Defiance (1980)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

John Flynn

Writers:

Thomas Michael Donnelly (screenplay)
Thomas Michael Donnelly (story)
(more)

Release Date:

14 March 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Crime

Tagline:

There comes a time when we have to stand up and be counted. This is the story of one man who did.

Plot:

Tommy takes up temporary housing in a New York neighborhood plagued by a violent gang called the Souls...

Plot Keywords:

Gang | New York | Street | Terror | Violence

Cast

Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Tommy
Theresa Saldana	...	Marsha
Danny Aiello	...	Carmine
Rudy Ramos	...	Angel Cruz
Lenny Montana	...	Whacko
Art Carney	...	Abe
Santos Morales	...	Paolo
Frank Pesce	...	Herbie
Don Blakely	...	Abbie
James Victor	...	Father Rivera
Randy Hermann	...	Tito (as Randy Herman)
Lee Fraser	...	Bandana
Joseph Campanella	...	Karenski (as Joe Campanella)
Fernando López	...	Kid (as Fernando Lopez)
Alberto Vazquez	...	Slag (as Alberto Vázquez)
Church Ortiz	...	Luis
Ismael 'East' Carlo	...	El Bravo (as East Carlo)
Tom Reese	...	1st Cop
Ernie F. Orsatti	...	2nd Cop (as Ernie Orsatti)
Tony Sirico	...	Davey (as G. Anthony Sirico)
E. Brian Dean	...	Rondini (as Brian Dean)
Margarita García	...	Cashier
Philip Levy	...	Earnie (as Phil Levy)
Chino 'Fats' Williams	...	Local #2
David Cadiente	...	Eloy
Pamela Gatell	...	Angel's Lady
Wendy Oates	...	Carmine's Wife
Barbara Smith	...	Herbie's Wife
Dawn Adams	...	Priest's Assistant
James Oscar Lee	...	Police Officer
Vítor Mendes	...	Window Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fred J. Lincoln		(as Fred Lincoln)
Satir González	...	Gang member (uncredited)

Directed by
John Flynn

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Thomas Michael Donnelly		screenplay
Thomas Michael Donnelly		story
Mark Tulin		story

Produced by
Jerry Bruckheimer	....	producer
Thomas Michael Donnelly	....	associate producer
William S. Gilmore	....	producer (as William S. Gilmore Jr)
Robert J. Wunsch	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Dominic Frontiere

Cinematography by
Ric Waite

Film Editing by
David Finfer

Casting by
Joyce Agu		(as Joyce Robinson)
Sam Christensen

Production Design by
Bill Malley

Set Decoration by
Rick Gentz		(as Rick T. Gentz)

Costume Design by
Ellis Cohen

Production Management
Salvatore Billitteri	....	executive in charge of production
William Davidson	....	production manager (as William C. Davidson)
Jere Henshaw	....	executive in charge of production
Dick Moses	....	production manager: New York

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Bogart	....	first assistant director
Peter Gries	....	second assistant director: New York
Lorraine Senna	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Jack Cornwell	....	art director: New York
Serge Genitempo	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bob Dawson	....	special effects

Stunts
Mickey Alzola	....	stunts
Everett Creach	....	stunt coordinator
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunt coordinator
Chris Howell	....	stunts
Alan Marcus	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
King Baggot	....	camera operator
Bruce Birmelin	....	still photographer
Peter Garbarini	....	camera operator: New York (as Peter Gabarini)
Harvey Genkins	....	associate director of photography: New York (as Harvey Jenkins)
Michael Ginsburg	....	still photographer: New York

Music Department
John Beal	....	orchestrator
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer
John Beal	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	presenter
Adam Greenman	....	location manager
Neil R. Lipes	....	production assistant
Jim Richardson	....	location manager: New York
Sylvio Tabet	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Necta

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1983) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Les Films du Commodore (1982) (France) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• VCL Communications

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:U | West Germany:16 | Norway:16 (1981) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Company:

Necta

Goofs:

Continuity: The total number of Soul members varies constantly.

A movie with 'souls'

Back when Jan Michael Vincent could be recognized, physically and vocally, and he had so much going for him he slipped this smallish cheesy cult classic into his filmography. Tommy Gamble is a sea merchant suspended for fighting. He gets stuck in a tough rundown New York neighborhood while he waits to get reinstated so he can catch a ship out of the scummy rough neighborhood overrun by the hoods and thugs (laughable & absurd 'Cholo' gang stereotypes) known as the 'Souls'. During his stay he has multiple run-ins with the Souls and stands up to their antics and bullying, showing the neighborhood that fighting back may be the answer to their problems. The plot is a tad thin but, like screenwriter Walter Hill's other efforts, there is a surreal atmosphere that is a lot harder to find in films these days. The acting is good and you don't feel like these actors are surrounded by cameras like most films today. The supporting cast includes actors Danny Aiello and Art Carney but there are few others who are memorable. It's a very hard film to find but it's a good watch if you have nothing else to do on a very late Saturday night.