5 - Movies
Movie Review: The Outsiders
Background
The Outsiders is a 1983 coming-of-age film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It is an adaptation of a 1967 novel by S.E. Hinton, who wrote the material when she was just 16 years old.
The Outsiders follows 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, who belongs to a gang of greasers in rural Oklahoma. The greasers, a teenage gang, have a long-standing rivalry with the Socs (Socials), a group of wealthy teens from the west side of town. Ponyboy lives with his older brothers, Darry (Darrel) and Sodapop, and is under Darry's care after their parents die in an automobile accident.
I first read The Outsiders in my eighth-grade English class and absolutely loved it. After finishing the book, we watched the movie, which I also loved. I rewatch it every time I see it playing on TV. My dad also loves the story, which has helped us form a special bond.
Trailer
The film is notable for its cast of up-and-coming actors of the time: C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, and Matt Dillon.
Characters
Portrayed By: C. Thomas Howell
Ponyboy is the 14-year-old narrator and protagonist. He loves writing and excels in school, which sets him apart from the other greasers.
Portrayed By: Rob Lowe
Sodapop is Ponyboy's energetic, handsome brother. He is described as being "movie star handsome." At 16, he dropped out of high school and began working on cars.
Portrayed By: Patrick Swayze
The oldest of the Curtis brothers, Darry, is a 20-year-old greaser and the unofficial leader of the gang. He is stern with his brothers and makes delicious chocolate cakes.
Portrayed By: Matt Dillon
Dally is a greaser who had a difficult childhood and was abused by his father. He is a very loyal and caring friend and is close to Johnny.
Portrayed By: Ralph Macchio
Johnny is a quiet boy who is neglected and abused by his parents. He is intelligent, sensitive, and a great friend.
Other notable characters and actors in The Outsiders include Steve Randle, played by Tom Cruise, and Keith "Two-Bit" Matthews, played by Emilio Estevez.
The story begins with an iconic line:
"When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home."
Opening Scene
In the opening scene, Ponyboy is attacked by a group of Socs after leaving the movie theater. When he arrives home late, he and Darry have an argument that ends with Darry slapping his younger brother. Ponyboy runs away and meets Johnny, and the two decide to walk to a park in town. There, they encounter another group of Socs who start a fight with them. The fight escalates, leaving Johnny and Ponyboy to face the tragic consequences.
On September 20, 2005, Francis Ford Coppola re-released the film on DVD as a two-disc set titled The Outsiders: The Complete Novel. This set includes 22 minutes of deleted footage and an updated soundtrack to make the movie more faithful to the novel. I enjoyed seeing the extra footage, but I felt the new soundtrack was distracting and took away from the original story. However, I love that this release brought The Outsiders to more people and made a strong effort to present the story in its entirety.
Click here for a detailed explanation of the differences between The Outsiders and The Outsiders: The Complete Novel.
Without spoiling the film, The Outsiders is an incredible story of friendship, bravery, and class struggles that stands the test of time. Its beautiful story and star-studded cast make it a pillar in pop culture and an essential part of movie history.
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