Defiance (1980)

Director:

John Flynn

Writers:

Thomas Michael Donnelly (screenplay)
Thomas Michael Donnelly (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 March 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Crime

Tagline:

There comes a time when we have to stand up and be counted. This is the story of one man who did.

Plot:

Tommy takes up temporary housing in a New York neighborhood plagued by a violent gang called the Souls...

Plot Keywords:

Gang | New York | Street | Terror | Violence

Cast

Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Tommy (as Jan Michael Vincent)
Theresa Saldana	...	Marsha
Danny Aiello	...	Carmine
Rudy Ramos	...	Angel Cruz
Lenny Montana	...	Whacko
Art Carney	...	Abe
Santos Morales	...	Paolo
Frank Pesce	...	Herbie
Don Blakely	...	Abbie
James Victor	...	Father Rivera
Randy Hermann	...	Tito (as Randy Herman)
Lee Fraser	...	Bandana (as Lee Yuro)
Joseph Campanella	...	Karenski (as Joe Campanella)
Fernando López	...	Kid (as Fernando Lopez)
Alberto Vazquez	...	Slagg (as Alberto Vasquez)
Church Ortiz	...	Luis
Ismael 'East' Carlo	...	El Bravo (as East Carlo)
Tom Reese	...	1st Cop
Ernie F. Orsatti	...	2nd Cop (as Ernie Orsatti)
Tony Sirico	...	Davey (as G. Anthony Sirico)
E. Brian Dean	...	Rondini (as Brian Dean)
Margarita García	...	Cashier (as Margarita Garcia)
Philip Levy	...	Earnie (as Phil Levy)
Chino 'Fats' Williams	...	Local #2
David Cadiente	...	Eloy
Pamela Gatell	...	Angel's Lady
Wendy Oates	...	Carmine's Wife
Barbara Smith	...	Herbie's Wife
Dawn Adams	...	Priest's Assistant
James Oscar Lee	...	Police Officer
Victor Mendez	...	Window Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fred J. Lincoln		(as Fred Lincoln)
Satir González	...	Gang Member (uncredited)

Directed by
John Flynn

Writing credits
Thomas Michael Donnelly		(screenplay)
Thomas Michael Donnelly		(story) &
Mark Tulin		(story)

Produced by
Jerry Bruckheimer	....	producer
Thomas Michael Donnelly	....	associate producer
William S. Gilmore	....	producer (as William S. Gilmore Jr.)
Robert J. Wunsch	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Dominic Frontiere

Cinematography by
Ric Waite		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Finfer

Casting by
Joyce Agu		(as Joyce Robinson)
Sam Christensen

Production Design by
Bill Malley

Set Decoration by
Rick Gentz		(as Rick T. Gentz)

Makeup Department
Verne Caruso	....	hair stylist: New York
Nick Crimi	....	makeup artist: New York
Emile LaVigne	....	makeup artist (as Emile R. La Vigne)
June Miggins	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Salvatore Billitteri	....	in charge of post-production
William Davidson	....	production manager (as William C. Davidson)
Jere Henshaw	....	executive in charge of production
Dick Moses	....	production manager: New York

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Bogart	....	first assistant director
Peter Gries	....	second assistant director: New York
Lorraine Senna	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Jack Cornwell	....	art director: New York
Delbert Diener	....	assistant property master (as Delbert Deiner)
Mark Wade	....	property master
Serge Genitempo	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gordon Daniels	....	sound effects
Jeff Haas	....	boom operator: New York
Gilbert D. Marchant	....	sound effects (as Gil Marchant)
William L. McCaughey	....	dubbing mixer (as William McCaughey)
Al Mian	....	sound mixer: New York
Bill Nelson	....	sound mixer (as William Nelson)
Anthony Palk	....	sound effects (as Tony Palk)
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Bob Dawson	....	special effects

Stunts
Mickey Alzola	....	stunt player
Everett Creach	....	stunt coordinator
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunt coordinator
Chris Howell	....	stunt player
Alan Marcus	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jack Anderson	....	second assistant camera
King Baggot	....	camera operator
Bruce Birmelin	....	still photographer
Peter Garbarini	....	camera operator: New York (as Peter Gabarini)
Harvey Genkins	....	associate director of photography: New York (as Harvey Jenkins)
Michael Ginsburg	....	still photographer: New York (as Michael Ginsberg)
Marlin Hall	....	key grip
Willie Meyerhoff	....	gaffer: New York
Jonathan O'Neil	....	best boy
Al Stetson	....	grip: New York
Alex Touyarot	....	first assistant camera
Rodney Veto	....	second grip
Jim Wuertemburg	....	gaffer (as James T. Wuertemburg)
Ron Zarilla	....	assistant camera: New York

Casting Department
Joy Todd	....	extras casting: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ellis Cohen	....	costumer
Ruth E. Doering	....	wardrobe: women, New York (as Ruth Doering)
Melissa Franz	....	wardrobe
Al Spalinski	....	wardrobe: men, New York

Editorial Department
Gina Brown	....	assistant editor
Cari Coughlin	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
John Beal	....	orchestrator
Buddy Epstein	....	music director
Ken Johnson	....	music editor
Greg Sill	....	music coordinator
Joel Soifer	....	recording engineer
John Beal	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Walter Charleston	....	teamster captain: New York
Dale Henry	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Arlene Albertson	....	production office coordinator: New York
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	presenter
Wilma Arnold	....	assistant: John Flynn
Chris Silver Finigan	....	location auditor (as Christopher Finigan)
Bert Ford	....	publicist
Gary Gillingham	....	production controller
Adam Greenman	....	location manager
Julian F. Myers	....	publicist
Myrna Post	....	publicist
Jim Richardson	....	location manager: New York
Sylvio Tabet	....	presenter
Terry Terrill	....	script supervisor
Jill Vandermeer	....	production coordinator
Kurt Woolner	....	location auditor: New York
Neil R. Lipes	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Necta

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1980) (USA) (theatrical) (as American International, a Filmways company)
• Commodore Films (1982) (France) (theatrical)
• Les Films du Commodore (1982) (France) (theatrical)
• T&O Film (1981) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1983) (USA) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• VCL Communications

Other Companies

• Damask Productions Inc.  music editing (as Damask Productions)
• Feuer & Ritzer  casting: New York
• Ryder Sound Services  sound (as Ryder Sound Services, Inc.)
• Movielab  color (as Movielab, Inc.)
• Fidelity Recording  recording studio: original songs (as Fidelity Recording Studio)
• Panavision  photographic equipment (as Panavision®)
• Film Effects of Hollywood  titles
• Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)  approval certificate
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 | Norway:16 (1981) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | France:U

Company:

Necta

Goofs:

Continuity: The total number of Soul members varies constantly.

Soundtrack:

Double Shot

A Cult Gem With Heart

For me, DEFIANCE was/is a film that delivered. Is it 'high art'?--I dunno. But it sure held my interest. JMV is our reluctant hero, 'Tom'. A merchant seaman, stranded in New York because of a beef on the job, near penniless Tom is forced to seek cheap digs in a slum rental while he waits for another ship assignment. He quickly crosses paths with 'The Souls', the Latino gang that holds the neighborhood in a grip of terror.

Tom is no white knight or crusader. A world weary pragmatist, he's just a guy trying to keep to himself until he can catch that much-needed next freighter out to sea. Though not an immediate champion of justice, neither is Tom indifferent to the suffering of others and gradually he finds himself being drawn into the lives of several of the local residents.

It is the leader of the Souls gang, 'Angel', with his determination to maintain his grip on his turf, and interloper Tom, with his stubborn refusal to abandon his newly made friends, who ignite the inevitable final--and highly satisfying--confrontation.

Is DEFIANCE a film filled with startling plot twists and dazzling production value? No. But I found it to be highly entertaining with real sincerity--and it continues to please me after repeated viewings. All hands involved in this production deserve praise for working within their limited budget to craft a tough, tender and edgy action/drama where an average fella, who cannot ignore his heart, takes a huge risk to correct a great injustice.

Is it SHANE?--Naw. (But what is?) I will tell you this: this flick delivers a whole fist-full of solid scenes. Fer instance: the moment when Tom draws his 'line in the sand'. Waiting until cover of darkness, Tom strides out of the shadows, club in hand, and begins to demolish Angel's beloved 'low rider' as an invitation to the gang--"Come and get me."

That scene works on EVERY level: script, direction, photography, JMV's smoldering fury, the startling, hot musical score that punctuates the moment--IT ALL WORKS! It gave me goose bumps the first time and it still gives me a kick to this day. DEFIANCE had me in it's grip: "Yeah, Tom! Screw the consequences! Let's take it to these vicious punks."

This flick never had anywhere near the budget or status of say, a DIE HARD, but it sure has the heart. In the early '80s, as I lived in my tiny apartment in Hollywood and struggled to write, I kept a tattered DEFIANCE poster tacked to my wall for inspiration.

DEFIANCE: a solid, commendable script, in the hands of a no-nonsense, focused director, who's leading a sincere and supportive cast--all in pursuit of a simple, but meaningful, action/morality tale that can't help but touch you on some level if you believe in justice and decency. Not too shabby, folks. Not too shabby at all.

Now I just wish somebody would get DEFIANCE onto a proper DVD (and throw in a few extras like cast/crew interviews, a trailer, maybe even some out-takes). I'd buy a copy in a heartbeat. And five more for some friends.