Streetwise (1984)

Gritty documentary that looks at the lives of teenagers living on the streets of Seattle.

Director:

Martin Bell

Writer:

Cheryl McCall (story "Streets of the Lost")

Stars:

Roberta Joseph Hayes, Baby Gramps, Erin Blackwell

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Roberta Joseph Hayes	...	Herself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Baby Gramps	...	Himself
Erin Blackwell	...	Herself (as Tiny)
Lou Ellen Couch	...	Herself (as Lulu)
Kim	...	Herself
Lillie	...	Herself
Munchkin	...	Himself
Patti	...	Herself
Dewayne Pomeroy	...	Himself
Rat	...	Himself
Shadow	...	Himself
Shellie	...	Herself
Brandia Taamu	...	Breezy
Tom Waits	...	Himself

Storyline

Portrays the lives of nine desperate teenagers. Thrown too young into a seedy grown up world, these runaways and castaways survive, but just barely. Rat, the dumpster diver. Tiny, the teen prostitute. Shellie, the baby-faced blonde. DeWayne, the hustler. All old beyond their years. All underage survivors fighting for life and love on the streets of downtown Seattle.

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Plot Keywords:

teen prostitute | seattle washington | street life | suicide | prison | 

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Taglines:

At 13, there's not much Lillie hasn't seen. Except love.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Законы улицы

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bear Creek

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Picked by Entertainment Weekly magazine as one of the "50 Greatest Independent Films" in a special supplement devoted to independent films that was only distributed to subscribers in November 1997.

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Quotes

Rat: [To Erin in jail] "You can take the 'ho off the street, but you can't take the street off the 'ho."

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Connections

Version of American Heart (1992)

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Soundtracks

Take Care Of All My Children
Written and Performed by Tom Waits

User Reviews

i was there

Its been twenty twenty six years since the streetwise film was made i was in a boys home at the time of filming i was asked to be in the film but i was unable to be there i knew rat and lulu Kim Dwayne tiny munchkin and Pattie hell i even dated Lillie for a while the days of the doughnut shop and the aftermath when Gunther got busted and yes even to this day the murder of lulu still makes me cry to some people out there these kids were ghosts to me they wers my friends and family who at times were the only family we had its sad to think so many of them are gone but never will be forgotten my name is T I am now 42 years old and live in Nashville tn im married with two kids and work in law enforcement i see kids today just where we all were downtown on first and pike just as scared and just as tough trying to survive in a world that is not that easy to survive in

yet i try to help them the best way i can hell somebody has to. to all those who was in the film i still think of you everyday and send love im even writing a book about the seattle street kids in those days if any of you are still around and remember me T please send word email me i would love to hear from you