KNIGHTS OF THE CITY

US, 1986, 87 minutes, Colour.
Leon Isaac Kennedy, Nicholas Campbell.
Directed by Dominic Orlando.

Knights of the City is a violent gang, musical thriller. It was made by and co-written by and stars Leon Isaac Kennedy (Body and Soul, Penitentiary).

The film is a combination of elements front many films including Breakdance, The Warriors, Wanderers series, the gangster and violent films of the ghettoes, the black vs. white action thrillers. It has echoes even of West Side Story.

The Knights of the City are members of gangs. They have protection rackets in markets and shops in the city. There is rivalry between black gang and white gang. The gang rivalries are fought out literally and violently but also fought out in terms of music and the winning of a competition for a rock group. This uneasy mixture stays throughout the whole film – making it highly stylised and straining at credibility.

Leon Isaac Kennedy makes himself the focus of the film, strutting often 1ike Prince (echoes of Purple Rain) and showing himself to be a tough fighter as well as dancer. There are the usual poses, the betrayals by girl members, dancing competitions as well as a violent fight out at the end. There are a range of strange punks who are members of the gang, with loyalties to the leaders and with violent urges which border on the psychopathic.

While this film might echo some of the styles of the 80s, it is particularly violent and seems to glorify the 'law unto themselves' punk gangs of the cities. They are hardly Knights!