The Lords of Flatbush **** (1974, Sylvester Stallone, Henry Winkler, Perry King) – Classic Movie Review 10,726

Writers-directors Stephen F Verona and Martin Davidson’s 1974  comedy drama The Lords of Flatbush stars Perry King, Henry Winkler and Sylvester Stallone, as ‘Chico’ Tyrell, Butchey Weinstein and Stanley Rosiello.

Young, gifted and unknown Stallone, King and Winkler give fresh, vibrant, rough-edged performances among the ensemble of blow-waved, brawny boys in this sassy, comic, late 1950s-set period tale about Brooklyn teenagers in a wild gang called The Lords of Flatbush.

There’s great wit and polish in the characterisations of this little, bright cult item, though much less in the scripting and direction. There’s tasty music too. It delivers a commendable lot on a tiny cost – of only $160,000.

Also in the cast are Paul Mace, Susan Blakely, Maria Smith, Renée Paris, Paul Jabara, Bruce Reed, Frank Stiefel, Martin Davidson, Joe Stern, Ruth Klinger, Joan Neuman, Dolph Sweet, Antonia Rey, Lou Byrne, Bill Van Sleet, Margaret Bauer, Rose Rothman, Armand Assante and Ray Sharkey.

The Lords of Flatbush is directed by Stephen F Verona and Martin Davidson, runs 86 minutes, is made by Ebbets Field, is released by Columbia Pictures (1974) (US) and Columbia-Warner Distributors (1974) (UK), is written by Stephen F Verona, Martin Davidson, Gayle Gleckler and Sylvester Stallone (additional dialogue), is shot by Joseph Mangine and Edward Lachman, is produced by Stephen F Verona, and is scored by Joseph Brooks (also conductor and music arranger), Paul Jabara and Paul Nicholas.

Yale graduates King and Winkler stayed in character as street toughs off set. King recalled: ‘Stephen Verona would never have cast a Yale graduate to play Chico so I stayed in character, and half way through the film I told him (in thick Brooklyn drawl) “Hey Steven, you realise you cast two Yale graduates as your hoods?” He thought I was kidding!’

Stephen Verona, writer-producer-director of The Lords of Flatbush, died at 78 in July 2019.

 © Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,726

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