The Warriors **** (1979, Michael Beck, James Remar, Dorsey Wright) – Classic Movie Review 10,377

Director Walter Hill’s fast-moving and effective but worrying 1979 exploitation crime action thriller The Warriors stars Michael Beck and James Remar in a story about a New York City gang under attack while journeying across the city.

Hill handles the action and violence excitingly, and Andrew Laszlo’s experimental colour photography is an eyeful.

There is no acting to speak of, and it was said to have sparked off city violence in America, as gangs were attracted to the film, causing Paramount Pictures to pull the movie from cinemas and out of marketing. But it became a cult hit and made a profit, earning $22.4 million in box office receipts against a budget of only $4 million, and is a long-term cult favourite.

It has an arty, fantasy feel about it, like a 90-minute pop video, and is very stylish.

The screenplay is by David Shaber and Walter Hill, based on the novel by Sol Yurick.

Also in the cast are Thomas G Waites, Dorsey Wright, Brian Tyler, David Harris, Tom McKitterick, Marcelino Sanchez, Terry Michos, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, Roger Hill, David Patrick Kelly, Lynne Thigpen, Ginny Ortiz and Mercedes Ruehl.

It runs 92 minutes, but the TV version adds about 10 minutes of extra footage.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,377

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