On this week’s Fabulous Film and Friends we are going to show that we’re tough enough when discussing Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 cult classic The Outsiders. Starring a veritable Who’s Who of 80’s leading men and one woman, Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Emelio Estevez, Rob Lowe, dreamy Leif Garrett and the token female, future Oscar nominee Diane Lane. If the movie had made ten years later, it would’ve cost upward of $100 million dollars in salaries.
Why are we discussing this film? Because The Outsiders The Complete Novel aka the Director’s Cut was recently released on HBO Max and I was compelled to revisit this imperfect yet fascinating work by the legendary Francis Ford Coppola, arguably the greatest American Filmmaker of all time, who made this movie in a sort of experimental retreat after suffering a devastating financial and critical defeat with his previous film, 1982’s One From The Heart .
Joining me in this analytical rumble and representing the hard punching greasers is the terror of Ketchikan Alaska, back alley brawler Alex Robertson. And on the snooty soc side, who stands for truth, civility, curling up to a good book with a hot cup of tea, my sister Roseanne!
But first the synopsis:
Based on the popular novel by SE Hinton, The Outsiders unfolds as sensitive, intelligent Tulsa Oklahoma greasers Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade go on the lam after Johnny murders Bob Sheldon, a soc who nearly drowns Ponyboy in a jealous rage after Ponyboy is seen talking with with Bobl’s girlfriend Cherry Valance. During their time in hiding and aided by their good friend, protector and fellow greaser Dallas “Dally” Winston”, Johnny and Ponyboy rescue a group of children from a fire which sends Johnny to the hospital with severe burns. Returning to Tulsa with Johnny in critical condition, Ponyboy joins with his brothers Darry and Sodapop to face the soc’s in an no-holds barred rumble as Bob’s murder demands vengeance. The Greasers win the fight but at what cost?