The Warriors (1979)

Director:

Walter Hill

Writers:

Sol Yurick (novel)
David Shaber (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 February 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

They outnumber the cops three to one.

Plot:

A gang called The Warriors are framed for killing a gang leader trying to unite all the gangs in the area. With other gangs gunning for them they must get back to the home turf of Coney Island... Alive.

Plot Keywords:

Warrior | Night | Framed | Street Gang | Police

Cast

Michael Beck	...	Swan
James Remar	...	Ajax
Dorsey Wright	...	Cleon
Brian Tyler	...	Snow
David Harris	...	Cochise
Tom McKitterick	...	Cowboy
Marcelino Sánchez	...	Rembrandt (as Marcelino Sanchez)
Terry Michos	...	Vermin
Deborah Van Valkenburgh	...	Mercy
Roger Hill	...	Cyrus
David Patrick Kelly	...	Luther
Lynne Thigpen	...	D.J.
Ginny Ortiz	...	Candy Store Girl
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Policewoman
John Snyder	...	Gas Station Man

Also Known As:

Krigarna (Finland: Swedish title) (Sweden) [sv]
Les guerriers de la nuit (Belgium: French title) (Canada: French title) [fr]
De strijders van de nacht (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]
Die Warriors (West Germany) [de]
I guerrieri della notte (Italy) [it]
Krigerne (Denmark) [da]
Los amos de la noche (Spain) [es]
Soturit (Finland) [fi]
Warriors, les guerriers de la nuit (France) [fr]

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language. (director's cut)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (re-rating) (2005) | UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | UK:X (original rating) | France:-16 (re-rating) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Sweden:15 (1979) (re-rating) | Sweden:(Banned) (1979) (original rating) | USA:R (MPAA #25367) | Australia:R | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Finland:(Banned) (1979) | Finland:K-18 (DVD rating) (2001) (uncut) | Finland:K-18 (video rating) (1985) (cut) | France:-18 (cut) | France:X | Italy:VM18 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

72nd St. IRT Station, 72nd and Broadway, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Filming sometimes had to move due to noise from crowds that came to watch. Some crowd members were forcibly removed from set.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the Lizzies' hangout, Cochise smiles while he watches Vermin and a girl make out on the couch. Rembrandt then comes to Cochise to ask him how long they are going to be there, and in the background you can see Vermin and the girl walking to the couch.

Quotes:

Luther: There he is! That's him! That's... the Warrior! He shot Cyrus!
Cleon: Man, you crazy! I din't do nuthin'!
Luther: We saw 'im!
Cropsey, Rogue Lieutenant: Yeah, that's him.
Luther: He's the one! He's the one! The Warriors did it!
[starts charging Cleon]
Luther: The Warriors did it! The Warriors did it! The Warriors did it!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Broken Trail: The Making of a Legendary Western (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Echoes in My Mind

Walter Hill's stylish 'Warriors' packs a punch

During a gang summit in the Bronx, a rival gang leader (Roger Hill) is shot and killed. A Coney Island gang is wrongfully accused of the crime and find themselves on the run from other gangs and cops as they race back to their turf. Will they make it back in one piece?

Walter Hill's ("48 Hrs.") stylish tale about gang warfare packs a punch (even by today's standards). Upon release, the film sparked controversy and was accused of encouraging gang violence. After one look, it's not brutal, graphic or unpleasant. It's an exciting, fast-paced, action-packed, non-bloody tale that sends a message with conviction. Most of the gangs portrayed are too cartoonish to be menacing, but yet they are unique in more ways than one. Credit should also be given to Andrew Laszlo's photography. A cult classic. "Can you dig it?"

My evaluation: *** out of ****.