THE OUTSIDERS

US, 1983, 91 minutes, Colour.
C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, Diane Lane, Leif Garrett, Tom Waits.
Directed by Francis Coppola.

The Outsiders was one of several films made from novels by S. E. Hinton, Susan Hinton, about the life of young people in Texas. Francis Ford Coppola also directed Rumble Fish. Tim Hunter directed Tex. Emilio Estevez directed That was Then, This is Now.

An outstanding feature of this film was the cast, so many of whom were to become significant actors, some movie stars, the most notable being Tom Cruise and Matt Dillon.

The film was told from the point of view of Ponyboy, played very effectively by C. Thomas Howell. The other main lead is the older friend and mentor, Matt Dillon. His older brother, protective though strict, is played by Patrick Swayze. His younger brother is played by Rob Lowe. Emilio Estevez and Tom Cruise play friends. But the other significant character is Johnny, isolated from his family, friendly with Ponyboy, and played by Ralph Macchio. The lead female in the cast is played by Diane Lane.

The film was photographed poetically, with an emphasis on skies, and quotations from poetry, including Robert Frost. Another literary feature is the reading of Gone with the Wind, and the photographic style reminiscent of the colour photography of the epic film.

The film is set in an Oklahoma town, on both sides of the tracks, with poor gangs on one side and a rich boys gang on the other. They come into conflict in several rumbles. But the significant event is the death of one of the wealthy boys which puts Ponyboy and Johnny on the run. As they give themselves up, a fire breaks out and the two boys perform heroic deeds in rescuing the children.

There is some nostalgia in the presentation of this way of life, but also the implied critique that it leads nowhere, exemplified by Ponyboy going to his journal, starting to write, and moving out of being trapped in this way of life.

Francis Ford Coppola had made an impact with many early films, especially with The Godfather and his Oscar for directing Godfather II. His great moment came with Apocalypse Now. During the 80s and 90s and into the 21st century he has had a mixed career, having success with such genre films as Bram Stoker’s Dracula and The Rainmaker from John Grisham’s novel.

In retrospect, The Outsiders is considered one of his classics.

1. The impact of the film in the 80s? Now considered a classic? The work of the director, his career? The cast and their later careers?


2. S. E. Hinton and her world, her novels and adaptations to the screen?

3. Oklahoma, the town, the north and the south and the different classes? The drive-in? Homes, streets, the bars? The scenes for the rumbles? The musical score?

4. The diorama style and Panavision for the natural beauty, the skies? Colour, widescreen, poetical? The references to Gone with the Wind and the similar visual style?

5. Nothing Gold Can Stay, the poem by Robert Frost, Ponyboy and his recitation? Johnny and his response? The theme song, Stay Gold, sung by Stevie Wonder?

6. Ponyboy and his beginning to write his story? C. Thomas Howell and his performance, age? His parents dying and his dreaming of the crash? Johnny and his friendship? His brother and his harshness, hitting him, the reconciliation and the embrace? His brother looking out for him? Dallas and his friendship, Ponyboy and Johnny hanging out with him, talk? Going to the drive-in, encounter with Cherry, Ponyboy being nice with her, their later meeting in the discussion about the rumble? Her respecting him, liking him, the talk after the clash with Bob, and not being able to talk with him at school because of the different gangs? His sleeping out, going home, the clash with his brother, Sodapop and his friendship? Two Bit and Steve and their friendship? The clashes with the Socs, the visuals of the fighting? Ponyboy and his being upset with his brother, running away with Johnny, getting to the playground, the Socs arriving, the fight, Johnny and his knife, Ponyboy recovering, they going to the bar, to Dallas, his friendship and advice? Going on the train, hiding in the church, Johnny buying the groceries, cutting and dying Ponyboy’s hair, playing cards, the days passing, Dallas arriving and his help? Their eating, their being hungry, Johnny and the decision to go to the police? The fire at the church, the heroism of the rescue, the burns, Johnny and the severity, Dallas and hospital, the preparation for the rumble, Cherry and her advice, Ponyboy and his polite discussions with Randy, their not wanting the rumble? The fight, going to the hospital, Johnny and his being glad that he saved the children, their life being worth more than his? The return of the book, Ponyboy reading Gone with the Wind, Johnny’s letter inside and his appreciating of beauty, sunsets, Frost’s poem?

7. Johnny, his age, alienated from his family, following Ponyboy, pleasant, at the drive-in, the confrontation with Bob and the Socs? Discovering poetry and beauty? Running away, the fight in the playground, using his knife, killing Bob? Going with Ponyboy? Seeing the fire, his heroism, the collapse of the roof, his being in hospital, the visits, his death? The letter within the book?

8. Daryl and Sodapop, the family, the home, Daryl and his responsibility, tensions, the bonds, the rumble?

9. Two Bits and Steve, work at the garage, turning up at the home, their friendship, eager to join in the rumble?

10. Cherry, with the Socs, her girlfriend, at the drive-in, a relationship with Bob and annoyance with him when he was drunk? The encounter with Dallas, his teasing her, her harsh reaction? Her liking him?

11. The Socs, the rich young men, at the drive-in, drinking, taunting he Greasers, the fight, Bob’s death, the running away? The final rumble?

12. The focus on adolescents compared with adults? The man owning the bar, the man at the fire and his admiration for the boys, the staff at the hospital?

13. American society, a past, basic goodness, yet issues of identity and gangs, rivalry, strong and poor families? An image of the midwest of the past?