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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
French director François Truffaut once said, "Our New Wave would never have come into being if it hadn't been for the young Morris Engel, with his fine Little Fugitive." High praise indeed, and as Truffaut observed, this early milestone of American independent filmmaking had a powerful influence on such later French classics as The Red Balloon and Truffaut's own Les Mistons and The 400 Blows.
Codirected by Ray Ashley, Morris Engel, and Ruth Orkin, and photographed by Engel in New York during the summer of 1952, the film tells the simple story of a 7-year-old Brooklyn boy named Joey (charmingly played by nonactor Richie Andrusco), who flees to Coney Island after a mischievous prank leads Joey to believe he's accidentally killed his older brother Lennie. With six dollars in his pocket, Joey indulges himself with amusement rides and junk food, and as the weekend progresses, Lennie begins an equally adventurous search for his missing kid brother.
Winner of the Silver Lion award at the 1953 Venice Film Festival and Oscar nominee for Best Story, Little Fugitive was inducted into the prestigious National Film Registry in 1997. Making innovative use of a hand-held camera (which impressed Engel's friend Stanley Kubrick, who used the same equipment for his debut feature Fear and Desire), the film favors image over dialogue, and unfolds with timeless and universal appeal. A pleasure from start to finish, Little Fugitive is a little masterpiece that you'll never forget. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
- WINNER: Silver Lion 1953 Venice Film Festival
- Academy AwardTM Nominee Best Motion Picture Story
- Inducted in 1997 to the NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY (Library of Congress & National Film Preservation Board)
Widely regarded as one of the most influential and enjoyable films of the American independent cinema, Little Fugitive is an utterly charming fable that poetically captures the joys and wonders of childhood. When a seven-year-old boy (Richie Andrusco) is tricked into believing he killed his older brother, he gathers his meager possessions and flees to New York s nether wonderland: Coney Island. Upon and beneath the crowded boardwalk, Joey experiences a day and night filled with adventures and mysteries, resulting in a film that is refreshingly spontaneous and thoroughly delightful. Hailed by critics as a groundbreaking cinematic feat, Little Fugitive won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, played in nearly 5,000 theatres in the U.S. and is now recognized as a classic of American independent film.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Feature-length Audio Commentary by Morris Engel
- Two Documentary Films by Mary Engel: Morris Engel: The Independent (2007, 28 min) & Ruth Orkin: Frames of Life (1995, 18 min.)
- Theatrical Trailer
- Image Gallery
- Remastered from a New High-Definition Transfer
- Academy AwardTM Nominee Best Motion Picture Story
- Inducted in 1997 to the NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY (Library of Congress & National Film Preservation Board)
Widely regarded as one of the most influential and enjoyable films of the American independent cinema, Little Fugitive is an utterly charming fable that poetically captures the joys and wonders of childhood. When a seven-year-old boy (Richie Andrusco) is tricked into believing he killed his older brother, he gathers his meager possessions and flees to New York s nether wonderland: Coney Island. Upon and beneath the crowded boardwalk, Joey experiences a day and night filled with adventures and mysteries, resulting in a film that is refreshingly spontaneous and thoroughly delightful. Hailed by critics as a groundbreaking cinematic feat, Little Fugitive won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, played in nearly 5,000 theatres in the U.S. and is now recognized as a classic of American independent film.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Feature-length Audio Commentary by Morris Engel
- Two Documentary Films by Mary Engel: Morris Engel: The Independent (2007, 28 min) & Ruth Orkin: Frames of Life (1995, 18 min.)
- Theatrical Trailer
- Image Gallery
- Remastered from a New High-Definition Transfer
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By D. Pomerantz
Format:VHS Tape
In 1953 I started school at PS 188 on Neptune Avenue in Coney Island. Each year, The Little Fugitive would be shown in the auditorium ...and every year I loved it as much as I had the year before ... I never forgot the movie and whenever anyone would ask my favorite film, even as an adult I would always mention it ... Several years ago when visiting NYC with my own children, after spending a day in Coney Island, eating at Nathans and going on the Cyclone, we wandered into a Manhatten video store and I was astounded to see it on a shelf. We immediately rented it and it was as wonderful in 1998 as it had been in the 1950s. My children loved it and continue to mention scenes from it today in 2003! A wonderfully charming film that goes right to the heart of childhood.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Though this film is certainly not for all tastes, I have to say that it's definitely one of my all time favorites. I strongly recall watching it on PBS late at night as a child, and was overjoyed to rediscover it as an adult. It doesn't hurt at all, either, that I'm a HUGE fan of Coney Island history, and that this film is chock-full of 1953 footage of the park, back in the good ol' days.
The plot is incredibly simple - a young boy is tricked by his older brother and latter's unkind friends, into believing that he's committed murder. The boy runs off to Coney Island to take it on the lam, and, while there, learns a whole lot about the world. From finding out about the glory of 5-cent deposits, to (finally) riding a real pony, we see what's important in his little life, and see how he ekes out a survival for himself during his day and night away from home.
There is hardly any dialogue once he's in the park, and it's refreshing, really - almost a sensory experience through the eyes of a little boy. We are treated to a more innocent time - with very little effort, one can smell the odors of the boardwalk, taste the sweetness of a watermelon slice, and feel the sand beneath the feet. I haven't seen another film quite like this - it's truly magical.
For the Coney Island enthusiasts out there, the footage from the park is fantastic. It stands as a wonderful record of the past - the parachute jump, batting cages, food stands, a marvelous carousel, souvenir booths...it's all here, and it's incredible. If you haven't seen this film, you're missing out, and then some.
Overall, I can admit that this film isn't for all folks - it's slow-moving, quiet, and can drag along a bit - if you don't surrender to it, and take it at it's own pace. Once you've done so, however, you'll see how great a film it really is.
The plot is incredibly simple - a young boy is tricked by his older brother and latter's unkind friends, into believing that he's committed murder. The boy runs off to Coney Island to take it on the lam, and, while there, learns a whole lot about the world. From finding out about the glory of 5-cent deposits, to (finally) riding a real pony, we see what's important in his little life, and see how he ekes out a survival for himself during his day and night away from home.
There is hardly any dialogue once he's in the park, and it's refreshing, really - almost a sensory experience through the eyes of a little boy. We are treated to a more innocent time - with very little effort, one can smell the odors of the boardwalk, taste the sweetness of a watermelon slice, and feel the sand beneath the feet. I haven't seen another film quite like this - it's truly magical.
For the Coney Island enthusiasts out there, the footage from the park is fantastic. It stands as a wonderful record of the past - the parachute jump, batting cages, food stands, a marvelous carousel, souvenir booths...it's all here, and it's incredible. If you haven't seen this film, you're missing out, and then some.
Overall, I can admit that this film isn't for all folks - it's slow-moving, quiet, and can drag along a bit - if you don't surrender to it, and take it at it's own pace. Once you've done so, however, you'll see how great a film it really is.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By AhJay
Format:VHS Tape
When you first start watching this movie, you think the director has a budget of $10. But what you discover is a pioneer of the indendent film. This little gem is a whisical tale of 7 year old Joey Norton, who's dooped by friends into thinking he's shot and killed his older brother, Richie. Upon believing this, Joey exiles himself to Coney Island, with Richie in hot pursuit. The film does a wonderful job of catching the innocence of the 50's. If you can get them away from the computer, video games and Sponge Bob, I truly believe that even kids today would enjoy this little piece of "Americana"
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A long day in Coney Island
"The Little Fugitive" is both a landmark of independent American cinema and a document of 1950's Brooklyn. Read more
Published 29 days ago by The Movie Man
5.0 out of 5 stars
Films of Morris Engel (LittleFugitive;Lovers&Lollipops
These films are so simple and sweet, and love the 50's NewYork in the background. The Coney Island shots were wonderful.
Published 1 month ago by waltermitty
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Seminal Classic
This film is an early classic of American independent cinema. I first saw it approximately 45-50 years ago and it has stuck with me as few other movies have. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Terry Knapp
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Minor Masterpiece
I first saw Morris Engel's "Little Fugitive" when I was a kid. I don't remember the circumstances of the viewing, and over time I forgot the actual name of the movie. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Bryn Roar
5.0 out of 5 stars
A masterpiece
I am surprised that someone found it to be worthy of one star. Well, I guess we all have our choices. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Kafishna
4.0 out of 5 stars
"A Documentary-Like Masterpiece But..."
"The Little Fugitive" a low budget film, shot during 1952 on-location of Coney Island's Beach. The actors intermingled with the crowd and became an integrated part of the unplanned... Read more
Published 14 months ago by R.G.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Little Fugitive
This film was particularly enjoyed by me because of the time frame. I grew up in similar conditions before I was 9 years old, so I felt a bondage between me and the boy at Coney... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Dennis Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent 50's flick
I searched for this movie a long time. It's about tw brothers, the older brother tricks his little brother into thinking he shot his brother as a joke. Read more
Published 20 months ago by eddie253
3.0 out of 5 stars
A nice surprise
Watched it for curiousity of Coney Island footage and followed the story to its end. remarkable how few words are in the entire film, yet leaving you with a smile. Read more
Published 21 months ago by kaoskitty
5.0 out of 5 stars
Three gems in a treasure box of a DVD set
Just got through watching a DVD set called The Films of Morris Engel, to re-watch one of my all-time favorites and enjoy the other two in the "series. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Greg Ehrbar
