Newsies

A musical about a newsboys' strike in New York in 1899. Newspapers were sold in the street by children at the time. The boys bought their papers with their own money and could not return what they did not sell. When the publishers raised the unit price the boys stopped distribution and the strike affected the city. The film turns that event into a musical. A boy named Jack becomes the leader of the strike, against the newspaper's owner. It was a large failure on release; it collapsed at the box office and critics disliked it. In later years it found its audience through home video and television and reached cult standing. That interest eventually carried it to the stage, and the Broadway version won a Tony. The choreography is the film's strongest element, with the dance numbers shot in the street in large arrangements. The director Kenny Ortega came from choreography. Christian Bale plays Jack; he was very young at the time and has said more than once since that he does not enjoy talking about the film. An enjoyable choice for anyone who likes classical musicals and films about labour history. On the narrative side it simplifies the plot and leaves the historical detail in the background.