I first saw this film in the late 70s when it was shown at my school as a Christmas treat (on a real projector and screen, no less); now, over thirty years later, I'm watching it again in the company of my son and daughter (aged 10 and 8),and I'm finding it no less entertaining than when I was a kid myself.

Starring Scott Baio in his greatest ever role (yes, he's even better here than he is in Zapped!),Jodie Foster looking unnervingly sexy for her age as vampish songstress Tallulah, and a very young Dexter Fletcher as Babyface (UK TV viewers my age will know who he is),and with superb direction by Alan Parker and brilliant music and songs by Paul Williams (the man behind the tunes for one of my other favourite musicals, Phantom of the Paradise),this is one of the most enjoyable films of the 70s, particularly when viewed as a youngster.

I mean, is there a kid alive who wouldn't want their own splurge gun, an over-sized pedal car, or to take part in a massive pie fight?

It's the Prohibition era. Mobsters are fighting for control. Showgirls are performing. All the characters are played by child actors where the gangsters fire cream-filled guns and the cars are peddle-powered. Bugsy Malone (Scott Baio) is an ex-boxer trying to be a promoter. He takes an interest in sassy aspiring performer Blousey Brown. Fat Sam is a gangster with a speakeasy. His gun moll Tallulah (Jodie Foster) sings there and is Bugsy's ex.

This is really not a kiddie movie. It's a kiddie take on the gangster movie. It's a fun little spoof post The Godfather. I actually like the singing except for Jodie Foster. I do wonder why she isn't playing the bigger role of Blousey. Maybe she fits Tallulah better but usually the bigger role goes to the bigger name. This is innocent fun in the sense that it's a bunch of kids playing gangsters and dames. What could be more innocent fun than a pie fight and a song and dance to finish the movie.

If I'm brutally honest, watching a bunch of kids overacting their way through a 1930s-era gangster movie is my last idea of fun. I'd rather just sit through the real thing, which is why I'd avoided watching BUGSY MALONE for all of these years. Having just finished it, however, I realise now that I didn't have worried: this is a surprisingly classy production, made with a lot of care and attention to detail, and the reliable Alan Parker's directorial style pairs well with his subject matter. The likes of Scott Biao and Jodie Foster are all adept at playing dress up and adults, and the fast-paced nature of the plotting means that this is a tale that moves at a snappy speed. Best of all are the catchy songs which have stood the test of time well.