I came across Francis Ford Copolla's epic flop based on S.E. Hinton Y.A. fiction classic.
Its the film largely credited with starting the Brat Pack's careers. It starred pre fame C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, and Diane Lane. They are all very good.
Did this smorgasbord of hot young unknowns make an impression on you in 1983? Were you a huge fan of the book? How did it compare?
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 74 | November 18, 2021 2:15 AM |
It's sort of insane to think about how just about everyone involved in this film went on to have a pretty great career and most of them are still acting to this day.
Even odder is that Tom Cruise became the biggest star out of all of them. He didn't make much of an impression in this movie to me at all.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | March 2, 2021 8:10 PM |
It's how Tom Cruise paid for his extensive dental work.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 2 | March 2, 2021 8:24 PM |
The three leads: Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell and Matt Dillon had their careers peak in the late 80s. Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez and Patrick Swayze became big stars in the 80s and only Cruise remained a star until today. Dillon went on to have more of an art and indie film career mixed with the occasional Hollywood movie.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | March 2, 2021 8:29 PM |
It’s crazy how many times I watched that movie. Most of them have not aged very well.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | March 2, 2021 8:30 PM |
I forgot Rob Lowe he had a big career in the 80s and actually kept himself around for decades by doing a lot of TV work.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | March 2, 2021 8:30 PM |
With the exception of Macchio, none of them looked like actual teenagers, of course.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | March 2, 2021 8:33 PM |
There are two other SE Hinton films starring Matt Dillon: Tex (1982) and Rumble Fish (also 1983). Rumble Fish is probably the best out of the three. It also featured Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Dennis Hopper, Sofia Coppola and Nicolas Cage Coppola (double nepotism).
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | March 2, 2021 8:33 PM |
C. Thomas definitely looked his age which was 16.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 8 | March 2, 2021 8:35 PM |
I remember Ralph Macchio got the bulk of the praise. But what amazing casting for this film. At the time, Matt Dillon was probably the biggest name. Fast Times at Ridgemont High had quite the list of future stars as well. Sometimes those casting directors really hit the jackpot on future stars.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | March 2, 2021 8:36 PM |
R6 and I think he was the only one who wasn't a teenager at the time. He's looked 12 his whole life.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | March 2, 2021 8:47 PM |
It wasn't a flop but a modest hit. 33 million dollar gross off of a 11 million dollar budget isn't earth shattering but it more than made its money back and was very popular on cable and video rentals.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | March 2, 2021 8:49 PM |
I had every Bop magazine pinup from this time period, I was 11-12 years old. My favorite bits were: C.Thomas Howell and Rob Lowe's butt in a towel. Diane Lane was s t u n n i n g I always thought Emilio, Ralph and Tommy C looked the worst. Leif Garret was looking pretty good as a soc too.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | March 2, 2021 8:51 PM |
I've only seen the TV version, which I sought out because DL introduced me to Rodney Harvey.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | March 2, 2021 8:57 PM |
I feel like this is a movie that did OK in the theaters, but became more of a hit with kids renting it on VHS, being one of three movies that was in the video stores at the time. I did not even realize Tom Cruise was in it until recently. I agree Matt was probably the biggest name at the time. I remember a lot of girls (and no doubt some boys secretly) liking him for this and Little Darlings, and My Bodyguard which were done a couple of years before this.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | March 2, 2021 9:16 PM |
Tom Cruise has certainly had the “self-confidence” from the beginning. It’s probably a big reason he’s had a 40 year career.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 15 | March 2, 2021 10:04 PM |
This gayling desperately wanted to make out with Ponyboy.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | March 2, 2021 10:06 PM |
Lowe and Cruise both seem like total narcissists. Lowe at least has a sense of humor and isn't involved with a cult. Swayze was a cool guy and a talented dancer, sad loss. Dillon and Macchio both still look good which proves dark hair/dark eyes ages more gracefully. Macchio is having his time to shine again with Cobra Kai (good show btw) along with other 80s heartthrob William Zabka who also aged well. C. Thomas Howell is enjoying his cowboy life and doing minor and character roles. I don't know what happened to Emilio Estevez. Leif Garrett just wrote an autobiography about being exploited as a teen star, he also seems like a cool guy as he has no problem poking fun at his teen idol years.
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | March 2, 2021 10:21 PM |
I love the book and the film. I was a teen when I read the book, and was inspired to start writing back then when I’d found out that SE Hinton was a teen herself when she wrote The Outsiders.
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | March 2, 2021 10:35 PM |
The Stevie Wonder song is really out of place. Sorry, I had to say it.
| by Anonymous | reply 19 | March 3, 2021 1:56 AM |
Lowe's parents were models--even prettier than him. I used to know college classmates of theirs. He probably did get some good training in how to have a sense of humor and manages (somewhat) his narcissism. Cruise was never more than a male ingenue, but somehow that was enough to make him a star even though eh couldn't act (well, at least he sometimes tried).
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | March 3, 2021 2:01 AM |
Find the publicity photo where TC is standing on a block of wood to make himself taller.
| by Anonymous | reply 21 | March 3, 2021 2:10 AM |
Is it just me or was Ralph the most competent actor in this thing? In terms of how he interpreted the character. Its exactly like the book. "Kicked puppy" vibes and all.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 22 | March 3, 2021 3:37 AM |
R21 his middle tooth was the real star of the movie.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 23 | March 3, 2021 3:15 PM |
Wish they would put the original version with the original score out on Bluray. Coppola is like Lucas. Hasn't made a good movie in decades so has to go back and mess with his good films
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | March 3, 2021 3:23 PM |
The 60s surfer rock soundtrack is very jarring in the director's cut version and also the added scenes don't add anything. The original was just fine. It's just like the unnecessary Donnie Darko director's cut which was painful to watch.
| by Anonymous | reply 25 | March 3, 2021 3:30 PM |
I can’t believe Ralph was the second oldest of the cast. I wonder if he has some type of condition he did say in an interview that he reach puberty when he turned 30 and finally had children around that time after years of marriage.
| by Anonymous | reply 26 | March 3, 2021 3:36 PM |
Everybody auditioned for this film. Mickey Rourke, Dennis Quaid, Scott Baio... A brunette pre-Supergirl Helen Slater also auditioned. Heather Langenkamp got her SAG card appearing in the movie as an extra in a scene that was ultimately cut out. The movie was filmed in Tulsa, which is where she’s from. This was before A Nightmare on Elm Street.
| by Anonymous | reply 27 | March 3, 2021 3:40 PM |
R26 seriously? Not as a joke? He did seem to be on puberty blockers of something. In My Cousin Vinny he was in his 30s still had a barely broken voice.
| by Anonymous | reply 28 | March 3, 2021 6:44 PM |
I remember reading the book as a teenager. I lived in Oklahoma City. I didn’t have the best home environment. So it was a nice escape. Remember I went and saw the movie like three or four times in the theater. I wanted to run away with Matt Dillon.
| by Anonymous | reply 29 | March 3, 2021 11:27 PM |
R28, i don’t think he was taking puberty blockers back then he might have a growth hormone deficiency condition like andy milonakis or delayed puberty.
| by Anonymous | reply 30 | March 3, 2021 11:40 PM |
There was so much homoerotic subtext in this film. Coppola definitely cast a lot of beautiful male eye candy in this. I never read the book but I don't find it hard to believe it was written by a then-teenage girl. In a lot of ways, The Outsiders is a product of its time especially the definition of a "gang" which more or less just meant a group of kids hanging out. The one thing that still is relevant is the classism that is exhibited by the Socs and police and the struggle of poor whites in rural areas.
Boyz N The Hood and Menace II Society are more akin to what people see gangs as and how kids from broken homes get swept into them. Though institutionalized racism plays another role in regards to Black boys rather than just classism, poverty and dysfunction.
| by Anonymous | reply 31 | March 4, 2021 12:04 AM |
I also watched the TV series
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 33 | March 4, 2021 11:24 AM |
[quote]I've only seen the TV version, which I sought out because DL introduced me to Rodney Harvey.
I prefer the movie and watched the TV version solely because of Rodney Harvey.
| by Anonymous | reply 35 | March 4, 2021 2:45 PM |
The TV version wasn't bad and I think Hinton was involved with the production and casting. I do like that they covered some topics like racial integration of the schools and fleshed out Ponyboy's character more showing how he was intellectually gifted and all. The TV cast was just as attractive as the film cast. Not just Rodney Harvey but also Harold Pruett, Boyd Kestner, Jay R. Ferguson and David Arquette.
| by Anonymous | reply 36 | March 4, 2021 2:52 PM |
Lowe's twink sons are definitely fuckable, but not as hot as he was in his prime.
| by Anonymous | reply 37 | March 4, 2021 3:05 PM |
I really enjoyed the 1990 TV series as an angsty 13yo. Dunno why it only lasted one season.
| by Anonymous | reply 38 | March 4, 2021 3:09 PM |
Harold Pruett who played the TV version of Steve was also very sexy. Much better looking than Cruise. Sadly, he also died from drug overdose like Rodney Harvey.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 40 | March 4, 2021 3:15 PM |
I was about 13 when I saw this movie at the cinema. My little boy cocklet was rock hard through the entire movie! Prophetic.
| by Anonymous | reply 41 | March 4, 2021 3:19 PM |
I don’t want to get too off topic but since someone else already got the ball rolling...
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 42 | March 4, 2021 3:20 PM |
Jay R Ferguson aged well. He was the only one from the TV cast besides David Arquette and Billy Bob Thornton to have a successful career. Pre-Growing Pains Leonardo DiCaprio made a cameo in the pilot episode as the kid fighting Scout. That's probably when he and Jay met and became BFFs and part of the Pussy Posse along with Tobey Maguire.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 43 | March 4, 2021 3:23 PM |
[quote][R33] how did I miss this?
It came and went, but, like others said, it was worthy of more than just one season. It was a panoply of gorgeousness. Some of the actors really did resemble their film actor counterparts.
| by Anonymous | reply 44 | March 4, 2021 5:22 PM |
r40 Definitely gay with those brows.
| by Anonymous | reply 45 | March 4, 2021 7:18 PM |
r43 Homey had a pretty great run on Mad Men too. He definitely played the long game which resulted in a respectable solid career.
| by Anonymous | reply 46 | March 4, 2021 7:22 PM |
[quote] Definitely gay with those brows
At least those pretty lips went to good use.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 47 | March 4, 2021 8:10 PM |
R22 Macchio is very talented, probably the most naturally gifted and charismatic of the original OUTSIDERS cast. It’s easy to see why he garnered the highest critical praise from working on the movie.
[quote] Macchio is having his time to shine again with Cobra Kai (good show btw) along with other 80s heartthrob William Zabka who also aged well.
We have a decent thread running on the latest season, though it’s been quiet lately.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 48 | March 4, 2021 8:14 PM |
I hope he didn't spend much money on his choppers because that's some of the shittiest looking dental work I've seen in a long time.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 49 | March 4, 2021 8:19 PM |
Cruise has no appeal at all anymore. I'm confused as to why people see the new Mission Impossible films. He was only attractive and charming in the 1980s and early 90s when he had some semblance of a personality. Today, he is just a robot with a Stepford wife smile. He should just give up the facade.
| by Anonymous | reply 50 | March 4, 2021 8:40 PM |
No. Revolting Hollywood cheese. 1983 was all about Liquid Sky.
| by Anonymous | reply 51 | March 4, 2021 9:36 PM |
He's a mega creepster. I dunno how he continues to get work.
| by Anonymous | reply 52 | March 5, 2021 12:18 AM |
I think Macchio's potential as an actor was held back because of his youthful looks after a certain point. Certainly the Karate Kid films made him a major movie star, but as others have mentioned he's a very gifted actor, but it's tough to cast a 50 year old man who looks like a 17 year old boy.
| by Anonymous | reply 53 | March 5, 2021 12:55 AM |
The one thing that is noticeable is that The Outsiders is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma yet there are no accents that indicate that. Macchio and Dillon even use their native NY accents. Only Patrick Swayze has a Southern accent and that's because he's from Texas. Dillon also uses his tough guy NYC accent in Tex and Rumble Fish as well. I remember though in Tex, everyone else actually had a Southern drawl except for Dillon.
| by Anonymous | reply 54 | March 5, 2021 1:24 AM |
This about sums up Ralph's eternal youth. Love it.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 55 | March 5, 2021 1:38 AM |
The most charismatic opening credits sequence of ANY movie I've ever seen! That is actually my favorite part of the film.
| by Anonymous | reply 56 | March 5, 2021 1:47 AM |
Hmm I’ll have to rewatch r56
| by Anonymous | reply 57 | March 5, 2021 1:54 AM |
I saw it when it came out. Lil tear at the end. Macchio was the standout. Stay Gold Pony Boy.
| by Anonymous | reply 58 | March 5, 2021 2:29 AM |
Yawn. I think I'll get my nails done.
| by Anonymous | reply 59 | March 5, 2021 6:05 AM |
Who is the guy in OP’s picture who looks like Kiernan Shipka is now a FtM?
| by Anonymous | reply 60 | March 5, 2021 6:13 AM |
R60 that’s c Thomas Howell. He played pony boy.
| by Anonymous | reply 61 | March 5, 2021 11:02 AM |
r43 The Pussy Posse wouldn't get away with their ostentatious douchebaggery present day. They were lucky that the internet was in its infancy. Today they would be exposed and cancelled.
| by Anonymous | reply 62 | March 5, 2021 4:15 PM |
The audio commentary by the cast is great!
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 63 | March 7, 2021 7:34 PM |
Saw it in the theater with my kid brother when it came out. I disagree about the Stevie Wonder song, it was very moving and fit the film well. I well remember tearing up at the end. C. Thomas Howell was my major crush.
| by Anonymous | reply 64 | March 7, 2021 7:59 PM |
Even though Coppola said that he originally wanted to make The Outsiders soundtrack mostly 60s rock n roll to better reflect the greaser subculture. I really think the original score by Carmine Coppola was beautiful and fit the film perfectly.
| by Anonymous | reply 65 | March 7, 2021 8:29 PM |
[quote]There was so much homoerotic subtext in this film
Agreed; even as a clueless kid, I picked up on that between Ponyboy & Johnny. As far as Dillon's accent, wasn't Johnny from some place else? That's (in part) why they were in such awe of him - he wasn't a local yocal.
One thing I think the movie really missed is that by focusing on the book leading up to Johnny's death, it misses how Ponyboy resists the urge to grow bitter & mean after what happened, which I think is really a central theme of the book.
I re-watched the movie recently and the conversation between Bob & Ponyboy is ridiculous (though that is pretty much straight out of the book); Ponyboy should've ending the conversation by telling Bob what boring pussy he is.
| by Anonymous | reply 66 | March 7, 2021 8:55 PM |
Sorry - I meant Dallas, not Johnny:
Dallas was hardened from a tough upbringing. He spent three years on the wild side of New York and was arrested at the young age of ten. Dallas was also treated poorly by his father which contributed to his toughness. He says to Johnny at one point "My old man doesn't give a hang if I'm in jail dead in a car wreck or drunk in the gutter,"
| by Anonymous | reply 67 | March 7, 2021 8:58 PM |
The TV series fleshed out Pony Boy's character. Having him be a member of the track team, befriending some of the Socs and being self-conscious of his working class roots, having him be the big brother figure to a troubled younger character named Scout (basically a gender flipped Johnny) and becoming a close friend to the older Tim Shepard.
| by Anonymous | reply 68 | March 7, 2021 9:07 PM |
I liked the original soundtrack better than the rockabilly score they added to the newer version.
| by Anonymous | reply 69 | April 18, 2021 8:11 PM |
Cruise already had dental work done in high school--he voluntarily took his caps off for this movie, which to be fair was a pretty ballsy move. He got bigger and brighter teeth between Risky Business and Legend.
That would be a great name for a bio of him: Big Teeth.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 70 | April 18, 2021 10:15 PM |
This is getting a re release on blu Ray and in theatres.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 71 | November 17, 2021 11:54 PM |
I was born the year this came out, but we must have read the book in at least two different years and watched the movie, we did the same for Where The Red Fern Grows, and I swear I watched Cicely Tyson's The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman every black history month.
From what I remember, in the novel, I was reading a bunch of homoerotic subtext into the story, so while I liked the actors in the film it was a let down.
| by Anonymous | reply 72 | November 18, 2021 12:21 AM |
I was so utterly disappointed that none of the actors presented dong here.
| by Anonymous | reply 73 | November 18, 2021 12:28 AM |
Definitely r62. Today, Leo's career would be over. They were a bunch of obnoxious assholes back then.
| by Anonymous | reply 74 | November 18, 2021 2:15 AM |
