DEFIANCE (BRUTE FORCE)

US, 1979, 98 minutes, Colour.
Jan Michael Vincent, Theresa Saldana, Fernando Lopez, Danny Aiello, Rudy Ramos, Art Carney, Lenny Montana. Joe Campanella.
Directed by John Flynn.

Defiance (Brute Force) is one of several gang films made in 1979. The trend started with Walter Hill's The Warriors, a stylised presentation of violence in the cities. other films included Boulevard Nights, The Wanderers. This film has a strength and toughness as well as a sentimental presentation. It is set in New York, takes account of the slums, the Spanish-speakers in the city and their being a minority. Jan Michael Vincent is an engaging hero and is made to seem a very strong American hero by the end. He is a leader who is able to gather together people against the oppressors. In this way, the film echoes the themes of the '70s and the Americans trying to regain some of the self-confidence that they lost in the disillusionment of the 160s and '70s. The cast acts well and there is a guest spot by Art Carney. Direction is by John Flynn who made The Sergeant, The Jerusalem File, The Outfit and Rolling Thunder.

1. The gang films of the '70s? The tradition of presentation of city life on the screen. poverty, violence, clashes. the emergence of the hero? The '70s style compared with earlier films? The social message of the '70s? The American morale-boosting?

2. The similarity of the slum and gang films to westerns? The bringing of the western conventions back into the city? The new frontiers in the contemporary city? The lack of law and order, the administration of justice, the potential for violence, the need for folk heroes? How similar was this film in convention to the western?

3. The use of New York as the American city - the opening.. the wharves, the distant buildings, the East Side and the slums, the atmosphere of the ugliness of the city, the people living there, power struggles, friendliness? A microcosm of the United States?

4. The emergence of the gangs in the '70s - the traditions of the poverty of the early decades of the century, the growing violence in the '60s and '70s? The look of the gangs, dress, codes, drugs, murder? The musical background and the songs and the lyrics -illustrating the atmosphere of the gangs? The glorification of the hero?

5. Tom as hero - an American symbol, the need for heroes? The credits and explaining his situation, character.. victimisation - and preparation for his behaviour in the film? A hero who is tough, intelligent, victim, sensitive?

6. The background of ships, the union agent and getting jobs? The suspension for six months, the searching for the apartment? The initial eyeing off of the gang? The phone calls and the hope for the job? Learning Spanish? The bashing of the gang member and the retaliation in the subway toilet? The effect on Tom and his being cared for by Marsha? His statement that he was passing by, didn't belong.. couldn't understand the district and the attitudes? Distancing himself?

7. The young boy - the initial encounter and mocking at the learning of Spanish, the growing friendship, telling his story to Tom, throwing the fish to him, scavenging with Whacko? The story of the alligators? His background in the orphanage, friendships with Whacko and Tom? Building the garden on the roof? His being bashed by the Souls? His being hurt, caring for Whacko? His grief at Whacko's death? Resentment against Tom and his leaving? The contrast with Whacko as the simple big old man - the past and his glories as a prize fighter? His scavenging with the boy.. building the garden, his being confronted by the Souls and rescued by Tom? A pleasant man? His response to Marsha's kiss? His being fair to Tom when he left? The memories of the past and his fights., the decision to go out and confront the Souls? The ugliness and sadness of his death? The sentiment in the presentation of this odd couple and their scenes of walking the streets with Tom?

8. Marsha as local heroine - watering the plants, caring for Tom, the date and the enjoyment of the bowls, the seeing of the sailing ship and hearing Tom's story, telling him her own, the love relationship, sharing experiences, fears, the garden, her presence when Abe was bashed and her terror? Her being hurt when Tom left? Her joy in his return but fearing for his safety? A girl embodying the locality?

9. Carmine and the sportsmen? Meeting them with the photo about the fish and the comedy, their club and talk, the noise and Tom's confronting them and hitting the basketball on the wall, Carmine and his presence at the Bingo, his being intimidated by the Souls and not signing the complaint? His watching Tom confront the Souls and inviting him to the club? The friendship with Tom, appealing for his help? The decision to join with Tom, the appeal to the other sportsmen and their lack of response? His going to confront the Souls, being shot? The other members of the group and their age, memories of the past, letting the Souls take over and not resisting, feeling ashamed? Their being confronted by Carmine and their decision to come and help in the final confrontation?

10. Art Carney and his characterisation as Abe - work in the shop, apprehension about the Souls, their mistreating his shop, helping Tom with the phone? A nice man? His presence at the Bingo and signing the complaint? His being bashed?

11. The various people in the district - their homes, at the Bingo? Their uniting at the end to confront the Souls? Their needing to be saved?

12. The portrait of the gang - manner, composition of the gang, dress and styles, speech? Shops, bashing, stealing, the girls, drugs? Angel and his style? Staring, bashing Tom in the toilet, the confrontation with Whacko,, smashing the shop, bashing Abe, robbing the people at the Bingo and confronting the girl, smashing the garden, confronting Tom in the shower? The killing of Whacko? The final confrontation, the long fight with Angel and his defeat and walking away?

13. Tom and his growing involvement, his decision to go to the ship, his goodbyes? His fears and his protecting himself in his department? The reason for his taking to violence and using the club - the confrontation with Whacko, the bashing of the boy? His leaving for the ship and seeing the boy? His decision to fight and belong? The lyrics of the final song turning him into a folk hero?

14. The film's attention to detail, inviting the audience to experience what the people who live there felt? The urban flavour, violence, human nature, social problems, ethnic problem, law and order, the role of the police and their inability to cope? Insight into urban problems? Sentiment?