Newsies

Leave it to Disney to turn the plight of industrial age child laborers into a musical, but 1992's Newsies offers an excellent look at what life might have been like for hardworking newsboys in 1899 New York. Antagonist Jack Kelly (played by the dazzling Christian Bale) and his band of peddler buddies fight back against journalistic magnate Joseph Pulitzer (portrayed by a properly eccentric Robert Duvall), ultimately leading a (well-choreographed) strike. Besides Bale and Duvall, the film features Bill Pullman as a journalist who helps the boys coordinate their efforts, and Ann-Margret as a vaudeville starlet. Well-acted, believable, and boasting a superb soundtrack with catchy hooks, this extras-laden DVD includes an assortment of behind-the-scenes footage in two "making of" mini-docs, a storyboard-to-scene comparison, a sing-along option, a featurette that sheds light on the true story that inspired Newsies, and a commentary track. Highly recommended. (J. Williams)[Blu-ray Review—July 3, 2012—Walt Disney, 121 min., PG, $26.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1992's Newsies is presented with a good transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include audio commentary by director Kenny Ortega, producer Michael Finnell, writers Bob Tzudiker and Noni White, and choreographer Peggy Holmes, a “Newsies, Newsies, See All About It” making-of featurette (22 min.), “The Inside Story” behind-the-scenes featurette (20 min.), “Strike! The True Story” on the inspiration for the film (19 min.), storyboard comparisons with optional commentary (6 min.), and a sing-along feature. Bottom line: a box-office flop that became a cult hit on home video, this Disney live-action film shines on Blu-ray.]