Seven-year-old Joey (Richie Andrusco) lives in Brooklyn with his mom and twelve-year-old brother Lennie (Ricky Brewster) who hates having to babysit him all the time. When an emergency forces their mother to leave for the weekend, Lennie’s plans to go to Coney Island with his friends are ruined. Upset, Lennie and his friends decide to play a nasty trick on Joey. They tell Joey—who loves cowboys and their guns—that he can shoot a real gun. Using a toy gun and Ketchup, the boys manage to convince Joey that he’s killed his brother. Terrified, and concerned that the police are after him, Joey runs away.
Photographed from Joey’s point of view, he takes the train to Coney Island. The “Little Fugitive’s” exploration of the amusement park, which makes up the bulk of the film, serves as a real time capsule of 1950s New York. The viewer can’t help but feel for Joey as he experiences the world as only a child can. Walking around aimlessly, playing midway games, eating junk food, and essentially forgetting the ‘tragic’ circumstances that brought him there in the first place. A non-actor, Richie Andrusco (in his only film role), brings with him the sense of wonder and fun only a child his age has. We get a real sense of just how busy Coney Island was in those days. Scenes of what appear to be fairly spontaneous activity are interspersed with a few scripted moments—Joey encountering an enthusiastic photographer (Will Lee, known to generation of children as Sesame Street’s Mr. Hooper), and a friendly pony ride operator (Jay Williams) who eventually finds out why Joey came to the park. Meanwhile, Lennie, realizing his joke may have gone to far, has set out to find his little brother.
The narrative is just about as straightforward as they come. While there are some marginal conflicts, Little Fugitive really just allows us to watch Joey go through his day, being the fun-loving kid he is. When Joey runs out of cash, a small obstacle is thrown his way, and soon Joey learns how to collect discarded bottles in order to trade them in for money. The story is very basic, but the sense of realism the directors and the performers bring to the material makes Little Fugitive a surprisingly affecting experience.
Score and sound effects play a crucial role in the success of the movie. Reminiscent of silent era, there are several stretches of no substantial dialogue. Instead, Eddy Manson’slighthearted harmonica score carries the emotional punch. Some imaginative sounds are also used to help reinforce Joey’s uncomplicated perspective. Similar to the scripting and cinematography, this is all done in a simplistic but effective manner.
Mastered from a 35mm print preserved by The Museum of Modern Art, Kino’s Blu-ray does show the occasional speck here and there, as a few signs of aging. Nonetheless, the transfer still showcases the film’s grainy, natural origins.
The 2.0 Mono soundtrack is a pleasant, if occasionally frayed listen. The film’s dialogue was remixed in post-production, giving it some issues regarding fluctuating sound levels between ambient sounds and the actor’s voices. Otherwise, this is a fairly consistent track.
No subtitles are included.
The following special features are availabe:
- Audio Commentary by Director Morris Engel: Recorded in 1999, Engel’s easygoing commentary covers the history of the film, the writing, production, and more. Engel’s memory is incredibly sharp, and his memories of the film shoot are interesting, and occasionally fascinating.
- Morris Engel: The Independent (SD, 28:38) Made by Engel’s daughter Mary in 2008, this short documentary about her father covers his childhood in Coney Island, and his photography and film careers. At one point, we get to see Morris strolling the boardwalk with a grown-up Richie Andrusco. Interviews with D.A. Pennebaker and Albert Maysles are included.
- Ruth Orkin: Frames of Life (SD, 18:19) Mary made this documentary about her mother—Little Fugitive‘s co-writer, producer, and editor—in 1995.
- Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:52)
- Image Gallery (HD) A remote-controlled gallery with 31 stills.
