Streets of Fire (1984)

A mercenary is hired to rescue his ex-girlfriend, a singer who has been kidnapped by a motorcycle gang.

Director:

Walter Hill

Writers:

Walter Hill, Larry Gross

Stars:

Michael Paré, Diane Lane, Rick Moranis

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Paré	...	Tom Cody
Diane Lane	...	Ellen Aim
Rick Moranis	...	Billy Fish
Amy Madigan	...	McCoy
Willem Dafoe	...	Raven Shaddock
Deborah Van Valkenburgh	...	Reva Cody
Richard Lawson	...	Officer Ed Price
Rick Rossovich	...	Officer Cooley
Bill Paxton	...	Clyde the Bartender
Lee Ving	...	Greer
Stoney Jackson	...	Bird - The Sorels
Grand L. Bush	...	Reggie - The Sorels (as Grand Bush)
Robert Townsend	...	Lester - The Sorels
Mykelti Williamson	...	B.J. - The Sorels (as Mykel T. Williamson)
Elizabeth Daily	...	Baby Doll

Storyline

Rock and Roll singer is taken captive by a motorcycle gang in a strange world that seems to be a cross of the 1950's and the present or future. Her ex-boyfriend returns to town and to find her missing and goes to her rescue.

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Plot Keywords:

rescue | motorcycle | singer | fan | motorcycle gang | 

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Taglines:

A Rock & Roll Fable.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Music | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 June 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Calles de fuego

Filming Locations:

Wilmington, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$14,500,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$5,600,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

A Hill-Gordon-Silver Production, RKO Pictures, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (4 channels) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character of Ellen Aim was written as a 28-year-old woman and Diane Lane read for the part when she was 18.

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Goofs

Police car, after getting on two wheels, is clearly not going to turn over but after angle change does flip on to side.

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Quotes

Billy Fish: The famous Sorels sure put a lot of money into that bus, huh? Listen Cody, I didn't know you had a thing with Ellen in the old days, but you better get some smarts and learn to adjust to the fact that you're out of the picture now. See Cody, I do things for her. Things that a guy like you could never do. Things that matter in the real world.
Tom Cody: You know something? The only trouble with kicking the shit out of you is it would be too easy.

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Connections

Referenced in Night City (2015)

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Soundtracks

TONIGHT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE YOUNG
Performed by Fire Inc.
Vocals: Holly Sherwood, Laurie Sargent, Rory Dodd, Eric Troyer
Written and Produced by Jim Steinman

User Reviews

Extraordinary kinetic work

Walter Hill, whose fine directorial achievements include "Hard Times", "The Warriors", "Southern Comfort", "Crossroads", "Johnny Handsome" and "Extreme Prejudice", scored another creative bullseye with this self-proclaimed "rock and roll fable". Though it is simplistic in the extreme, it is an extraordinarily kinetic work with great music, stunning cinematography, cutting edge editing (from Hill regular Freeman Davies) and fantastic production design.

From a purely visual perspective, it was way ahead of its time, and like most things that were ahead of their time, it flopped badly (at the box office). So much of the film is worthy of praise -- the opening credit sequence employs a bravura graphic technique that has been much imitated; the kidnapping of Ellen Aim (Diane Lane) is a stunningly staged sequence, as is Lane's mimed rendition of Jim Steinman's fabulous "Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young". The climactic fight sequence between Michael Pare and Willem Dafoe (in one of his first screen roles) is magical, as are all the film's scenes of physical combat.

Hill makes mean, lean, muscular movies and populates them with both fresh faces and screen vets. Michael Pare, who had a limited career, is just fine as the mythical Tom Cody, the film's reluctant hero (is there any other?). Dafoe shines as Raven Shaddock, the lead of the kidnappers, and the MIA Amy Madigan is just terrific as the tough-talking McCoy, Pare's feisty sidekick.

Andrew Laszlo, who worked with Hill on "Southern Comfort" and even shot Tobe Hooper's "The Funhouse", does a knockout job with the cinematography and, working with ace production designer John Vallone (another Hill reg) creates a magnificent retro universe on the Universal backlot.

Not to be missed!