Colors (1988)

An experienced cop and his rookie partner patrol the streets of East Los Angeles while trying to keep the gang violence under control.

Director:

Dennis Hopper

Writers:

Michael Schiffer (screenplay), Michael Schiffer (story),

Stars:

Sean Penn, Robert Duvall, Maria Conchita Alonso

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Penn	...	Officer Danny McGavin
Robert Duvall	...	Officer Bob Hodges
Maria Conchita Alonso	...	Louisa Gomez
Randy Brooks	...	Ron Delaney
Grand L. Bush	...	Larry Sylvester (as Grand Bush)
Don Cheadle	...	Rocket
Gerardo Mejía	...	Bird
Glenn Plummer	...	Clarence 'High Top' Brown
Rudy Ramos	...	Melindez
Sy Richardson	...	O.S.S. Sgt. Bailey
Trinidad Silva	...	Leo 'Frog' Lopez
Charles Walker	...	Reed
Damon Wayans	...	T-Bone
Fred Asparagus	...	Cook
Sherman Augustus	...	Officer Porter

Storyline

A confident young cop is shown the ropes by a veteran partner in the dangerous gang-controlled barrios of L.A. about to explode in violence in this look at the gang culture enforced by the colors that members wear.

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Plot Keywords:

gang | violence | barrio | gang violence | lapd | 

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Taglines:

It's The Movie That Forced America To Choose A Side... Now It's Your Turn.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

29 April 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Couleurs

Filming Locations:

104 West 113th Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$46,616,067 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Orion Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Critics complained that the scene showing the funeral being disrupted by gang gunfire was unrealistic. According to the filmmakers, shortly after the scene wrapped, a church service a short distance away actually was disrupted by gang gunfire.

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Goofs

When Hodges calls in to radio dispatch that they are chasing a black Ford LTD, it is actually a Mercury Marquis that they are chasing.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Diaz: Hey Hodges, what do you think about all those hot shot jitter bugs, huh?
Bob Hodges: What about 'em?
Diaz: You never went for this shit, did you?
Bob Hodges: No way.

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Connections

Referenced in CB4 (1993)

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Soundtracks

LOW RIDER
Performed by War
Written by Lonnie Jordan (as Jordan) / Thomas Allen (as Allen) / Harold R. Brown (as Brown) / Morris D. Dickerson (as Dickerson) / Charles Miller (as Miller) / Lee Oskar (as Oskar) / Howard E. Scott (as Scott) / Jerry Goldstein (as Goldstein)
Published by Far Out Music
Courtesy of LAX Records Inc.

User Reviews

Interesting depiction of gangs in LA... good performances

Colors First-Viewing, TV(Dennis Hopper)- Sean Penn, Robert Duvall, Don Cheadle, Maria Conchita Alonso, Glen Plummer, Grand L. Bush, Damon Wayans, Leon Robinson

Robert Duvall and Sean Penn star as two cops trying to fight gang violence in Los Angelos. Duvall is an old cop, who is going to retire, and Penn plays a rookie who is keen to make his presence felt on the force. Both give good performances, although Penn was clearly the highlight of the film, with an interesting character and very good performance. Robert Duvall was also good though, with a complex performance. Don Cheadle was virtually absent, was a bit of a villain, portraying a Crip gangbanger, but had very little lines, unfortunately. Maria Conchita Alonso played a woman in the ghetto that Officer McGavin (Penn) was interested in, and gave a very average performance. Other gangbangers played by Glen Plummer, Grand L. Bush, Damon Wayans and Leon Robinson, were all good in their small roles. Overall a good film depicting gang violence in LA, also had some good action sequences, and good acting. 8/10