The Wanderers (1979)

Interestingly enough, most of the gangs portrayed in the film were neither symbolic nor imaginary, but were based on various real gangs who existed at different periods throughout the fifties and early sixties.

Many of these gangs were not real gangs in the common theatrical sense, but were specific ethnic groups of teens from different Bronx and Manhattan neighborhoods. Of course, each group developed its own mythical idea of what the other groups were like, and in his novel, Richard Price used much of this teenage myth and lore.

Of all the well-embellished epics common to the teens in the Wanderers' neighborhood , those dealing with the Duckies were the most detailed and commonly accepted. The Duckies, whether or not they were truly an organized group with such a name, were "the guys across the tracks", insofar as The Wanderers were concerned (the tracks being the NY Central's Harlem Line). They lived in the predominantly Irish neighborhood directly across Bronx Park. I believe their frightening, near demonic quality in the movie was based on a single actual event when two of the Wanderers were actually attacked in the park. Since The Wanderers had never really engaged in any real "gang wars" (or any significant fighting for that matter), that particular episode was the source of most of their perceptions of the Duckie Boys' penchant for unbridled violence.

Fmovies: Just finished watching The Wanderers again after so many years. It still stays an all time classic to me. When it just came out I couldn't get enough of that movie. I think it aged well and it's still good after all those years. Maybe the acting and the dialogs are not the greatest but to me it just brings me back to my youth. Okay I preferred The Warriors that came out that same year, but that movie is not comparable even if it is also about gangs. In the Wanderers it's nice to see how the gangs were in that time in New York. It's absolutely not comparable with the gangs from now. The gangs in that time were just friends hanging out together but now they are just gangsters selling drugs and weapons. Anyways, after all those years I still enjoyed this movie, especially the soundtrack.

This movie is special. It has a great flow, a great story, and captures the essence of the early 60's in NY as the times change. The acting is spontaneous, and the music has to be one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard in a movie. Not just because the songs are good, but how they help tell the story. They come in at the right time, and give goosebumps throughout.

Two of the best scenes in the movie ---- absolute chills down the spine ---- when the women are crying on the street for Kennedy, and the song "Stand By Me" (Ben E. King), provides an indication that there is a shift at that moment in culture. The Wanderers days are numbered. The other scene is the poker game with the girls. Ken Wahl and Karen Allen are priceless, and the song "Baby it's you" is unbelievable.

If you like a little history, some classic songs, and a really good story, mixed with good writing and great acting, this movie is a absolute must see. A Classic. One of my favorite movies of all time.

The Wanderers fmovies. I first saw the Wanderers at the drive in movies back in 79 or 80 and loved it enough to see it three more times before it eventually stopped showing as the feature or second movie{back then you got two movies to watch for the price of admission}.Haven't seen it for 36 years until I saw it for sale on E-bay {from the drive in movies to e bay} for the price of 7 bucks. I can't believe this movie isn't a classic in the industry of movie makers who seem to have a hard time making movies with heart or originality {see Chips and Starsky and Hutch remakes}. I didn't grow up in the Bronx but that movie made me feel like I was there in a more simpler time. The characters as camp as they seemed were real people that I could relate. The soundtrack music is good enough that kids today would say, I've heard that before. This movie draws you in and holds your interest until the final chilling scenes with humor tragedy and social commentary that seem to be saying the times they are a changing.

A memorable film about a "club" of Italian-American teenagers in The Bronx of 1963. (Today we'd call them a "gang," but if you compare the "Wanderers" to today's "Bloods", "Gangster Disciples", etc., those l963 kids were relative sissies.)

The movie is unpretentious, Its structure, pace, and acting are outstanding, with special kudos for the renditions of various neighborhood "characters" by largely unknown players. (Karen Allen, Ken Wahl, and Olympia Dukakis went on to later fame, but I don't think they were well-known in 1979). Not since "Marty" has a film captured the essence of so many day-to-day denizens of its neighborhood.

The settings are authentic (I lived two blocks away from the hangout of the fictional "Fordham Baldies" in 1963), as is the soundtrack, featuring Dion & The Belmonts, The Ventures, and others. Try it!

I came across this movie by accident. It showed up on Cinemax one day and I was hooked just by the first two minutes. This ranks up there as one of my favorite movies of all time. From the opening scenes of the Bronx in 1963 while The Four Seasons "Walk like a Man" is playing to the end when we hear Dion's "The Wanderers" this is truly a special movie. All the actors in this movie are wonderful too. How could you not love Ritchie (Ken Whal)? He is so handsome. I also loved Perry "Leave the kid alone". You have all the gangs like The Baldies, The Wongs, The Ducky Boys etc... and I crack up over Terror & Pee Wee (what a couple). If you like "The Bronx Tale", "The Outsiders", or "Grease", then you will love this even more. Don't pass this one up. It's one of the best!