations) ended his review with "All hail to 'Little Fugitive' and to those who made it. But count it a photographer's triumph with a limited theme." And he was mostly right, especially for us watching today: the triumph is the film's preservation of early-'50s NYC, particularly Coney Island, as the little boy--tricked by his older brother into thinking the little "tad," as Crowther put it, had murdered him--makes his way through a series of mild adventures, his fears forgotten in a world of shooting galleries, pony rides, and merry-go-rounds--after he collects empties and cashes them in. His adventures are slight, but that's the point: The Little Fugitive is one of a handful of movies that lowers the camera to see kidhood without condescension or (too much ) sentiment.

Ray Ashley, Morris Engel, and Ruth Orkin wrote, photographed, directed and produced; the little boy, Joey, is played by a non-actor, Richie Andrusco (as was his brother). And aside from a few NYC stage actors, the rest of the cast plays itself: New York City, that is, and that Island that's as eager to please as Pinocchio's, but without donkeys.

4 comments:

  1. Little Fugitive is great, especially for the poor souls who think American indeoendent film began with Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs.

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  2. Not sure if L.F. would appeal to the Pulp-ers--but I know what you mean: independent narrative film has been around for a long time--experimental film even longer--and L.F. teaches much about doing lots with less. In this way, it reminds me of Romero's "Night of ..."--except without the carnage, of course.

    Thanks for dropping by this site; I've let it go for the past few months, but maybe there's some life in her yet.

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  3. Just watched this for the first time. An incredibly beautiful, heart-warming film.

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  4. @Jared In its own modest way, a unique film. Glad you enjoyed it.

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