» I’m the King of New York :: The Pop Diner

Jun182007

I’m the King of New York

Filed under Uncategorized by kaitlyn hennigan at 3:37 pm

In honor of my first entry on a real-life newspaper sponsored blog, I must pay homage to the movie that altered the course of my existence and directed the trajectory of my professional life…or something like that.

I was 8 years old when I first saw Newsies, a Disney musical about New York City newsboys in 1899 who organize a strike against newspaper giants, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. Now, you may have heard of Newsies, seen it, or read about it, but I assure you I was the first kid in the world to truly love this movie.

Yes, that is the kid from Doogie Howser M.D. and yes, that is Bill Pullman. What more could you want?

Not only did Newsies begin a lifelong obsession of all things Christian Bale (a 17-year-old Bale plays newsboy leader Jack "Cowboy" Kelly) , but as I've been coming to realize it's probably responsible for my desire to take dance lessons, act in school plays and ultimately to pursue journalism. Of course, I have other motives for the journalism part - I love languages, politics & writing - but I'm fairly sure that the goodlooking singing dancing street urchins had a hand in my early understanding of "The Power of the Press" too.

So the point in all of this is my thought that if Newsies had such a longlasting impact on my life (I own the DVD, soundtrack, poster, and am regularly known to burst into "Seize The Day" or recite opening scene dialogue at family functions) then maybe other people have a movie they feel this (freakishly) strongly about.

I know there are hundreds of Newsies fansites, Facebook groups and blog posts, but my territorial sentiments remain. Christian Bale can go ahead and be a pyscho serial killer, emaciated insomniac, or brooding magician, but for me he will always be Cowboy and Newsies will always be MY movie.

Did you know? Feminist icon, Gloria Steinem is Christian Bale's stepmother.