The Warriors (1979)

In the near future, a charismatic leader summons the street gangs of New York City in a bid to take it over. When he is killed, The Warriors are falsely blamed and now must fight their way home while every other gang is hunting them down.

Director:

Walter Hill

Writers:

Sol Yurick (novel), David Shaber (screenplay)

Stars:

Michael Beck, James Remar, Dorsey Wright

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Cyrus, the leader of the most powerful gang in New York City, the Gramercy Riffs, calls a midnight summit for all the area gangs, with all asked to send nine unarmed representatives for the conclave. A gang called The Warriors are blamed for killing Cyrus as he gives his speech. They now have to cross the territory of rivals in order to get to their own 'hood. The Warriors slowly cross the dangerous Bronx and Manhattan territories, narrowly escaping police and other gangs every step of the way.

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Plot Keywords:

new york city | street gang | disc jockey | warrior | one night | 

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Taglines:

Tonight they're all out to get the Warriors.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 February 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les guerriers de la nuit

Filming Locations:

Breezy Point, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,529,675, 11 February 1979, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$22,490,039

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Def Squad sampled the line "Can you dig it?" for their 1998 song "Can U Dig It?"

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Goofs

When the Warriors are fighting Punks in the bathroom, we see Cochise being pushed into one of the stalls. At the same time we can just see Mercy getting out of the stall to the right. Just the second after we see Swan fighting with Mercy standing on the toilet in the same stall as she just got out of. Mercy then gets out of the stall again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Cleon: It's still on and we're goin'. Cyrus sent an emissary this afternoon to make sure. Now, Cyrus don't want anybody packed and he don't want anybody flexing any muscle. So, I gave him my word that the Warriors would uphold the truce.
[pause]
Cleon: Now everybody says that Cyrus is the one and only.
[pause]
Cleon: I think we better go have a look for ourself.

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Crazy Credits

In the original version, the end credits are followed by 3 minutes of black screen as the Joe Walsh song "In the City" plays.

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Connections

Referenced in Luke Cage: Blowin' Up the Spot (2016)

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Soundtracks

You're Movin' Too Slow
Composed by Eric Mercury, William Smith
Performed by Johnny Vastano

User Reviews

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 ****.