1979 had 2 great "gang" films out, The Warriors, and The Wanderers, but while The Warriors was pretty much all about the gang warfare, the Wanderers was actually a lot deeper, (not that the warriors isn't a great film, it is,) and expands on friendships, gangs, gang rivalries, racism (imagine that classroom scene appearing in a movie today?) Girls, and general coming of age stuff young lads go through.
Set in early 1960s New York, in the multiracial and multiethnic Bronx, to a fantastic soundtrack, the classic old songs go down a treat here, and from the opening scene of the Fordham Baldies strutting down the street to The Four Season's "Walk Like A Man" this sets the tone of the movie for me.
Aside from the great soundtrack, the film has plenty else to offer particularly the characters, we get to know the Wanderers, an Italian American gang of close knit friends, mainly dealing with Richie and Joey, as well as Turkey, a fellow Wanderer who has aspirations to join The Fordham Baldies, plus the arrival of Perry, an out of towner recently moved to New York, who steps in to save the Wanderers from a sticky situation and therefore becomes their newest member, welcomed with open arms, adds to their confidence.
Speaking of the Fordham Baldies, they are one of the most feared gangs of the Bronx, led by the huge Terror, the Wanderers have trouble with this gang, and are saved from a vicious beating by newcomer Perry, who subsequently joins the Wanderers.
Other notable gangs include the Del Bombers, the toughest of the black gangs, led by the charismatic Clinton Stitch, The Wongs, a Chinese gang, and the mysterious Irish-American gang, The Ducky Boys.
As you may imagine, their is trouble ahead with these gangs, some of whom are not always enemies, and the conclusion of the film was very satisfying for me, and includes a great battle near the films climax.
This film deals with so much here, set in the early 60s, this film deals with many social changes coming from the late 50s/early 60s into the gradual transformation to the swinging 60s (See Richie turning his back on a young Bob Dylan in the folk club singing "The Times They-Are A Changing" and returning to the old songs he's used to), as well as the JFK assassination, and the Marines actively recruiting (Vietnam war) young men, I cannot understand why this film is not held in higher regard, as for me this is up there with the likes of American Graffiti and Stand By Me as one of the all time Great coming of age movies.
Excellent film, must see.
9.5/10
Set in early 1960s New York, in the multiracial and multiethnic Bronx, to a fantastic soundtrack, the classic old songs go down a treat here, and from the opening scene of the Fordham Baldies strutting down the street to The Four Season's "Walk Like A Man" this sets the tone of the movie for me.
Aside from the great soundtrack, the film has plenty else to offer particularly the characters, we get to know the Wanderers, an Italian American gang of close knit friends, mainly dealing with Richie and Joey, as well as Turkey, a fellow Wanderer who has aspirations to join The Fordham Baldies, plus the arrival of Perry, an out of towner recently moved to New York, who steps in to save the Wanderers from a sticky situation and therefore becomes their newest member, welcomed with open arms, adds to their confidence.
Speaking of the Fordham Baldies, they are one of the most feared gangs of the Bronx, led by the huge Terror, the Wanderers have trouble with this gang, and are saved from a vicious beating by newcomer Perry, who subsequently joins the Wanderers.
Other notable gangs include the Del Bombers, the toughest of the black gangs, led by the charismatic Clinton Stitch, The Wongs, a Chinese gang, and the mysterious Irish-American gang, The Ducky Boys.
As you may imagine, their is trouble ahead with these gangs, some of whom are not always enemies, and the conclusion of the film was very satisfying for me, and includes a great battle near the films climax.
This film deals with so much here, set in the early 60s, this film deals with many social changes coming from the late 50s/early 60s into the gradual transformation to the swinging 60s (See Richie turning his back on a young Bob Dylan in the folk club singing "The Times They-Are A Changing" and returning to the old songs he's used to), as well as the JFK assassination, and the Marines actively recruiting (Vietnam war) young men, I cannot understand why this film is not held in higher regard, as for me this is up there with the likes of American Graffiti and Stand By Me as one of the all time Great coming of age movies.
Excellent film, must see.
9.5/10