Is Newsies based on a true story? Ending Explained and More
by Aishwarya R
Updated Apr 21, 2023
Newsies
Get ready to be transported back to the gritty streets of 1899 New York City with the classic historical musical comedy-drama film, Newsies! Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and directed by the legendary choreographer Kenny Ortega, this film tells the inspiring tale of the Newsboys' Strike of 1899. Get ready to sing and dance along with the newsboys as they fight for their rights in this timeless and uplifting tale of courage and perseverance!
Featuring a talented cast including the incomparable Christian Bale, the charismatic Bill Pullman, the stunning Ann-Margret, and the legendary Robert Duvall, Newsies boasts an impressive twelve original songs composed by the iconic Alan Menken, with lyrics by Jack Feldman and an underscore by J. A. C. Redford.
Despite a slow start at the box office and mixed reviews upon its release, Newsies has become a beloved classic among fans, achieving cult status on home video. Its enduring popularity even led to a Broadway adaptation, which was met with critical acclaim and earned eight Tony Award nominations, including a win for Best Original Score for Menken and Feldman.
Is Newsies based on a true story?
Yes, Newsies is loosely based on the real-life Newsboys' Strike of 1899, which took place in New York City. The strike was a protest by thousands of newsboys against the major newspapers of the time, who were raising the price of their papers while not allowing the newsboys to return unsold papers. The strike lasted for two weeks and ultimately resulted in a compromise between the newsboys and the newspaper owners. While the film takes some artistic liberties and fictionalizes some aspects of the strike, it is based on a real event in American history.
While the movie takes some artistic liberties and fictionalizes certain aspects of the strike, it does capture the essence of the historical event and portrays the struggles and triumphs of the newsboys accurately.
One key similarity between the movie and the actual strike is the portrayal of the newsboys' determination and perseverance in the face of adversity. The newsboys in the movie, like their real-life counterparts, face exploitation and mistreatment from the newspaper publishers and must band together to fight for their rights. They organize rallies, form unions, and use their collective strength to achieve their goals, just like the real newsboys did in 1899.
Another similarity is the portrayal of the power of the media. In the movie, the newsboys use their own papers to spread their message and rally support for their cause. In the actual strike, the newspapers themselves were the target of the newsboys' protests, and the coverage of the strike in the press helped to galvanize public support.
Newsies real story
In the late 1800s, newspapers in New York City were booming and relied heavily on the distribution efforts of young newsboys, who would buy bundles of papers from the publishers and then sell them on the streets. However, in the summer of 1899, the major newspapers in the city, including The New York World and The New York Journal, raised the price of their papers from 50 cents to 60 cents per hundred, while also refusing to buy back unsold papers.
This price increase was a significant blow to the already meager earnings of the newsboys, who often worked long hours in harsh conditions to make a living. The newsboys saw the price hike as unfair and organized a strike, refusing to sell the papers until the publishers met their demands for fairer pricing and buying back unsold papers.
The strike quickly gained momentum and spread to other cities, with thousands of newsboys joining the cause. The newsboys held rallies and demonstrations, and even clashed with scabs hired by the publishers to distribute the papers. The strike lasted for two weeks and ultimately resulted in a compromise, with the publishers agreeing to lower the price of papers and buy back unsold papers.
While the Newsboys' Strike of 1899 was not the first labor protest in American history, it was significant in that it was led by children and was successful in achieving its goals. The strike remains a notable event in the history of labor rights and the fight for fair wages and working conditions.
Newsies Plot
The movie "Newsies" follows the story of 17-year-old Jack "Cowboy" Kelly, who works as a newspaper hawker in New York City in 1899. Jack is intrigued by David Jacobs and his brother Les, who are not orphans or runaways, but work to help their financially struggling family. Jack takes them under his wing and becomes enamored with their sister Sarah, whom he meets during a dinner at their home.
However, their lives take a turn when newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer raises the prices of the newspapers that the newsies must buy from his distribution centers, causing Jack and David to rally the other newsies to go on strike. The strike gains momentum as the newsies spread the word to their peers in other boroughs, and they are joined by the Brooklyn newsies, led by "Spot" Conlon. However, the situation turns violent when they encounter strikebreakers and the Delancey brothers, who capture disabled newsie Crutchie and place him in a corrupt orphanage.
As the newsies fight back against the police, reporter Bryan Denton takes an interest in their story and puts it on the front page of The Sun. The newsies then plan a rally, but Jack is arrested after Warden Snyder informs Pulitzer that he is an escapee from the orphanage. Jack tells Sarah of his desire to leave for Santa Fe and wonders if she would miss him.
While the movie takes some liberties, it accurately portrays the struggles and triumphs of the newsboys during the 1899 strike. The film highlights the importance of collective action and the power of the press in effecting change, making it an inspiring and engaging portrayal of a significant moment in American labor history.
Newsies Ending Explained
At Medda Larkson's Bowery, newsies from all over New York gather to rally for their cause. Jack, David, and Spot give rousing speeches, urging the newsies to remain united and not give up. Medda sings an uplifting tune ("High Times, Hard Times") before everyone returns to their respective boroughs. Unfortunately, the police arrive and arrest the newsies, but Denton intervenes and pays their legal fees. Snyder, who has turned on Jack, exposes his real identity - Francis Sullivan - and reveals that his mother is dead while his father is in jail. Jack is sentenced to four years of rehabilitation at the Refuge, and Denton is reassigned as a war correspondent, leaving him unable to report on the strike. Pulitzer, seeing an opportunity, offers Jack a deal: he will waive his sentence and pay him a salary if he agrees to be a strikebreaker. Jack is forced to accept after Pulitzer threatens to send the other newsies to the Refuge. Despite their best efforts, the newsies fail to rescue Jack.
The newsies are disheartened to see Jack working for Pulitzer the following day, but Jack intervenes when the Delanceys attack the Jacobs children, knowing that it will break his deal with Pulitzer. Later, Denton informs the newsies that their strike has had little effect on public opinion as the city depends on child labor, and Pulitzer has forbidden newspapers from covering the strike. In response, the newsies use one of Pulitzer's old printing presses to create the "Newsie Banner," which they distribute to child workers across the city. The paper exposes the mistreatment of children at the Refuge, and numerous child laborers join the strike, bringing the city's workforce to a halt. When Jack and David confront Pulitzer, he finally gives in to their demands.
Governor Theodore Roosevelt has Snyder arrested, releases the children from the Refuge, and thanks Jack for bringing the situation to his attention. Roosevelt offers Jack a ride and takes him to the train yards so he can leave for Santa Fe. However, Jack realizes that he still has work to do in New York and returns shortly after. The newsies are overjoyed to see him back, and Sarah and Jack share a kiss. Spot gets a ride back to Brooklyn from Roosevelt.
Is Newsies based on a true story - FAQs
Newsies is a musical that is based on the newsboys' strike of 1899 in New York City. It tells the story of a group of young newsboys who go on strike to protest against newspaper publishers who raised the prices of their papers.
Newsies premiered on Broadway in 2012, but its origins date back to the 1992 Disney film of the same name, which was a box office flop but later gained a cult following.
The music for Newsies was composed by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Jack Feldman. Menken is a highly acclaimed composer who has worked on many Disney films, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.
Some of the most popular songs from Newsies include "Seize the Day," "Santa Fe," "King of New York," and "Once and For All." These songs are known for their catchy tunes and inspiring lyrics that capture the spirit of the newsboys' struggle.
At its core, Newsies is a story about standing up for what you believe in and fighting against injustice. It celebrates the power of unity and community, as the newsboys come together to challenge the wealthy and powerful newspaper publishers who exploit their labor. The show also highlights the importance of freedom of the press and the value of independent journalism in a democratic society.