‘The Warriors’ Makes a Fantastic and Long Overdue Debut on Blu-ray

Walter Hill‘s forty-seven year career as a filmmaker has seen numerous ups and downs. His last box-office hit was 1990’s Another 48 Hrs., and whereas the eight movies he’s made since embody a couple bangers (Trespass, 1992; Last Man Standing, 1996) the final three a long time are arguably proof of a filmmaker in decline. That’s hopefully not the case, however whether it is we are able to relaxation simple figuring out that Hill has lengthy since secured his spot within the echelon of high style filmmakers.

Hard Times (1975), The Driver (1978), Southern Comfort (1981), 48 Hrs. (1982), Streets of Fire (1984), and Extreme Prejudice (1987) — any filmmaker would kill to have made any one among these, however all of them belong to Hill. And, after all, he additionally made 1979’s trendy, otherworldly cult hit, The Warriors. The movie’s house video existence has been a spotty one with Paramount inexplicably giving extra like to Hill’s misguided director’s minimize from 2005 than to the unique, however that drought has lastly ended. Imprint, a ViaVision sub-label from Australia, has simply launched a unbelievable field set that includes each cuts, and because the Blu-ray debut for the theatrical model it’s a must-own for followers.

The Warriors (1979)

New York City is house to tons of of road gangs, every strolling their very own turf and watching their backs on a nightly foundation. The violent competitors could also be about to finish, although, because the charismatic chief of the town’s strongest gang has known as for a peace summit suggesting they as a substitute be part of forces. He’s gunned down mid-speech, and members of The Warriors are framed for the homicide. With each different gang within the metropolis out for his or her blood, the 9 members of The Warriors make a determined thirty-mile run for their very own house turf on Coney Island.

It’s clear from the very begin that The Warriors is a stylized story a number of steps faraway from actuality, and the result’s an motion/journey about loyalty, brotherhood, and honor amongst thieves. Hill retains the power and momentum shifting with electrical set-pieces and eclectic characters that not even stilted dialogue can dampen. It’s a totally different world, one you may’t cease watching whilst you’re glad you’re not dwelling in it.

The script — co-written by Hill and David Shaber, primarily based on Sol Yurick‘s novel — knows it’s constructing a man-made world, one the place we’re meant to sympathize with gang members and take thugs carrying overalls and curler skates severely. Wisely, the movie by no means insists we take all of it too severely, although, as humor is layered all through within the character interactions. Character is king right here from the varied personalities in The Warriors themselves to the opposite gangs as much as and together with the movie’s de facto villain, a Napoleon-like madman named Luther (a terrific David Patrick Kelly). His ominous, bottle-tinged risk of “Warriors, come out to play!” is lodged in popular culture, and few comeuppances are as cathartic.

This isn’t a huge film, and motion beats are saved to the extent of brawls, nevertheless it by no means feels small due to its capturing of New York City. Hill and cinematographer Andrew Laszlo snatch the town’s nighttime panorama from Central Park to Coney Island, and it finally ends up feeling like a gritty, adrenalized travelogue. Barry DeVorzon‘s rating provides to the energetic journey making for a sensory experience throughout a seemingly international land. The Warriors stays an off-kilter and extremely satisfying blast.

The much less mentioned concerning the director’s minimize the higher, however followers will likely be completely satisfied to see its inclusion right here as properly. Hill’s choice to recut the movie and add comedian panels and narration comes from an comprehensible intention, however the movie’s fantastical components are already evident within the theatrical model. Adding these beats solely serves to weaken and undercut the expertise.

Imprint’s slick new field set options a hardbox containing two snapcases, one for every model of the movie. The movies themselves are sourced from Paramount’s personal grasp and have obtained no restoration work — the image nonetheless seems nice with deep blacks and grain intact, however a correct restoration would do wonders. Each disc contains totally different extras as properly, and they’re detailed under. They’re all value testing, however the brand new interviews with Kelly and James Remar are particularly partaking and enlightening.

Theatrical minimize [1:32:54]

• *NEW* Commentary by movie critic and writer Walter Chaw
• *NEW* The Warriors from the Cutting Room Floor [10:45] – Deleted/prolonged scenes from the tv model together with an alternate opening set throughout daylight, a longer model of Cyrus’ speech, extra from the DJ, and extra dialogue beats.
• *NEW* Sound and Fury: Scoring The Warriors [15:09] – Composer Barry DeVorzon talks about bringing a “contemporary edge” to his scores, how Walter Hill challenged him with that phenomenal title monitor, and extra.
• *NEW* Last Train to Coney Island [11:41] – Actor David Patrick Kelly shares recollections of his early profession, his time on stage and learning with Marcel Marceau, his time on The Warriors, and extra. This is a nice interview with a character actor who by no means disappoints.
• *NEW* We Got the Streets [16:15] – Actor James Remar remembers his entry into performing, his auditions for the stage present of Grease, the manufacturing of The Warriors, and extra. As with the interview above, that is a unbelievable pay attention with a hard-working actor.
• *NEW* Nowhere to Run [15:38] – Actor Dorsey Wright talks about Remar’s technique performing, his realization that the film was one thing greater and higher than he anticipated, his friendships with the forged, and extra.
• *NEW* Literally Classic: The Ancient Greek Roots of The Warriors [21:51] – A lesson in Greek literature!
• *NEW* Magic… Whole Lot of Magic [9:44] – A video essay by Chris O’Neill
• The Warriors Scrapbook [18:31] – A photograph gallery providing a look behind the scenes.
• TV Spot and Theatrical Trailer

Director’s minimize [1:33:59]

• *NEW* Commentary by writer/historian Chris Poggiali and writer Michael Gingold
• Introduction to director’s minimize by Walter Hill [1:19] – Hill explains his intentions behind this error.
• The Warriors: The Beginning [14:08]
• The Warriors: Battleground [15:25]
• The Warriors: The Way Home [18:08]
• The Warriors: The Phenomenon [15:24]

Buy The Warriors immediately from ViaVision and Imprint.

Related Topics: Home Video, The Warriors

Rob Hunter has been writing for Film School Rejects since earlier than you have been born, which is bizarre seeing as he is so rattling younger. He’s our Chief Film Critic and Associate Editor and lists ‘Broadcast News’ as his favourite movie of all time. Feel free to say hello if you happen to see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.