THE WARRIORS (1979)

MORGAN'S RATING

The major New York gangs declare a truce so they can meet in the Bronx. When a gang leader is killed at the meeting, The Warriors from Coney Island are wrongly fingered for it. The truce is off and home is a long train ride away.

Michael Beck (Swan), James Remar (Ajax), Dorsey Wright (Cleon), Brian Tyler (Snow), David Harris (Cochise), Tom McKitterick (Cowboy), Marcelino Sanchez (Rembrandt), Terry Michos (Vermin), Thomas G. Waites (Fox), 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), Dennis Gregory (Masai), Gwynn Press, Jodi Price, Jeffrey Scott, Carl Brown (Prom Couples), Edward Sewer, Ron Ferrell, Fernando Casillo, Hubert Edwards, Larry Sears, Mike James, Gregory Cleghorne, George Lee MIles, Gerald G. Francis, Benny Harding, Eddie Prather, Kenny Stockton (Gramercy Riff Members), Joel Weiss, Harold Miller, Dan Bonnell, Dan Battles, Tom Jarus, Michael Garfield, Chirs Harley, Mark Baltazar (Rogue Members), J.W. Smith, Cal Saint John, Joe Zimmardi, William F. Williams, Marvin Foster, Johnny Barnes, Ken Thret, Michael Jeffrey (Turnbull A.C. Members), Sonny Landham (Policeman).

THESE ARE THE ARMIES OF THE NIGHT. THEY ARE 100,000 STRONG. THEY OUTNUMBER COPS FIVE TO ONE. THEY COULD RULE NEW YORK. TONIGHT THEY'RE ALL OUT FOR THE WARRIORS.

FACTS

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

RELEASE DATE: February 9th, 1979 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $3.5 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $22.4 million (USA) - Loosely based on Xenophon's "Anabasis". - The choregraphed fight in the men's room took 5 days (8am to 7pm) to shoot. - Director Walter Hill originally wanted the Warriors to be an all black gang, but the producers disagreed. - Hill originally intended an initial subtitle which read "Sometime in the future". - The IND Hoy-Schermerhorn subway station in Brooklyn was used for the 96th St. station scenes. The train operated on one of the unusued out tracks. - Subway equipment throughout the entire movie consisted of IND/BMT R-27 and R-30 unites, even though the IRT is implied in many instances. Apparently, no attention was paid to train markings, which varied considerably and were often unreleated to the actual routes traveled on. Other subway cars seen briefly are R-12, R-42 and R-46 units. - David Patrick Kelly, who plays Luther, played a character named Luther in another Walter Hill film: 48 HRS. (1982). Kelly also appeared in the Joel Silver-produced Commando (1985) and The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990). - After several violent incidents that occured at various showings of the film, the producers decided to change the poster as a way of cutting down on the violence. The original poster featured the logo as well as a picture of several tough looking gang members. The second poster just featured the logo against a white backdrop. - The subway footage during the opening titles were filmed along the express tracks of the IND Fulton St. line in Brooklyn. - The park at the beginning of the movie was supposed to be in the North Bronx. The scene was actually shot in Riverside Park on Manhattans Upper West Side.

DIRECTOR: Walter Hill (Streets of Fire). WRITERS: Walter Hill and David Shaber, and based on the novel by Sol Yurick. PRODUCER: Lawrence Gordon. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Joel Silver. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Frank Marshall. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Brian De Vorzon (score), Joe Walsh (song "In the City"). DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Pictures.

QUOTES

Ajax: I'll shove that bat up your ass and turn you into a popsicle.

Swan: You recognize them? Fox: Orphans. So far down they're not even on the map. Real low class.

Cochise: When you're president of the biggest gang in the city, you don't have to take any shit. Ajax: Ah, fuck him!

Cyrus: Can you dig it?

Swan: Why don't you just tie a mattress to your back? You don't care where it is, do you?

Ajax: Maybe you're all just goin' faggot.

D.J. Be lookin' good, Warriors. All the way back to Coney. You hear me babies? Good.

Masai: I want all the Warriors! I want them alive, if possible. If not, wasted! But I want them. Send the word!

Mercy: You Warriors are real tough muthas, ain't ya?

Mercy: See that guy? Over there! He's after you, and he's got some guys with him. Swan: I know they're on my ass, but now they know I know it.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"Comic book plot...redeemed by lightning pace, tough action sequences, creative use of color." -- Leonard Maltin

"A pleasure to watch, even if only to laugh at the memorable costumes and lines. Can you dig it?" -- Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide

"An action movie of great style and energy." -- Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World