The Wanderers (1979)
Directed by Philip Kaufman
Genres - Drama |
Sub-Genres - Coming-of-Age, Juvenile Delinquency Film |
Release Date - Jul 13, 1979 (USA - Unknown), Jul 13, 1979 (USA) |
Run Time - 113 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - R
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
The year 1979 saw an epidemic of American street-gang films, including Phil Kaufman's hit period drama The Wanderers. Set in the Bronx in 1963, the film concerns the titular gang of Italian-American teens and their ongoing power struggle with the rival "Fordham Baldies." Richard Price, upon whose novel this film was based, drew from his own experiences to weave his tale. Essentially a series of anecdotes-some tension-filled, some amusing -- The Wanderers climaxes on the occasion of the J.F.K. assassination, which for Price and hundreds and thousands of his aimless contemporaries served as a wake-up call. Viewed from the vantage point of the 1990s, one would wish that the current street gangs be shocked into adulthood with such suddenness (though not through the same tragic means). Ken Wahl, Karen Allen, and Linda Manz are among the standout performers in this richly detailed period piece.
Characteristics
Moods
Themes
Keywords
coming-of-age, danger, fear, gangster, high-school, love, school, slice-of-life, street-smart, teenagers, urban-problems, youth
Attributes
Cult Film, High Artistic Quality