'80s Fun: Streets of Fire (1984)

 We go from a '90s Film set in the Future (of 11 years ago) to an '80s Film from set in the 1950s...kind of.  This is Streets of Fire, a 1984 Film that is arguably a strong Cult Classic.  That means that it didn't do well in Theaters, sadly (mostly) ending any plans for a Series.  I added the mostly part since there apparently was a Sequel (of sorts) made around 2010.  I'm in no rush to see it.  This Films lives or dies basically on whether or not you like the whole motif.  You have to remember that there was a big revival of '50s looks, sounds and all around vibes at this time.  As such, Walter Hill- the Director of 48 Hours- was given plenty of money by Joel Silver to make this 'Rock & Roll Fantasy.'  The Film features a number of notable Stars from a young Diane Lane (who was 18, but playing older) to Rick Moranis to Ed Begley Jr as a Random Hobo.  Why not?!?  This was designed to be a big breakout role for its Lead- Michael Pare.  The fact that I have to say that tells you how well that worked out for him.  The Plot involves a Rock & Roll Band, a kidnapping, a return to Town from a big brother and, oh yeah, Willem Dafoe as an evil Biker Gang Leader!  I love to bury the lead.  To find out how weird and wild this can be, read on...

After a surprisingly-low key Title Card, we get a band playing in a City.  It's 'Another Time and Another Place,' but also clearly Chicago.

Enjoy seeing a young Diane Lane and hearing someone sing instead of her.

The Concert is broken up by a Biker Gang attacking everyone, including Moranis and Bill Paxton with hair that would make a young Morrisey jealous.

The Leader- Dafoe- takes Lane and they escape the Police/Mob.

A Waitress calls her Brother- Pare- to come home.

Right on cue, he's there to beat up *a different gang* to show off his stuff (and steal their car).

Supposedly, this is the inspiration for Haggar from Final Fight.  Decide for yourself.

Alongside a Cab Driver (who's role was written for a man, but then rewritten for her), he's hired by Moranis, who manages Lane.

Oh and Lane is his Ex.
Also Moranis is Lane's current Boyfriend too.

Awkward Car Ride Time!

A daring plan is hatched to blow up some bikes, shoot some Bikers and just make alot of chaos.

It works and Lane is rescued.
Dafoe is annoyed...but also excited to have a real challenge.  He wants a rematch!

The escape is not easy as all of the chaos alerted some Cops and they obviously can't use the same car from earlier.

After meeting Robert Townsend, Rene Russo's Bodyguard from Freejack (what are the odds?!?) AND the future Bubba from Forrest Gump, he blows up some Cop Cars with single shotgun blasts.

Where's Mythbusters when I need them?!?

Having saved Lane, Pare is paid...but turns down his share of the money.  He still loves Lane, you see.

They hook up one last time, but he makes it clear that he's not right for her.
Starcrossed Lovers and all that.

A threat from Dafoe's Lead Henchman (Lee Ving, who would be promoted by the time Dudes came around) leads to the Cops telling Pare to leave.

Naturally, he doesn't and fights Dafoe in a rough brawl.

He leaves before the big Concert (which closes out the last 10 minutes of the Film) and drives off with the Cabbie.

See you...oh right, not for a long time (and probably not worth the wait).  The End.

A fun, flashy and kind of weird Film.  On the surface, it all sounds pretty normal.  Big, macho guy beats up Bikers to rescue his woman.  How quaint.  Underneath all of that, you have a weird air of real, but fake-looking with the City.  Part-intentional and part-accidental, the Film's Setting looks just unreal enough to make you go 'hmm' without being pure fantasy.  Part of the reason, as it turns out is that they spent over $1 million on a tarp for the whole area to mimic the night sky for many Scenes.  Damn- that's a very '80s way to deal with having young Actors on set!  There's also a certain vibe to the whole Film that you're definitely going to either love or hate.  It has a surreal feel to it since it is an '80s Film trying to look like a '50s Film- or at least an exaggerated version of one.  Obviously, Thunder Road wasn't nearly this interesting!  A big part of the origin of this Story was its Writer making a Checklist of what he'd want to see in a Film- Bikers, Men Fighting for Honor, etc- and putting it all in here.  For me, it worked.  It feels just '80s enough to give me the crazy excess and just '50s enough to feel retro for its day.  Pare delivers here, as does Moranis as the Lovable Prick, Amy Madigan as the Gruff (but Lovable) Cabbie and Lane in the (thankfully-expanded) role of Rock & Roll Singer Girlfriend.  Hell, even Lee Ving makes the most of his mostly-silent Henchman Role.  The Film sadly flew under the radar then and still kind of does now.  If you like this kind of crazy, Rock & Roll Fantasy, check it out.  Now Gumshoes, can you solve the mystery of...The Mysterious Cameo?!?

Next time, I try to be topical sometimes here.  As such, how about a Stephen King Mini-Series before the new one?  Stay tuned...