Curly Sue (1991)
John Hughes' warmhearted comedy-drama about a scrappy drifter, an irresistible orphan girl, and the unlikely family they stumble into.
Curly Sue - Movie Information
- Original Title: Curly Sue
- Release Year: 1991
- Directed by: John Hughes
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
- Age Rating (US): PG
- Runtime: 1h 41m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 25, 1991 (Sweden - 7), October 25, 1991 (United States - PG), December 26, 1991 (United Kingdom - PG), December 12, 1991 (Germany - 6), December 19, 1991 (Australia - PG)
- Alternative Titles: A Malandrinha (BR), La Pequeña Pícara (SV), Кучерява Сью (UA), Suzie Frisettes (CA)
- Production Companies: Hughes Entertainment, Warner Bros. Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
Curly Sue - Plot
Bill is a penniless drifter who scams strangers out of just enough money to feed himself and his partner in crime, an orphan girl known as Curly Sue. Bill and Curly Sue target Grey, a yuppie lawyer, but their con takes an unexpected turn when the successful woman begins to like the ramshackle duo. But there's one problem—Grey's jealous, conniving boyfriend, Walker.
Curly Sue - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the charm of Curly Sue in action:
A funny story about a family... And the little girl who started it.
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Curly Sue - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- John Hughes
Main Cast
- Jim Belushi
- Alisan Porter
- Kelly Lynch
- John Getz
- Steve Carell
- Fred Thompson
- Edie McClurg
- Viveka Davis
- Gail Boggs
- Ralph Foody
Writers
- John Hughes
Producers
- John Hughes
Curly Sue - FAQs
Who are the main actors in Curly Sue?
Curly Sue stars Jim Belushi as Bill Dancer, a streetwise drifter, and Alisan Porter in the title role as the spirited young orphan. Kelly Lynch plays Grey Ellison, the successful lawyer whose life is turned upside down by the duo, with John Getz as her antagonistic boyfriend Walker.
Where can you stream or watch Curly Sue?
Curly Sue is available to watch for free on Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home Free, Hoopla, and Plex. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home.
What is Curly Sue about?
Curly Sue follows Bill, a down-and-out drifter, and his young orphan companion Sue as they run small cons to survive. When they target Grey, a sharp Chicago lawyer, their scheme backfires as she grows genuinely fond of them, complicating her relationship with her jealous boyfriend Walker.
Is Curly Sue based on a true story?
No, Curly Sue is not based on a true story. The film is an original screenplay written by John Hughes, drawing on classic screwball comedy and Dickensian waif traditions rather than any real-life events. Hughes crafted the story as a lighthearted fable about found family and human kindness.
What is the age rating for Curly Sue?
Curly Sue is rated PG by the MPA, making it suitable for general family audiences. The film contains mild comic situations and some themes of homelessness and poverty but nothing that would be considered inappropriate for children watching with parental guidance.
Did Steve Carell appear in Curly Sue?
Yes, Steve Carell — long before his fame on The Office and in films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin — appears in Curly Sue in a small supporting role as Tesio. It stands as one of his earliest screen credits and is a notable piece of trivia for fans of his later career.
Who directed Curly Sue and who wrote it?
Curly Sue was both written and directed by John Hughes, the prolific filmmaker behind beloved comedies such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Home Alone, and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Hughes also served as producer through his Hughes Entertainment production company.
When was Curly Sue released and how long is it?
Curly Sue was released theatrically in the United States on October 25, 1991. The film runs approximately 1 hour and 41 minutes (101 minutes). It was subsequently released in the United Kingdom on December 26, 1991, and in Germany and Australia in December 1991.
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