'80s Class: The Outsiders (1983)

There are some Films that define the people that watched it when it came out.

In my case, however, I was born the year this came out...so not so much.

The Outsiders is a 1983 Drama from Francis Ford Coppola, which is most famous for its Cast.  At the time, it was the successful adaptation of a popular Book.  Now it is the 'Did you know that XXX XXX was in this?!?' Film.

Is there more to it than that?  Is it still a Classic?

The Story is a classic Coming of Age Story set in the Past.  There were quite a few from that time- see American Graffiti- and I can probably think of a few recent ones as well.  To see how it all plays out, read on...

It is 1965 and the youth are broken up into two groups- Greasers and Socs (the rich kids).

We meet a number of the former.

Notable Cast Members include C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe (not pictured) and Tom Cruise (also not pictured).

Things take a turn when the group get involved with a Soc (Diane Lane's Cheri/Cherry).

She befriends Howell and Macchio, but the group are confronted by her very-recently-ex-Boyfriend (Leif Garrett, who's mocking is why they are all smiling on the Cover)

Nobody is smiling later.

After another fight with his brother (Swayze), Howell stays out for the night with Macchio.

They are confronted by the drunk Boyfriend and his friends, who try to DROWN Howell.

Macchio kills him in (relative) self-defense!

The duo go into hiding with the help of Dillon, disappearing in a nearby Town.

The duo get all philosophical during their absence and Coppola really leans into it with shots like this.

Before they head back, they see a Church on fire and go to help.

They manage to get the kids out, but get varying degrees of injury.

Macchio gets it the worst here.

The Film builds up to the Rumble- not to be confused with the Rumble Fish- between the two groups.

It's a short, but violent fight for everyone involved...but Howell, who is knocked out in one punch at the start.

Macchio, it seems, is paralyzed from his burns and injuries.

He keeps encouraging Howell to 'stay golden' (is that where that phrase comes from?!?)

...and he's dead.  Ouch.

To make things worse, Dillon's Character freaks out and robs a store, getting wounded in the process.

He commits suicide by cop as the guys are too late to stop him.

In the aftermath, Howell has to think about what he's learned in the last few months and we are now back to him writing, well, this Film, I guess.  The End.

A good Film- no question.  I suppose there are a few caveats to put out there...

1) If you aren't a young man and/or didn't spend much time around them, it might not be super-relatable.

2) It's Setting and Location are pretty precise, so it may not match your own.

That said, there's plenty of legitimate, human drama.  It comes from a good source material, has Coppola behind the Camera and a Cast of young, hungry Actors in front of it.

Whether you personally connect with the Characters and their plight is not the be all end all here.  You can still observe it as, well, an outsider.  I should also note that I watched the 'Complete Novel' Version and not the original Cut.  Like other Cuts, I'm pretty sure that this replaced the regular one when it came out some 20 years ago.

If you're into stuff like Stand By Me, American Graffiti or a more recent Film like, say, Licorice Pizza, give this one a look.  If nothing else, it will make you a bit scared of the Coach from The Mighty Ducks!

Next up, another dive into the (yes still growing) DVD pile.  I should bring out some more straight Horror that I'm not saving for October.  Stay tuned...