The Wanderers (1979)

Director:

Philip Kaufman

Writers:

Richard Price (novel)
Rose Kaufman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

4 July 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Action

Tagline:

It's 1963. Meet The Wanderers... They were the hottest guys in town.

Plot:

Set against the urban jungle of 1963 New York's gangland subculture, this coming of age teenage movie is set around the Italian gang the Wanderers...

Plot Keywords:

Rock 'n' Roll | Gang | Football Game | Bare Butt | African American

Cast

Ken Wahl	...	Richie
John Friedrich	...	Joey
Karen Allen	...	Nina
Toni Kalem	...	Despie Galasso
Alan Rosenberg	...	Turkey
Jim Youngs	...	Buddy
Tony Ganios	...	Perry
Linda Manz	...	Peewee
William Andrews	...	Emilio
Erland van Lidth	...	Terror (as Erland Van Lidth De Jeude)
Val Avery	...	Mr. Sharp
Dolph Sweet	...	Chubby Galasso
Michael Wright	...	Clinton
Burtt Harris	...	Marine Recruiter
Samm-Art Williams	...	Roger
Dion Albanese	...	Teddy Wong
Olympia Dukakis	...	Joey's Mom
George Merolle	...	Peppy Dio
Terri Perri	...	Terri Perri
John Califano	...	Bowling Bankroller
Richard Price	...	Bowling Bankroller
Linda Artuso	...	Buddy's Woman
Earlie J. Butler III	...	Del Bomber
Rafael Cabrera	...	Del Bomber
Brian Colleary	...	Referee
Rosemary De Angelis	...	Waitress
Lorna Erickson	...	Gloria Galasso
Ken Foree	...	Black Sportsman
Sally Anne Golden	...	Crying Woman
Leon W. Grant	...	Boo Boo (as Leon Grant)
Jery Hewitt	...	Bowler
Adam Kimmel	...	Folk Singer
Tara King	...	Pretty Girl
Faith Minton	...	Big Lady
Bruce Nozick	...	Dushie
Michael Pasternak	...	Georgie
Sheryl Posner	...	Despie's Girlfriend
Bert Samuel	...	Mau Mau
Konrad Sheehan	...	Ducky Boy 2nd-In-Command
Frank Ferrara	...	Wanderer
Paul Lisotta	...	Wanderer
Thomas H. LoRusso	...	Wanderer
Anthony Pleskow	...	Wanderer
Steven Santillo	...	Wanderer
Billy Stulberg	...	Wanderer
Victor Terry	...	Wanderer
F.X. Vitolo	...	Wanderer (as Frank Vitolo)
Harry Benjamin	...	Pharoah Leader
Alan Braunstein	...	Ducky Boy Leader
Mark Lesly	...	Second Ducky Boy
Farrel R. Tannenbaum	...	Ray Leader
Anthony Tirico	...	Executioner Leader
Vinnie De Carlo	...	Albert
Dom De Prospo	...	Dom
Tony Munafo	...	Tony
Michael J. Raffaele	...	Mike
Danny Aiello III	...	Baldie
Michael Amato	...	Baldie
John Devaney	...	Baldie
Terrence George	...	Baldie
Nicholas J. Giangiulio	...	Baldie
Eddie Horre	...	Baldie
Dennis M. Lee	...	Baldie
Ralph Mazzella	...	Baldie
Peter Potulski	...	Baldie
Jimmy Scagnelli	...	Baldie
Joe Zimmardi	...	Baldie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Conroy	...	Wanderer (uncredited)
Wayne Knight	...	Gang Member (uncredited)
John Macaluso	...	Duckie Boy (uncredited)
Timothy Aaron Styles	...	Dell Bomber (uncredited)

Directed by
Philip Kaufman

Writing credits
Richard Price		(novel)
Rose Kaufman		(screenplay) and
Philip Kaufman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Fred C. Caruso	....	associate producer
John W. Hyde	....	executive producer
Martin Ransohoff	....	producer
Richard R. St. Johns	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Michael Chapman

Film Editing by
Stuart H. Pappé
Ronald Roose

Casting by
Scott Rudin

Production Design by
John Jay Moore

Set Decoration by
Thomas C. Tonery

Costume Design by
Robert De Mora

Makeup Department
Philip Leto	....	hair stylist
Craig Lyman	....	special makeup effects artist
Bob O'Bradovich	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Fred C. Caruso	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Laurie B. Eichengreen	....	second assistant director
Alan Hopkins	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	property master
Sherman Labby	....	production illustrator
Richard A. Ventre	....	chargeman scenic artist

Sound Department
Steve Maslow	....	post-production sound mixer
Tex Rudloff	....	post-production sound mixer
Sam F. Shaw	....	sound effects
Bill Varney	....	post-production sound mixer
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Curt Schulkey	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Steve James	....	stunts
Victor Magnotta	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph Di Pasquale	....	first assistant camera
Edward Gold	....	camera operator
Louis Goldman	....	still photographer
Sal Martorano	....	electrician
Richard Quinlan	....	gaffer
Ed Quinn	....	key grip (as Edward Quinn)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Susan Brown	....	assistant costume designer
Warren Morrill	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Craig McKay	....	additional editor
Nicholas C. Smith	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Susan R. Crutcher	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Edward Iacobelli	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Sidney Gecker	....	script supervisor
Stephen A. Glanzrock	....	production assistant
Jay Remer	....	unit publicist
David Streit	....	location manager
Lawrence Tan	....	martial arts coordinator

Production Companies

• Film Finance Group
• Orion Pictures Corporation
• Polyc International BV

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1979) (USA) (theatrical) (through)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1989) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Aquarius TV (1998) (Greece) (TV)
• Force Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Roadshow Home Video
• Warner Home Video (1983) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (video)

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:R (original rating) | Netherlands:16 | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Norway:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Film Finance Group

Trivia:

The movie playing on the television at the beginning of the movie is The Three Stooges in Orbit (1962)

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When the Baldies are chasing Joey and Turkey up the middle of the street, a 1970's era General Motors car is seen going across the top of the screen, after the VW Bug.

Quotes:

Peewee: [Overhearing what Joey says Turkey about the Baldies] Hey, Terror! This guy just said we look like a bunch of pricks with ears!
Joey: [Terror and the rest of the Baldies walk toward Joey] I didn't say that! I didn't say that!
Peewee: Oh yeah! What did you say?
Joey: I said, uh, you guys look like a bunch of, uh, ears without pricks!
[Takes off running with the Baldies in pursuit]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Old School (2003)

Soundtrack:

Stranger Girl

Intelliegent and surreal

This may appear to be your typical coming-of-age-in-da-Bronx movie, but it actually is a lot more than that. It has a surreal quality in the form of the Duckie Boys, who appear and disappear with equal ease. Of course they are symbolic of the troubled times to come in the 60's. Throughout the issues the film deals with, there are great performances, a killer soundtrack and a real feel for the period. I can't imagine anyone not getting something from viewing this fine movie.