Defiance

Jan-Michael Vincent who usually stars in rural setting films either western or modern goes to the mean streets of the Lower East Side of New York for Defiance. But the plot for Defiance could have come from any number of B westerns back in the day.

Vincent is a seaman who's suspended from the union and anxious to get back to sea. While adrift on land, he takes an apartment on the Lower East Side where he gets involved in the local neighborhood struggles with a gang that's terrorizing the place.

The film plays like the James Stewart western, The Far Country where the new town of Klondike miners look to him for leadership against the gang headed by John McIntire. Vincent of course sees himself as an outsider and in point of fact he really is. In fact with his All American boy looks, he's definitely an outsider in the very ethnic Lower East Side.

Most of all until the end Vincent disappoints Theresa Saldana who's a nice Jewish girl who'd like to get a little something going with him, but not if he won't protect the neighborhood.

Art Carney plays the local delicatessen owner and Danny Aiello is a neighborhood tough from bygone days. The gang leader, truly a despicable character is played by Rudy Ramos, his is the grittiest and best part in the film.

This 'western' was shot on the Lower East Side, I recognized some of the area myself. It does give it a nice feel and a lot more realistic than the Lower East Side of Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall. Still it's really an average western on the mean streets of New York.

This entertaining but often overlooked film stars Jan-Michael Vincent as a seaman who must temporarily reside on the tough, crime-filled and gang-infested streets of New York, where he is persuaded by fearful residents to join them in their war against "The Souls," a local Puerto Rican gang led by Angel Cruz (played by the underrated Rudy Ramos, who would later work on "Quicksilver" (1985) with Kevin Bacon). "Defiance" was filmed mostly in New York's East Village (specifically on 12th Street between Avenue A and B) at a time when street gangs did in fact control that particular area of Lower Manhattan. This film brings to mind the highly controversial release "The Warriors" (1979), about a group of young fighters framed by a rival gang. Director John Flynn is dead on with the emotional aspect of the film, capturing the heart-wrenching struggle between good and evil, the romance between Tommy (Vincent) and Marsha (Theresa Saldana) and the brutal and poignant deaths of two characters - Whacko (Lenny Montana, who played Luca Brasi in "The Godfather" (1972)) and Abe (Art Carney).

Highly recommended for cult film enthusiasts. I would love to see a DVD edition in the near future by MGM/UA (formerly Orion).

John Flynn was remembered for making gritty realistic dramas, and you'll see by his impressive inventory, the projects he chose. This well made and absorbing drama is no different, and by the end, has become quite impactful movie. Out of work, merchant seaman (Jan Michael Vincent) gets dealt a really bad hand, where he has to tough it out in a derelict apartment, in the more lower class, crime ridden New York. A real scary black gang called The Souls, who get more scary as the movie progresses, run this lower part of New York, where we have tough man (Vincent) as the first to go up against these bastards, first enduring a bit of bruising for his troubles. Befriending a boy and an old man, once a prize fighter, both now squatting in the tenenment, they form a friendship, as he does with some others, real New Yorker (Aiello) and some other familiar faces, from other mob films, here all good guys. They have all had enough of The Souls s..t, where Vincent could be the one that takes them down and makes one of the great likable hero's out there. It was a great casting choice. This gang really lets you know, they're not one to be messed with, especially if you squeal about their activities, the leader, a very fearful face, one merging with that of Ice T, and Mario Van Peebles. Art Carney is great as a convenient store owner, not of the not so lucky ones. Theresa Saldana is the other great standout one, Vincent's neighbor and romantic interest. She's very good and has the most memorable, such believable performance, but There's good acting by all, and Vincent does the role justice. This is one of those well made, search out 80's movies, a heroic urban tale of will and steel defiance, where the ending, that comes accompanied with a great victorious and inspiring music score, we walk away proud. This is a movie to be proud, a defiant tale that defies, two scenes featuring some heavy impactful violence, but that goes with the territory of this film.

Back when Jan Michael Vincent could be recognized, physically and vocally, and he had so much going for him he slipped this smallish cheesy cult classic into his filmography. Tommy Gamble is a sea merchant suspended for fighting. He gets stuck in a tough rundown New York neighborhood while he waits to get reinstated so he can catch a ship out of the scummy rough neighborhood overrun by the hoods and thugs (laughable & absurd 'Cholo' gang stereotypes) known as the 'Souls'. During his stay he has multiple run-ins with the Souls and stands up to their antics and bullying, showing the neighborhood that fighting back may be the answer to their problems. The plot is a tad thin but, like screenwriter Walter Hill's other efforts, there is a surreal atmosphere that is a lot harder to find in films these days. The acting is good and you don't feel like these actors are surrounded by cameras like most films today. The supporting cast includes actors Danny Aiello and Art Carney but there are few others who are memorable. It's a very hard film to find but it's a good watch if you have nothing else to do on a very late Saturday night.

Jan-Michael Vincent portrays a suspended young seaman who takes up temporary housing in a neighborhood overrun by a gang,while waiting for his next orders to ship out.The gang is in dominating control.They steal and rob at will.No one will press charges due to fear of retribution.So he takes matters into his own hands to combat the growing violence spurring his fellow neighbors to join him.I remember seeing "Defiance" on Polish TV many years ago.I am also a big fan of John Flynn's earlier revenge thriller "Rolling Thunder"."Definace" doesn't disappoint.It's a gritty drama/thriller with excellent central performance of Jan-Michael Vincent.The look of the film is ugly and washed out,but the violence is kept to minimum.A must-see for fans of "Death Wish","The Warriors" and the likes.8 out of 10.