The Outsiders

Starring: C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Diane Lane, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, 
Written by: S.E. Hinton (novel), Kathleen Rowell, Francis Ford Coppola
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Year: 1983

Rating: * * * *  Stars       +       (Fan Bonus - )  Total: * * * *


Set in the mid 1960's in or near Tulsa Ok, this film tells the tragic story of youth, class warfare, gang life and social stereotypes.  


Starring a who's-who of actors who will go on to define Hollywood in the 80's and 90's, the film centers on two characters, Pony Boy (C. Thomas Howell) and Johnny (Ralph Macchio) who run away after killing a rival gang member. Both Howell and Macchio do a fantastic job of carrying the film, and conveying the tragedy and injustice of their lot in life. 


The two gangs featured in this film also represent the social commentary the author and filmmaker are trying to convey. One one hand, you have the West Side Socs (presumably short for socials). These are a group of rich kids, who have hot cars, hot chicks, and all the breaks others don't. The other gang, which the film focuses on, are the Greasers. These kids come from poor neighborhoods, broken homes, and are viewed as criminals even though some in the gang are hard working and honest. Patrick Swayze and Rob Lowe play Darrel and Sodapop Curtis respectively, Ponyboy's two older brothers. Darrel is the leader of the Greasers and the head of the household. With both parents dead, he works hard to ensure the family stays together. He wants his brothers to stay out of trouble for fear that social workers will come and break them up.


The catalyst of the film is when Ponny Boy and Johnny are walking home through the park when three Socs, much bigger and drunk, pick a fight with the two skinny Greasers. Johnny is beaten into unconsciousness, and when he comes to, the three Socs are drowning Ponyboy in a fountain. Reaching in his back pocket, Johnny pulls out a switchblade and limps toward the fountain. When Ponyboy comes to, he sees a visibly shaken Johnny, and a dead Soc near the fountain. Johnny can't go home as his abusive mother would kill him. Ponny is scared to tell Darrel, so they run to fellow Greaser Dallas (Matt Damon) who arranges for them to run out of town and hold up for a week at an abandoned church. When Dallas goes up to meet them and give them news on what's going on in town, Pony and Johnny decide to return to turn themselves in. Pony is innocent and Johnny reasons that it is a case of self defense. Unfortunately before they can get back, they return to the church to discover a fire, and children trapped inside. The three Greasers rescue the children, but not before Johnny is critically wounded.


With Johnny in the hospital, and Ponyboy back home, the two rival factions settle their differences in a night time rumble. Ultimately, this fight solves nothing, as was pointed out earlier in the film that Greasers will still be Greasers and Socs will still be Socs. It's more a point of social pride.


This isn't a gritty, in your face drama like Boys N The Hood. This is a more stylized, romantic look at gang life, complete with picturesque scenery and set in an idolized period of American history. Still, its mood and narrative remain faithful to S.E. Hinton's novel. It's the innocence of youth against the harshness of their reality. The message of the film is to "Stay Gold." Meaning that youth is a golden time in ones life, and it lasts for only a moment. This is reinforced with Pony and Johnny discussing the Robert Frost poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay", and by the theme song "Stay Gold", sung by Stevie Wonder.


Each of the main characters in this film are fully fleshed out, and the actors certainly bring them to life,. They're a brotherhood, and each have their qualities, some admirable, some not. Rated PG, this film is recommended to show to children, but certainly needs "Parental Guidance" to put the film in perspective. 


In 1990, Francis Ford Coppola released a short lived TV series of the same name. And while it was completely recasted, it sought to tell the further exploits of the central characters. It dove more deeply into each character, with the final episode offering a more hopeful outlook for these troubled youths.


In 2005, a "Complete Novel" edition was released including some 22 minutes of additional footage.


SEE THE TRAILER: The Outsiders