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The Wanderers, an Italian street gang in the Bronx 1963, preparing for a rumble with rival gang the Del-Bombers, try to enlist other gangs to help their cause. However, as the times are a changing, The Wanderers and all the other gangs of the city must come to terms with pending adulthood, and, the ending of an era.

Directed by Phillip Kaufman, this adaptation of Richard Price's novel stands up as one of the best pictures to deal with gang culture. Laced with crackling adolescent humour, and sublimely sound tracked, The Wanderers triumphs better than most because it captures the time frame perfectly. Encompassing the killing of JFK, and subtly showing (during an hilarious sequence) the enlisting of ignorant youths into the Marines, to be carted off to Vietnam no doubt, The Wanderers has far more to offer than merely angst and high school jinx. The cast are surprisingly strong, Ken Wahl, Karen Allen, Tony Ganios and Erland van Lidth all shine in their respective roles, whilst Kaufman directs with a knowing sense of purpose of the thematics to hand. All of which culminates in a quite eerie final third as the deadly Ducky Boys enter the fray. Not quite as serious as The Warriors, which was released the same year, it's a film that much like this one now feels part of my teen education. The Wanderers is however the smarter picture of the two in terms of substance. The coming together at the finale, the racial harmony bursting out from the screen, is and always should be eternally embraced.

All together now, "I'm the type of guy who will never settle down" 8/10

Interestingly enough, most of the gangs portrayed in the film were neither symbolic nor imaginary, but were based on various real gangs who existed at different periods throughout the fifties and early sixties.

Many of these gangs were not real gangs in the common theatrical sense, but were specific ethnic groups of teens from different Bronx and Manhattan neighborhoods. Of course, each group developed its own mythical idea of what the other groups were like, and in his novel, Richard Price used much of this teenage myth and lore.

Of all the well-embellished epics common to the teens in the Wanderers' neighborhood , those dealing with the Duckies were the most detailed and commonly accepted. The Duckies, whether or not they were truly an organized group with such a name, were "the guys across the tracks", insofar as The Wanderers were concerned (the tracks being the NY Central's Harlem Line). They lived in the predominantly Irish neighborhood directly across Bronx Park. I believe their frightening, near demonic quality in the movie was based on a single actual event when two of the Wanderers were actually attacked in the park. Since The Wanderers had never really engaged in any real "gang wars" (or any significant fighting for that matter), that particular episode was the source of most of their perceptions of the Duckie Boys' penchant for unbridled violence.

One of the greatest scenes ever put on film is in this movie: Ken Wahl, about to get married, facing the transition between youth and responsibility, peers through a window at the action at Gerdes' Folk City in Greenwich Village, where, he dimly senses, there's a whole new world beyond his comprehension...it's pure gold, like most everything in this movie. I don't recall rock'n'roll songs ever being put to better or more appropriate use in a sound track. I don't recall a movie ever shifting more seamlessly, effortlessly, from gritty naturalism to bizarro impressionism and back. The cast is great! Whatever happened to some of these actors? There really was a Fordham Baldies, and I grew up not far from the old Alexander's in the Bronx, so I can't pretend to objectivity. For me, this is rather like a New York version of American Graffiti; it creates a world that I feel at home in, even if I never was a gang member and we left the Bronx when I was eight. By the way, the adaptation from Richard Price's book is, I think, remarkable. The book is a series of thematically linked stories that become a single organic story in the film. And I can't blame Ken Wahl--or his character--from being besotted by Karen Allen. Personally, I'd have gone right into Gerdes and flung myself at her feet. Oh yeah, the late Dolph Sweet is superb here.

Just finished watching The Wanderers again after so many years. It still stays an all time classic to me. When it just came out I couldn't get enough of that movie. I think it aged well and it's still good after all those years. Maybe the acting and the dialogs are not the greatest but to me it just brings me back to my youth. Okay I preferred The Warriors that came out that same year, but that movie is not comparable even if it is also about gangs. In the Wanderers it's nice to see how the gangs were in that time in New York. It's absolutely not comparable with the gangs from now. The gangs in that time were just friends hanging out together but now they are just gangsters selling drugs and weapons. Anyways, after all those years I still enjoyed this movie, especially the soundtrack.

This movie is special. It has a great flow, a great story, and captures the essence of the early 60's in NY as the times change. The acting is spontaneous, and the music has to be one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard in a movie. Not just because the songs are good, but how they help tell the story. They come in at the right time, and give goosebumps throughout.

Two of the best scenes in the movie ---- absolute chills down the spine ---- when the women are crying on the street for Kennedy, and the song "Stand By Me" (Ben E. King), provides an indication that there is a shift at that moment in culture. The Wanderers days are numbered. The other scene is the poker game with the girls. Ken Wahl and Karen Allen are priceless, and the song "Baby it's you" is unbelievable.

If you like a little history, some classic songs, and a really good story, mixed with good writing and great acting, this movie is a absolute must see. A Classic. One of my favorite movies of all time.

I first saw this movie at a drive in theater when I was in college back in the late 1970's.

I liked it but didn't think much about it for a long time. Recently I caught it again and realized what a thoroughly good movie it was.

Never mind the setting or time period. If you ever felt any teen-age angst, or if you ever felt a part of anything bigger than you, this is a movie that you can relate to.

The soundtrack is good if you like early 1960's music. But to me this was incidental.

Powerful performances propel this movie, although the ending is a bit strange. All of the acting is A-1 in my book.

This film has been a personal favourite of mine for years and it has always amazed me how hardly any people know about it. This film is so fun and full of charm it feels so real and gritty at times. I can't really comment on whether this film is realistic or not however as I didn't grow up in the era the film is set in but the time period has always fascinated me. In my opinion I prefer this film over films like grease or American graffiti and even the warriors because I just find it so enjoyable. The reason people don't know about this is because the film is pretty hard to find , I had to import my Blu ray online because there isn't a UK release but in the USA more people need to pick it up and try it.

Fine performances by all in this story about growing up, social alienation, belonging, and reaching across lines of prejudice in the Bronx in 1963. The rapidly changing social climate is nicely addressed as a subtext to a plot line that could have easily been dragged into hyperbole, or worse, melodrama. Thankfully, this film is a warts-and-all, brutally honest narrative with hard-hitting performances and gritty, street-level direction and cinematography. Guaranteed to keep a person from channel-surfing - provided that person has an appreciation for solid film-making.

1979 had 2 great "gang" films out, The Warriors, and The Wanderers, but while The Warriors was pretty much all about the gang warfare, the Wanderers was actually a lot deeper, (not that the warriors isn't a great film, it is,) and expands on friendships, gangs, gang rivalries, racism (imagine that classroom scene appearing in a movie today?) Girls, and general coming of age stuff young lads go through.

Set in early 1960s New York, in the multiracial and multiethnic Bronx, to a fantastic soundtrack, the classic old songs go down a treat here, and from the opening scene of the Fordham Baldies strutting down the street to The Four Season's "Walk Like A Man" this sets the tone of the movie for me.

Aside from the great soundtrack, the film has plenty else to offer particularly the characters, we get to know the Wanderers, an Italian American gang of close knit friends, mainly dealing with Richie and Joey, as well as Turkey, a fellow Wanderer who has aspirations to join The Fordham Baldies, plus the arrival of Perry, an out of towner recently moved to New York, who steps in to save the Wanderers from a sticky situation and therefore becomes their newest member, welcomed with open arms, adds to their confidence.

Speaking of the Fordham Baldies, they are one of the most feared gangs of the Bronx, led by the huge Terror, the Wanderers have trouble with this gang, and are saved from a vicious beating by newcomer Perry, who subsequently joins the Wanderers.

Other notable gangs include the Del Bombers, the toughest of the black gangs, led by the charismatic Clinton Stitch, The Wongs, a Chinese gang, and the mysterious Irish-American gang, The Ducky Boys.

As you may imagine, their is trouble ahead with these gangs, some of whom are not always enemies, and the conclusion of the film was very satisfying for me, and includes a great battle near the films climax.

This film deals with so much here, set in the early 60s, this film deals with many social changes coming from the late 50s/early 60s into the gradual transformation to the swinging 60s (See Richie turning his back on a young Bob Dylan in the folk club singing "The Times They-Are A Changing" and returning to the old songs he's used to), as well as the JFK assassination, and the Marines actively recruiting (Vietnam war) young men, I cannot understand why this film is not held in higher regard, as for me this is up there with the likes of American Graffiti and Stand By Me as one of the all time Great coming of age movies.

Excellent film, must see.

9.5/10

Based on the novel of the same name by Richard Price, The Wanderers is set in the Bronx in 1963 and follows the exploits of a gang of Italian - American teenagers and their ongoing power struggles with rival gangs the Fordham Baldies and the psychotic Ducky Boys. Never really finding the first run audience it deserved (it was beaten to the Box Office by Walter Hills' The Warrior's), this touching coming of age drama and end of an era saga has since become a cult favourite since its theatrical rerelease in 1996. Director Philip Kaufman intentionally cast unknown actors in key roles after teenagers from across New York City turned up to audition, including Linda Munz, who was so convincing that the character of Peewee was specifically written for her having never appeared in the novel. Most of the filming took place on location in the Bronx, and drew the attention of real life gangs and former members of the 'real' Baldies who complained that they were being portrayed badly in the film. The climatic football game and mass brawl with the Ducky Boys takes place at Van Contlandt Park, filming got so out of hand that supposedly several cast members and camera crew ended up getting hospitalised. Kaufman and Price compiled the movies soundtrack themselves, it includes one of the best uses of Ben E Kings' Stand By Me ever committed to film, the song playing in the background as the death of JFK is announced to a shocked public. The film also features Bob Dylan performing The Times They Are a-Changin, but the song was not included on the soundtrack album released by Warner Bros Records.

The Wanderers Is one of the most underrated,overlooked movies of all time and a classic of gang films,teen films and coming-of-age films and one of my all time favorite movies.

Based on Richard Price's novel and set In 1963 Bronx,New York, The Wanderers tells the story of an Italian gang called The Wanderers focusing on three members of the gang Richie(Ken Wahl),the leader of the gang,Joey(John Friedrich),the hyperactive little guy In the gang who lives with an abusive Father and Perry(Tony Ganinos),the gentile giant who's new In town and joins The Wanderers and Is a neighbor of Joey's. The three characters along with The Wanderers deal with love, growing up, changing of the times, and rival gangs such as the all-black gang The Del-Bombers, the bald headed gang The Fordham Baldies, an Asian gang called The Wongs and probably the scariest gang of them all The Ducky Boys a group of small guys who are silent,but come in large numbers.

The Wanderers Is a great film from beginning to end and will stay with you after you watch it because it's funny,tragic,nostalgic,haunting and unforgettable. The film is funny because of the way it depicts teenage life for The Wanderers in the early 60s,whether it's picking up girls,going to parties,or getting in fights with other gangs. The music fashions,style and the way the characters act seems true to what was going on at the time and they're definitely is a realism to it. The film is like a great mixture of George Lucas' American Graffiti,Walter Hill's The Warriors and Barry Levinson's Diner all in one. The film also paints a world where every teenager in the Bronx is in a gang and all of the gangs are different by race like the all Italian gang (The Wanderers),a Asian gang(The Wongs) Black gang(The Del-Bombers),Bald gang(The Baldies),a silent gang(The Ducky Boys). The way the gangs are shown in the movie is exaggerated,funny,surreal and at times scary but also unique. The film has an episodic nature where some scenes aren't connected to one another and sometimes character tend to disappear,but there isn't a wasted scene in the film and the movie has a great energy and flow. Some of the scenes will have meaning and will stick with you after you finish. Like the best Teen films or Coming Of Age films The Wanderers is a film about dealing with the last grasps of being a teenager and facing the tough challenges of being an adult,where the characters face the fact that they're not going to be teenagers or in a gang forever,or it's dealing with life teenage and other relationships,parents or an uncertain future. This is one of the reasons why The Wanderers sets itself apart from other gang films. Like American Graffiti,The Wanderers is about the end of the 50s and the beginning of the 60s where the innocence and fun of the late 50s was being replaced by the dark times of the 60s. The characters especially Richie,Joey and Perry know that the times are changing faster than they and they're is a bunch of powerful moments in the film that give way to the changing of the era's and will stick with you after the film is over. The film moves at a solid pace and at times feels like a 90 minute film than a 117 minute film with great energy and break neck speed. Although The Wanderers is not an Action film they're a couple of fight scenes in the film that are well done and brutal and add to the greatness of the film. I know people have been comparing The Wanderers and The Warriors and trying to say which film is better,stop comparing them. As someone who owns and loves both films they both shouldn't be compared,The Wanderers is coming of age Comedy-Drama,The Warriors is an Action film,the only thing they have in common is that they're both gang films. Both are classic films and shouldn't be compared. The ending of the film is beautiful,sad,tragic and at the same time optimistic and will make the viewers make up their minds about what happened to the characters. A great ending.

The whole cast does a great job. Ken Wahl does a great job as Richie,the leader of The Wanderers. John Friedrich is wonderful as the hyperactive Joey. Tony Ganios is wonderful as Perry,the gentle giant who's new in the neighborhood and becomes a member of The Wanderers. Karen Allen does a great job in her small role as Nina,a girl Richie and Joey meet. Toni Kalem does a fine job as Despie,Richie's girlfriend. Alan Rosenberg is funny as Wanderers' weasel Turkey. Jim Youngs does a great job as Buddy,a ladies man. Erland Van Lidth is excellent as Terror leader of The Baldies. Linda Manz is outstanding as PeeWee Terror's girlfriend. Dolph Sweet gives a memorable performance as Chubby,Despie's father and a local gangster who helps The Wanderers out when needed. William Andrews frightening and intense as Emilio,Joey's abusive Father.

Director Philip Kaufman does a masterful job Directing the film moving the camera when ever he can, never slowing down. Kaufman's direction gives the film a since of edge and realism and at times creepiness. A year before in 1978 Kaufman directed the great remake Invasion of the Body Snatchers a creepy and terrifying film and Kaufman brings the same terrifying tone in this film with The Ducky Boys scenes.

The soundtrack is amazing with great songs like Walk like a man,Soldier Boy,Baby It's you,The Wanderer,Stand By Me and many more. The soundtrack greatly fits with the tone of the late 50s and early 60s.

In final word,if you love Gang films,teen films,Coming of age films and love films like The Warriors,The Outsiders,Rumble Fish and American Graffiti or cinema in general,I highly suggest you see this underrated classic. Highly Recommended. 10/10.

Though I enjoyed Philip Kaufman's THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING, by and large I do not rate his body of work that highly, and THE WANDERERS provides yet another example of a patched narrative about an Italian street gang in NY's Bronx that tries to get support from other gangs (a rather unlikely situation in any self-respecting gang nowadays, but things must have been different back in 1963).

All action turns around handsome Ken Wahl, who has it good with a couple of lovelies - Tony Kalem and the more briefly seen Karen Allen, in the wake of a poker dress removal game - and his loyalties appear to waver as gangs like the Baldies and the del Bombers get larger, and he cannot hide pangs of fear.

Interesting supporting role from Alan Rosenberg as a Wanderer who shaves his head to join the Baldies, but his motivations are immediately seen and he pays the price.

Great music throughout helps give some unity to the patchy plot. Unremarkable cinematography by Michael Chapman.

Philip Kaufman will soon be laughing all the way to the bank when Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is released. He is the co-creator of the character Indiana Jones along with George Lucas.

The Wanderers shares much with Lucas's American Graffiti which was a coming of age film with a wall to wall 1950s soundtrack.

The Wanderers is set in 1963 and aims to be more ribald and grittier. The Wanderers are an Italian-American gang at high school decked out in baseball jackets. Their leader is Richie (Ken Wahl) more interested in making out with a local girl than fighting. Especially the older gang called the Fordham Baldies.

Other high school gangs are drawn along racial lines and there is an initial ruckus with the black students which leads to a rumble arranged without guns and knives. It later evolves into a football match so the community elders can place bets on the outcome.

This is an episodic movie of young people emerging in a nation that is about to change. JFK is assassinated and Bob Dylan is singing about The Times They Are A-Changin'.

It climaxes with a big showdown with the toughest Bronx gang the Ducky Boys, when the other gangs reunite to take them on. The Ducky Boys are shown to be silent and surreal. Maybe they represent adulthood or the upcoming Vietnam war.

Many of the Fordham Baldies have been inadvertently recruited to the marines, so they can have a reason to fight.

Kaufman who directed and co-adapted the novel by Richard Price is unsure with the material. Not crudely funny enough to be like Porky's or Animal House. It does not have the pure nostalgia appeal of American Graffiti. It lacks the violent action of The Warriors.

Philip Kaufman is a great director (true some of his films are not my cup of tea, so to speak, such as "Quills" & "the Unbearable Lightness of Being", but he's had his hand in "The Right Stuff", "Indiana Jones" & "the Outlaw Josey Wales", and that ALONE qualifies him for greatness) This film is one of my favorite coming-of-age movies, having never read the book it was based on didn't deter me from falling in love with this movie. The whole cast does spot-on performances and you grow to really feel for these characters and while it seems a bit episodic, it all ties together in the end. Many memorable scenes and an amazingly good soundtrack. Definately in my top 20 of all-time.

My Grade: A

DVD Extras: Commentary by Philip Kaufman; Theatrical Trailer

Set against the urban jungle of 1963 New York's gangland subculture, this coming of age teenage movie is set around the Italian gang the Wanderers.

This story is something like a blend between "The Warriors" and "American Graffiti", though for some reason is not as well known as either of them. My suspicion is because there are no real breakout stars. A few familiar faces, but nobody huge. This likely sent it back into obscurity.

What stands out for me is the dynamite soundtrack. The film is funny and has a good plot, but that soundtrack is just perfect and something I would gladly listen to over and over again. I don't know how music rights worked at the time, but today a film like this would probably cost a fortune just on licensing.

I came across this movie by accident. It showed up on Cinemax one day and I was hooked just by the first two minutes. This ranks up there as one of my favorite movies of all time. From the opening scenes of the Bronx in 1963 while The Four Seasons "Walk like a Man" is playing to the end when we hear Dion's "The Wanderers" this is truly a special movie. All the actors in this movie are wonderful too. How could you not love Ritchie (Ken Whal)? He is so handsome. I also loved Perry "Leave the kid alone". You have all the gangs like The Baldies, The Wongs, The Ducky Boys etc... and I crack up over Terror & Pee Wee (what a couple). If you like "The Bronx Tale", "The Outsiders", or "Grease", then you will love this even more. Don't pass this one up. It's one of the best!

"The Wanderers" is a high school nostalgia flick centered on a 1963 Bronx street gang of the title name. Lame, tame, and a trip down memory lane, this jambalaya of things early 60's (circa 1979) will be of most interest to the 60ish crowd for nostalgia reasons though the comedy and drama are timeless. Of the same ilk as "Hollywood Knights" or "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" though it didn't launch as many careers and is probably the lesser of the lot. (B-)

I have watched this movie at least 50 times. It is my all time favorite movie. I just mailed my DVD copy (I have VHS also)last week to friends in Santa Barbara. I spoke to them this afternoon and they told me they loved it. My friends wife adores Ken Wahl. When The Wanderers was first released I went to every movie house and Drive-In it was playing at and took a different friend each time. The only person that didn't like this movie was my wife at the time. I even have the soundtrack on 8-track tape. A few songs in the movie were not on the released soundtrack, ie, I Love You by the Volumes. I have also read the book written by Richard Price who appears in the movie as one of the bowling sharks, the one with the mustache. The book is a very good read but does not follow very close to the movie.

While in Mexico, this film popped up on the dish. I've gotta say, I was captivated by this odd little film. There's no telling why this film was made however I did appreciate it's randomness. I'd recommend this film to any teens that want 'Greese' with a little attitude.

Story takes place in 1963 in the Bronx NY area. It deals with a gang of kids called the Wanderers and their coming of age. It focuses primarily on Perry, Joey (John Friedrich) and Richie (Ken Wahl). Richard Price's novel was a short but horrifying view of that place and era. The movie retains the names of the characters but lightens the tone completely. There's multiple stories going on and the movie is full of incredible sequences.

Highlights include: a classroom "discussion" about race; the Wanderers marching down an alley to the title tune; the Baldies revenge on Joey and Richie; a small role for the then unknown Olympia Dukakis; a game of "elbow tit"; Karen Allen's introduction; a trip to Ducky Boys territory; a memorable party and football game; JFK's assassination and a violent rumble.

All the acting is great but Wahl and Allen stand out. There's exceptional direction by Philip Kaufman and excellent use of period music.Also nice to see Linda Manz and author Richard Price have small roles. Also noted comic book artist Neal Adams did the Wanderers poster at the football game. Some people should be warned--the violence is infrequent but strong and there's tons of swearing and racial slurs.

I've seen this movie multiple times and every single time I find it fascinating. The direction, music, acting and stories just pull you right in. This movie never hit it big because of lousy distribution back in 1979 and the violence caused by another gang picture "The Warriors" limited its release. I remember theatres in Boston MA refused to play it! Still it has attained a deserved cult attention over the years. Just fantastic. A definite must-see!

This may appear to be your typical coming-of-age-in-da-Bronx movie, but it actually is a lot more than that. It has a surreal quality in the form of the Duckie Boys, who appear and disappear with equal ease. Of course they are symbolic of the troubled times to come in the 60's. Throughout the issues the film deals with, there are great performances, a killer soundtrack and a real feel for the period. I can't imagine anyone not getting something from viewing this fine movie.

Discount THE WARRIORS? That is probably too harsh, but that is how this (otherwise enjoyable) movie felt.

THE WANDERS was a bit too long for its relatively simple plot. Many scenes (I watched the director's cut) seemed unnecessary, contributing little to the plot's advance. Not-so-subtle (and for the movie totally irrelevant) hints were used to remind the audience of the film's time period. That is OK for elementary school plays - not so okay for professional films.

If you, like I, found this film after looking for films similar to THE WARRIORS, than you did not find what you were looking for. This film is better classified as a 60s Bronx Coming of Age film. If you start with that expectation, than I am sure you will enjoy THE WANDERERS just fine!