Curly Sue (1991): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Curly Sue is a 1991 family drama directed by John Hughes, starring Alisan Porter as Curly Sue, Jim Belushi and Ralph Foody. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes and earned $33.7 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 41m (101 min)
- Director
- John Hughes
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Hughes Entertainment
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Curly Sue About?
The premise of Curly Sue without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Bill, a penniless drifter, cons strangers just enough to keep himself and his partner—an orphan girl called Curly Sue—alive. They set their sights on Grey, a yuppie lawyer, hoping to swindle her. Unexpectedly, Grey grows fond of the scrappy duo, complicating the scheme, especially when her jealous, manipulative boyfriend Walker intervenes.
Curly Sue Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- homelessness
- chicago illinois
- girl
- lawyer
- hit by a car
- adoptive father adopted daughter relationship
- montage
- affection
- kindness
- class differences
- orphan
- character name in title
+38 more Show fewer
- illiteracy
- bathing
- accident
- screaming
- ring
- jail
- pawnshop
- divorce lawyer
- restaurant
- singing
- blackmail
- parking garage
- snobbery
- rags to riches
- punched in the face
- bedroom
- man in a shower
- pizza
- hug
- concussion
- movie theater
- popcorn
- homeless shelter
- head injury
- piano
- suit
- poker
- maid
- cigar smoking
- wedding reception
- school
- doctor
- church
- politician
- secretary
- female pedal pumping
- theft
- curly hair
Curly Sue Cast & Characters
Alisan Porter leads the cast as Curly Sue, with Jim Belushi as Bill Dancer and Ralph Foody as Drifter. Directed by John Hughes; 38 actors are credited in all.
-
Director John Hughes
- Alisan Porter as Curly Sue
- Jim Belushi as Bill Dancer
- Ralph Foody as Drifter
-
Kelly Lynch as Grey Ellison
Also Starring in Curly Sue
· 34 more- Susan Mayer Woman with Champagne Glass
- John Getz Walker McCormick
- Steve Carell Tesio
- Branscombe Richmond Albert
- John Ashton Frank Arnold
- Edie McClurg Secretary
- Barbara Tarbuck Mrs. Arnold
- Burke Byrnes Dr. Maxwell
- Fred Thompson Bernard Oxbar
- Viveka Davis Trina
- Ely Pouget Dinah Tompkins
- Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc State Trooper
- Charles Adams Prison Guard
- Cameron Thor Maitre d'
- Joe Liss Ticket Taker
- Joel Levin Store Clerk 2
Show all 38 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Nadine Burke Social Worker
- James W. Boinski Pawnbroker
- Gail Boggs Anise Hall
- Adele Robbins DCFS Caseworker
- James DeAngelo Hobo
- Larry Nazimek Homeless Person
- Lyle Browne Theater Patron
- Carol Chickering Soprano
- Grace Collette Foster Mother
- Cedrick Pipes Cook
- Alonzo Hall Cook
- Luke Reichle Store Clerk 1
- Tammy Karabas Store Clerk 3
- Patricia Hooker Store Clerk 4
- Rocco Pecirno Father of the Bride
- Brian Reed Garvin Theater Manager
- Karen Jensen-Clark Theater Patron
- Shon Little Federico
More from John Hughes
More films directed by John Hughes, best-rated first: The Breakfast Club, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Uncle Buck.
Curly Sue Plot Summary
What happens in Curly Sue from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Bill Dancer, Jim Belushi and his young ward Curly Sue, Alisan Porter, are homeless but kind-hearted con artists who scrape by on small scams just to eat. Their makeshift life is turned upside down when Sue’s late mother’s tin ring is stolen by a drifter, Ralph Foody, setting off a chain of fragile choices and fragile loyalties.
Full summary
The whole story of Curly Sue, scene by scene
Curly Sue Box Office
Curly Sue grossed $33.7 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$33.7M
- US & Canada
- $33.7M
Curly Sue Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Curly Sue.
How Well Do You Know Curly Sue?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the homeless man Bill Dancer?
Cars in Curly Sue
28 cars on screen, including the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL R129 and the 1986 Chevrolet Caprice.
-
1990 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL R129 Important role -
1986 Chevrolet Caprice Minor role -
1987 Chevrolet Caprice Minor role -
1987 Chevrolet Caprice Minor role
Curly Sue Also Known As
23 alternative titles, including “La Pequeña Pícara” and “Suzie Frisettes”.
- Also known as
-
- La Pequeña Pícara
- Suzie Frisettes
- Кучерява Сью
- Кудрява Сью
- Curly Sue - Ein Lockenkopf sorgt für Wirbel
- Кудряшка Сью
- La P'tite Arnaqueuse
- La tenera canaglia
- Huncutka
- A Malandrinha
- Kudrnatá holka
- Кучерявка Сью
+11 more Show fewer
- Küçük Dalavereci
- Къдравата Сю
- Niesforna Zuzia
- 내 사랑 컬리 수
- Kučeravá Sue
- Suzy frisettes
- 街头俏妞
- נוכלת ושמה סו
- Pokkers til krøltop
- La petita Sue
- カーリー・スー
Seen Curly Sue?
Movies Like Curly Sue
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Affairs of Susan, The Girl from Missouri and Saugatuck Cures.
Curly Sue FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Curly Sue, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Curly Sue?
Curly Sue runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).
When was Curly Sue released?
Curly Sue was released on October 25, 1991.
Who directed Curly Sue?
Curly Sue was directed by John Hughes.
More films by John Hughes Who is in the cast of Curly Sue?
Curly Sue stars Alisan Porter as Curly Sue, Jim Belushi as Bill Dancer and Ralph Foody as Drifter, among 38 credited actors.
How much did Curly Sue make at the box office?
Curly Sue grossed $33.7 million worldwide.
Does Curly Sue have a post-credit scene?
No. Curly Sue has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
