Newsies

Newsies
Theatrical release poster by John Alvin
Directed by	Kenny Ortega
Produced by	Michael Finnell
Screenplay by	Bob Tzudiker Noni White
Starring	Christian Bale Bill Pullman Ann-Margret Robert Duvall
Music by	Alan Menken
Cinematography	Andrew Laszlo
Edited by	William Reynolds
Production company	Walt Disney Pictures
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures
Release date	April 10, 1992 (1992-04-10)
Running time	121 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$15 million
Box office	$2,819,485

Newsies (released as The News Boys in the United Kingdom) is a 1992 American musical drama film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and directed by choreographer Kenny Ortega in his film directing debut. It is loosely based on the New York City Newsboys Strike of 1899 and features twelve original songs from composers Alan Menken and J.A.C. Redford. It stars Christian Bale, David Moscow, Bill Pullman, Robert Duvall and Ann-Margret. The film was an initial box office flop and received negative reviews at the time of its release, but later gained a cult following on home video. It was later adapted into a successful stage adaptation on Broadway that won two Tony Awards.

Seventeen-year-old Jack "Cowboy" Kelly (Christian Bale) is one of hundreds of homeless/struggling newsboys selling newspapers in 1890s New York City to support themselves/their families. Jack and his fellow "newsies" sell for Joseph Pulitzer's New York World, on the streets of Manhattan. The boys hit the streets each morning, get breakfast from nuns and head toward the paper distribution center ("Carrying the Banner"). One morning Jack meets David "Davey" Jacobs (David Moscow), who has joined the newsies with his younger brother, Les. Jack notices that David is smart and well-spoken and Les has a certain marketable cuteness, so suggests a partnership in order to sell more papers and earn more money.