The Wanderers (1979)

The Wanderers is a teenage, Italian gang in Bronx, NYC, 1963. They have their confrontations with other gangs. Drugs and weapons are uncool. Adult life awaits them.

Director:

Philip Kaufman

Writers:

Richard Price (novel), Rose Kaufman (screenplay)

Stars:

Ken Wahl, Karen Allen, John Friedrich

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ken Wahl	...	Richie
John Friedrich	...	Joey
Karen Allen	...	Nina
Toni Kalem	...	Despie Galasso
Alan Rosenberg	...	Turkey
Jim Youngs	...	Buddy
Tony Ganios	...	Perry
Linda Manz	...	Peewee
William Andrews	...	Emilio
Erland van Lidth	...	Terror (as Erland Van Lidth De Jeude)
Val Avery	...	Mr. Sharp
Dolph Sweet	...	Chubby Galasso
Michael Wright	...	Clinton
Burtt Harris	...	Marine Recruiter
Samm-Art Williams	...	Roger

Storyline

Set against the urban jungle of 1963 New York's gangland subculture, this coming of age teenage movie is set around the Italian gang the Wanderers. Slight comedy, slight High School angst and every bit entertaining with its classic 1950's Rock n' Roll soundtrack such as "Walk Like a Man", "Big Girls Don't Cry" by The Four Seasons and "My Boyfriend's Back" by The Angels. Focusing around a football game where the different gangs play with and against each other, then at its grand finale, come together in a mass of union to defend their honour and their turf. Nostalgic stuff and above all a Rock n' Roll retrospective on a grand musical era. Timeless.

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Plot Keywords:

ethnic slur | racial slur | blackboard | kiss | john f. kennedy assassination | 

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Taglines:

The magic, the music, the mystery of growing up.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ken Wahl's film debut.

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Goofs

In a classroom scene, Mr. Sharp writes on the blackboard "all men are created equal." He asks the class "who wrote that?" The class jokes "you did." Then Sharp says it was 'A. Lincoln'. It was written by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence.

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Quotes

Richie: You hear the whistle?
Buddy: Yeah. Ready to kick some ass!
[Joey and Turkey run by them]
Richie: Hey, Hey Joey! Who we fighting?
Joey: The Baldies!
Richie: The Baldies? Oh, shit!

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Connections

References Palm Springs Weekend (1963)

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Soundtracks

Pipeline
Performed by The Chantays
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
Written by Bob Spickard (uncredited) and Brian Carman (uncredited)

User Reviews

WONDERFUL COMING-OF-AGE MOVIE

This film has so much more to it than other 'gang' films of the era. I remember when it came out at the cinema and was unfairly compared to 'The Warriors' which is a very different film (although both have the gangs in New York setting). I love this film as it is witty, funny, sad, and has a dark and stylistic tone. PHILIP KAUFMAN is a great director and really proves it here. The acting is great, and it is interesting that only KAREN ALLEN 'made it' to Hollywood fame and went onto make films like 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', 'Starman', 'Scrooged' and 'Perfect Storm'. What happened to the other actors? This is a 'cult' epic if ever there was one and it seems to have grown in popularity over the years. Deservedly so in my opinion. Timeless and charming - THE WANDERERS are forever!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

4 July 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Wanderers

Filming Locations:

Fordham Road, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,206, 13 November 2016

Gross USA:

$14,492

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,492

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Finance Group, Orion Pictures, Polyc International BV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1