Movies:
The Wanderers
DVD Release
- Release Date: 2002
- Subtitles: English & Français
- cc
- Feature-length commentary by director/co-writer Philip Kaufman
- Interactive menus
- Theatrical trailer
- Scene access
- Rating:
- Genre: Drama
- Movie Type: Juvenile Delinquency Film, Coming-of-Age
- Themes: Innocence Lost, Kids in Trouble
- Director: Philip Kaufman
- Main Cast: Ken Wahl, John Friedrich, Karen Allen, Linda Manz, Toni Kalem
- Release Year: 1979
- Country: US
- Run Time: 113 minutes
- MPAA Rating: R
Plot
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. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie GuideReview
Philip Kaufman's screen adaptation of Richard Price's novel superbly captures the lives of a group of Brooklyn teenagers trying to seem tougher than they are, just as America is about to lose its innocence. While often lumped with The Warriors, Boulevard Nights, and the other street-gang films that hit the screen in 1979, The Wanderers doesn't deal much with territorial violence among emotionally disadvantaged youth. "The Wanderers" rarely confront violence more serious than a schoolyard scuffle, and they don't carry guns. Instead, this movie is a well-remembered reminiscence of the trials of growing up, as the guys struggle with women and figure out what to do with their futures, without much help from their parents. Kaufman does a fine job of capturing the tough, nervy humor of Price's book, but two of the most powerful moments are original to the film, and they set the film's time period perfectly: Perry (Tony Ganios) watches in shock as the coverage of J.F.K.'s assassination plays on a TV in a department-store window, and Richie (Ken Wahl), in a coffeehouse, sees a skinny guy with curly hair and a reedy voice singing "The Times They Are A-Changin'." With his "Wanderers" jacket and oily pompadour, Richie is laughably conspicuous among the self-conscious folkies, and he knows it, but he cannot know that his world will be a thing of the past in a year or two. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie GuideCast
- Ken Wahl - Richie
- John Friedrich - Joey
- Karen Allen - Nina
- Linda Manz - Peewee
- Toni Kalem - Despie Galasso
Tony Ganios - Perry; Alan Rosenberg - Turkey; Jim Youngs - Buddy; William Andrews - Emilio; Erland Van Lidth - Terror; Val Avery - Mr. Sharp; Dolph Sweet - Chubby Galasso; Michael Wright - Clinton; Dion Albanese - Teddy Wong; Alan Braunstein - Ducky Boy Leader; Rosemary de Angelis - Waitress; Olympia Dukakis - Joey's Mom; Ken Foree - Black Sportsman; Sally Anne Golden - Crying Woman; Leon Grant - Boo Boo; Burtt Harris - Marine Recruiter; Tara King - Pretty Girl; Faith Minton - Big Lady; Bruce Nozick - Dushie; Sam Williams - Roger; Frank Ferrara - Wanderer; Jery Hewitt - Bowler; Tony Munafo - Tony; Richard Price - Bowling Bankroller; Adam Kimmel - Folk Singer; Konrad Sheehan
