Movie of the Week - The Outsiders (1983)

Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Diane Lane, Emilio Estevez and more. This movie was packed full of big time 80's stars, before they were stars.

Written by, S.E. Hinton, who also wrote Tex and Rumble Fish, which were both made into movies. Hinton grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She used her experiences in high school, where there was a real rivalry between two gangs called The Soc's and The Greasers.

The Soc's had everything and the Greasers had nothing. One hated the other for having everything they never could, while the other hated for having it thrown in their face all the time by the "cooler" misfits.

The movie is also a commentary on what happens to kids who are not cared for and have no authority to keep them in line. Parents are non-existent in the movie, not so much on purpose, but because most of their parents are not around. Dallas (Matt Dillon) and Johnny (Ralph Macchio) are pretty much on their own out there in the world. All they really have to rely upon are their fellow Greasers.

Darry (Patrick Swayze), Sodapop (Rob Lowe) and Ponyboy (C. Thomas Howell) are on their own because a tragic car crash has left them orphans. Darry, being the oldest, does his best to keep everything going, but he can't really keep a handle on his two younger brothers.

After a confrontation with the Soc's turns deadly, Johnny (Ralph Macchio) and Ponyboy are forced to go on the run. While gone Ponyboy and Johnny question the paths of their lives, which is only bolstered by heroic acts performed by the two plus Dallas (Matt Dillon), when an abandoned church is caught on fire with children inside.

The movie's ending is shocking, sad and hopeful all at the same time. It is definitely worth a rent whether you've never seen it or have seen it a dozen times before. This is a good movie for the whole family to watch and your kids should enjoy it every bit as much as you do.

I'll be typin' at ya later,

Bob the Blogger