Finding the Appeal of Newsies

[@terracerios5924]

Newsies was made for me. A then 8 year old girl who loved musicals, history and cute boys with accents who could dance, sing, and wisecrack. It’s a small demographic but I exist.

[@allisonbergh4429]

Same. Pity we weren’t a major economic force 😅

[@e.h.sawyer7758]

Was waiting for you to mention young girls! Yes, they made a movie with a gigantic cast of singing boys and clearly didn't consider that the audience would obviously be girls. There's a real "It's just good young chaps being chaps" vibe which... what is that? Had they understood what needed to be strong and what could be left out--the music was 100% hit-worthy.

[@cooperino]

"we seized the day AND the means of production!" i'm gonna steal that one lmao

[@mythology1746]

I, too, would react to seeing Kenny Ortega that way

[@izzykosy1383]

I love Newsies and i'm so glad this came up in my recomended. It's so spot on and as a theatre kid myself, I actually kinda love how you compared it to a community theatre production. I think it's because it truly looked like it was fun to make and isn't perfect. The video was fantastic!

[@justtheoneanne]

I LOVE Patrick's mom. The best.

[@apolloniahoag7292]

Okay, I love this movie. I love it so much I have a tattoo of one of the quotes on my back. People get confused when I say this is one of my favorite films because it's not that good and my response is always "yes, it's not the best but it feels like home". That is, as the concept of home. It feels like the actors made an actual connection and were having a blast. Blood Drips on Newsies Square is delightful. If anyone gives you grief for comparing it to a community theatre show, they obviously have never experienced community theatre. It completely is. As you said, a lot of big names were excited to be in it. Money is obviously important because bills and such but actual excitement is something much better. I have worked as an actor and stage manager from community theatre up to equity stages and I'm a lot more excited to go back to community theatre when things open back up. Why? Because it feels like home. Great video and nice points. I haven't seen the Broadway show yet and you are the first person I've heard make a case for it that I can agree with and may want to watch it.

[@ZackPaslay]

I hadn't even thought of that idea of "home" being a factor to the film's accessibility and appeal. I really love that. Thank you for this wonderful comment! 💕🎞

[@apolloniahoag7292]

@@ZackPaslay Of course! You make great videos. :D

[@peculiarstitches]

Which quote?

[@apolloniahoag7292]

@@peculiarstitches "Friens and feller workers. Dis is a time which tries de hearts of men. Dis is de time when we se got to stick together like glue... We know wot we wants and we'll git it even if we is blind." The quote isn't in the movie. Rather, it's a quote from the real life Kid Blink, transcribed and printed by the New York Tribune.

[@eelthan]

i would argue that blood drips heavily on newsies square is MORE than delightful

[@lizardog]

I would non-ironically love to see Wes Anderson's "Newsies."

[@starboy.station]

This video is 2 years old but as someone with a Newsies special interest who adores video essays.... this video is everything to me

[@addie_iaccino90]

This was a great analysis, I loved it. I am completely biased because I love this movie and it’s always been my favourite movie and my number one obsession. I was two when it came out and I’m thirty now and I have always loved it. It’s close to my heart. But your analysis is spot on. It’s nowhere near being a cinematic masterpiece but it has heart and that’s why it has stood the test of time. I feel so respected and seen when you mentioned how the online fandom kept it alive. I was one of those fans, talking about it online since I was fourteen. I remember talk about how it would make a great stage musical. And now here we are. I love the Broadway version so much. I think it provided the deeper emotions and the weight that the movie lacked. It filled in gaps that I didn’t realize were there until watching it. I’m completely obsessed with both. It’s satisfying for a Newsies fan, going from being in a cult following-type fandom and watching the story gain the success and recognition it always deserved. So thank you for this video, it was great!! :)

[@uggbootgf]

Really perfect I found this video right when I just got cast in a production of newsies 😀

[@ZackPaslay]

Congrats on your casting! It seems like such a fun show to perform!

[@morganwespiser275]

I remember watching it for the first time in tenth grade after my philosophy teacher told us she actually wrote a fan-script to perform when she was in high school and was featured in the book about the Broadway show! I love the movie to this day, and I still think that teacher was pretty cool! What a fun and interesting video!!

[@allisonbergh4429]

I was in a community theatre production of Lil Abner when Newsies came out in cinemas. The other kids in the cast and I saw it probably ten times. We thought our time was coming, that the movies would be for us now! And while the second coming of the American movie musical was still a few years off, I will always adore this film. 🥰

[@PaintedYeti]

Ok how the heck is this video not popping off. Bruh. It was amazing.

[@loreleiflare7388]

Your channel is fantastic! You do such a good job setting the stage and laying out the issues. The videos are really well-paced and nice to listen to. It reminds me a lot of Lindsay Ellis's style.

[@DareToBeHappy]

11:11 You better READ Newsies the film lmao that was awesome

[@allisonbergh4429]

I’m just gonna come right out and say it, since nobody else seems willing to do so. Christian Bale is hot AF in this movie.

[@Mlovelace]

Your so real for this

[@sollamander2206]

I'm a straight cis white dude and I loved this movie growing up, although my sister was exactly in the demo you mentioned. I've always loved movies and TV set in New York City anytime before the 70s and I honestly think this movie had a pretty big effect on my politics.

[@KramNebuer]

👏👏👏 excellent and fair analysis of the film!!! Loved seeing all the research about putting us in the context of its 1992 film release. My favorite part though is the shoutout to teenage girls who definitely don’t get as much credit as they deserve!

[@Chaos_Fantasmic]

The first real introduction I got to Newsies, was the movie. And it all went uphill from there

[@kazza6078]

Great video!! Making me want to appreciate this movie more

[@justalizardd]

Really awesome video essay. Newsies is one of my favorite musicals and I always forget that until I interact with it again. I saw a community theatre production of it last night and that threw me right back into my love of the show, so I looked for a video essay about it. This was really great, well-written, and a pleasure to listen to. Thanks!

[@miyannapittman5580]

I technically grew up in the wake of the Broadway show, but I knew the movie as a child because my mom grew up loving it. I would play the soundtrack, dress up as Jack Kelly, and sing and dance my little heart out. I adore both the movie and stage show, but they are both flawed. My dream would be to write and play Katherine in a remake of the movie combining elements of the stage show and movie, while adding actual girl newsies, actual kids and teens, etc. I'm only 14 but in a few years, Disney executives? I'm right here!

[@HitomiS7]

Zack!!!!! This is so great!!!!!!

[@agroteraaaa]

i'm so glad i stumbled upon your channel, this is a great video!

[@elianne4753]

Love your analysis!! I adore this movie, but I agree, it’s kind of all of over the place. It feels like it’s trying to be several different genres (maybe because it went through so many drafts and edits), and explores the space halfway, but never gets there. If they remade Newsies in the future, I think they should cut the songs and go the Hard Promises route. Sure, the stakes were high for the newsies in the ‘92 version, but it never truly felt like it. It always had that fairytale-happily-ever-after feel. Seems like the story might’ve worked better in a serious genre, and the writers might have more to work with/more risks to take. But the ‘92 musical will always have a place in my heart.

[@JoseMariaLuna]

DapperZack hive rise!

[@fffianist]

I'll never know how they slipped this unabashedly socialist movie under the mouse's radar. There's no A Bug's Life-style "there's more of us then there are of them." "It's you who need us" "We're a lot stronger than we think we are" dancing around the topic. No, they're straight up chanting "Strike! Strike! Strike!" "Even if we ain't got hats or badges, we're a union." "Bet if your father had a union you wouldn't be here selling papes right now". Telling kids how to form a union, how to gain ambassadors, officers, members and how to handle scabs. Easily the most radical movie Disney has ever released and way ahead of its time. I'm glad it got revived on Broadway 20 years later and then got a pro-shot for everyone who can't access the broadway production. I feel like in the current climate there would be a much larger audience for it.

[@c8youtube9]

this video makes me want to rewatch newsies lol

[@codygray4473]

i really do believe that the appeal and charm of the newsies movie (especially in light of the musical) is how mediocre it is. its got spunk! its silly! its wildly mediocre! itll never be the musical but its so special to me