Search - Newsies [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1992 DVD Release: 01/15/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Dual Layered,Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 1 mins Studio: Walt Disney Video Members Wishing: 99 Genres: Musical, Period Film, Musical Drama

A failed effort to revive the big-budget movie musical, Newsies attempted to create toe-tapping, song-and-dance excitement out of the true story of an 1899 strike by newspaper boys against publishing magnate Joseph Pulitzer. The "newsies" band together to protest a pay cut by Pulitzer (Robert Duvall), organizing a union to protect their rights and ensure fair wages. They are helped along the way by Medda (Ann-Margret), a local dance-hall performer who befriends the boys and provides an opportunity for an additional song or two. Director Kenny Ortega had previously choreographed Dirty Dancing, and composer Alan Menken had provided the acclaimed scores for Beauty and the Beast and Little Shop of Horrors, but their work here failed to capture the spark of their popular successes. Unable to connect with older or younger viewers, Newsies gained a reputation as a major bomb that cut short an attempt to bring back the live-action musical, though in the intervening years it has gained a small but appreciative cult. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

Christian Bale - Jack Kelly
David Moscow - David Jacobs
Luke Edwards - Les Jacobs
Ann-Margret - Medda Larkson
Max Casella - Racetrack
Marty Belafsky - Crutchy
Ele Keats - Sarah Jacobs

Kenny Ortega's musical Newsies comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. An English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround, while a Spanish soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Stereo. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible, and the English soundtrack is closed-captioned. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by Ortega, a pair of featurettes, a short documentary about the real-life incident on which the film is based, storyboards, and a karaoke section. Whatever one thinks of this infamous turkey, Disney/Buena Vista has done a spectacular job with this disc. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide