Jim on Film
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(c) Disney

Newsies
Thematically, Newsies is one of Disney’s more significant films. It’s an underdog story, but it’s about more than overcoming obstacles. The story concerns the plight of New York City newsboys at the turn of the previous century. When Joseph Pulitzer leads the city papers in raising the price that the newsboys pay for their papers, the newsies decide to not only reject the higher costs but to form a union and fight for their own interests.

The story of Newsies is about power, those who have the power and those who use their power. It is Joseph Pulitzer who is in control. He owns a powerful New York City newspaper that gives him a direct line into the hearts of the people, allowing him to shape their viewpoints and influence their beliefs. He owns the product, controls the money, and hires the employees. But despite all this, it is the newsboys who take control, teaching Pulitzer that not only does he provide them with their livelihoods, but they provide him with his livelihood. They realize their reciprocated value. Those little kids and teenagers, in the end, have the power.

In our society, we are trained to see ourselves as the newsboys. We work and live at the mercy of others, and when that is threatened, too often we become defensive and accepting, rather than going on the offensive and asking questions. People don’t see their reciprocated value, and they allow themselves to become victims to the powers that be. Newsies teaches us that we all have the power, and we don’t have to live life as a tree bending to the wind but that we can be the wind that causes the tree to bend.

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-- Jim Miles

-- Posted July 8, 2004