Florrie Dugger was at first only given a minor part - until the original actress meant to play Blousey underwent a growth spurt and became taller than Bugsy (Scott Baio), and Dugger was given the role of Blousey.
First of two films that British producer David Puttnam made with then young American actors Scott Baio and actress Jodie Foster. The second would be Foxes (1980) around four years later in 1980.
When Blousey and Bugsy are queuing up for the audition for the Lena Marelli show, the girl behind her comes on before Blousey, even though she was behind Blousey.
Although Alan Parker noted that American actors were cast for many of the speaking roles to insure the use of American accents, he pointed out a Cockney accented "Me, too!" as Bugsy rallies the soup line boys during the "Down and Out" chorus.
When Blousey returns for the second time to Fat Sam's for an audition, Knuckles opens the door. He tells Blousey, "He's busy lady. Come tomorrow" in an English accent. Throughout the movie, he has an American accent.
Fat Sam: Someone once said, "If it was raining brains, Roxy Robinson wouldn't even get wet." Roxy had spent his whole life making two and two into five, but he could smell trouble like other people could smell gas. But believe you's me, he should've never taken that blind alley by the side of Parido's Bakery. Whatever game it was everybody was playing, sure as eggs is eggs, Roxy the Weasel had been scrambled.