Streets of Fire (1984)

Director:

Walter Hill

Writers:

Larry Gross (written by)
Walter Hill (written by)

Release Date:

1 June 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Music | Romance

Tagline:

Tonight is what it means to be young.

Plot:

A mercenary goes after his ex-girlfriend, a singer who has been kidnapped by a gang.

Plot Keywords:

Motorcycle | Singer | Rescue | Motorcycle Gang | Mercenary

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Michael Paré	...	Tom Cody
Diane Lane	...	Ellen Aim
Rick Moranis	...	Billy Fish
Amy Madigan	...	McCoy
Willem Dafoe	...	Raven Shaddock
Deborah Van Valkenburgh	...	Reva Cody
Richard Lawson	...	Officer Ed Price
Rick Rossovich	...	Officer Cooley
Bill Paxton	...	Clyde the Bartender
Lee Ving	...	Greer - Bomber
Stoney Jackson	...	Bird - The Sorels
Grand L. Bush	...	Reggie - The Sorels
Robert Townsend	...	Lester - The Sorels
Mykelti Williamson	...	B.J. - The Sorels (as Mykel T. Williamson)
Elizabeth Daily	...	Baby Doll

Runtime:

93 min | Argentina:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-18 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1984) | Singapore:PG | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Taiwan:GP | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:18 | Canada:14A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

RKO Pictures

Trivia:

The club name "Torchy's" is also seen in 48 Hrs. (1982) and The Driver (1978).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Billy Fish gets in Cody's car for the first time, lighting equipment can be seen in the car door's reflection.

Quotes:

Tom Cody: Try it again punk.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Megazone 23 (1985) (V)

Soundtrack:

YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED

Extraordinary kinetic work

Walter Hill, whose fine directorial achievements include "Hard Times", "The Warriors", "Southern Comfort", "Crossroads", "Johnny Handsome" and "Extreme Prejudice", scored another creative bullseye with this self-proclaimed "rock and roll fable". Though it is simplistic in the extreme, it is an extraordinarily kinetic work with great music, stunning cinematography, cutting edge editing (from Hill regular Freeman Davies) and fantastic production design.

From a purely visual perspective, it was way ahead of its time, and like most things that were ahead of their time, it flopped badly (at the box office). So much of the film is worthy of praise -- the opening credit sequence employs a bravura graphic technique that has been much imitated; the kidnapping of Ellen Aim (Diane Lane) is a stunningly staged sequence, as is Lane's mimed rendition of Jim Steinman's fabulous "Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young". The climactic fight sequence between Michael Pare and Willem Dafoe (in one of his first screen roles) is magical, as are all the film's scenes of physical combat.

Hill makes mean, lean, muscular movies and populates them with both fresh faces and screen vets. Michael Pare, who had a limited career, is just fine as the mythical Tom Cody, the film's reluctant hero (is there any other?). Dafoe shines as Raven Shaddock, the lead of the kidnappers, and the MIA Amy Madigan is just terrific as the tough-talking McCoy, Pare's feisty sidekick.

Andrew Laszlo, who worked with Hill on "Southern Comfort" and even shot Tobe Hooper's "The Funhouse", does a knockout job with the cinematography and, working with ace production designer John Vallone (another Hill reg) creates a magnificent retro universe on the Universal backlot.

Not to be missed!