"The Warriors (1979) - Adolescent Anabasis" Topic

The Warriors (dir. Walter Hill, 1979) has in the years since its release garnered a considerable presence as a cult classic. I recently saw it, and now I know why.

The Warriors is based on a 1965 novel by Sol Yurick, who in turn was inspired by Xenophon's Anabasis. Director Walter Hill doesn't dwell much on ancient history, or on the darker side of street gangs; they are just a framework upon which to hang his story. That story is archetypally simple; a small band of adventurers face a long journey home through hostile alien lands. Hill does a good job of world-building. The gangs are various and colorful (even theatrical). The streets of a city of millions seem strangely desolate, a stage for the drama which unfolds. Hill offers a laconic introduction to his gangs, and quickly sets in motion the events which drive the plot. He has a good sense of timing, knowing when to draw a scene out and when not to. His visual storytelling is assured, with none of the action being terribly improbable or hard to follow. A sort of Greek chorus (in the form of a radio DJ) appears throughout the film, commenting on the action. Hill knows the difference between having fun with the premise and making fun of it, so the sillier aspects of the story work in his favor.

I was watching this movie with a friend, and at several points in the narrative I said "We have to game this." The rather bizarre styles of the various gangs mean that one shouldn't have to worry too much about miniatures. Any good skirmish game with solid melee mechanics and a focus on irregular forces would do for rules. I consider it thematically "Post-Apocalyptic" for the sake of categorization, but really, any era will do.

I had a blast seeing this film (I wish that Gangs of New York had been half as enjoyable). Highly Recommended!

Ron

I saw this movie in college. It is a colourful and surprisingly good film.

I think Necromunda would work well for gaming this with its emphasis on close combat and irregular and quirky special abilities.

I was just saying that on TMP the other week. Few films have as much first-rate skirmish gaming potential as The Warriors. I also like the fact that it's enough of a "fantasy" re-imagining of gang warfare that it doesn't feel too close to home. I wouldn't want to game realistic gang wars, but this is an entirely different category. What you said about "world-building" is very appropriate. It's like the film re-built New York City into a different world populated by gangs that don't really make sense in the cold light of day but are all the more mesmerising in the right mood lighting.

Personally I wish there were more miniatures that had the right look, though. I would not particularly need the specific gangs from the film, but some more figures with that imaginative, over-the-top 70s/80s urban gang member look would be awesome. Ideally for me they would also not have too many firearms. To the best of my recollection there were only two guns in the whole film.

I, too, just watched this film for the first time recently, based on a comment here on [TMP]. I also enjoyed it immensely. Here's a site that lists the gangs, with images:

warriorsmovie.co.uk/gangs

Agreed, it's a great little movie.

Randall, you beat me to the post of all the gangs in the movie.

The Whispers are named but not shown in the movie (that I'm aware of). I've often wondered what they looked like.

And what about the Nickel Steaks? Tough gang!

At any rate, the movie definitely makes me want to come out and play-ay. (Someone had to say it!)

The directors cut adds in some nice prelude history about the Greeks. But the comic book framing cut aways in my opinion take the film to far over the top. Just sort of goes cartoony.

I first saw this film when I was about 12 years old. It has since inspired countless games over the last 25 years.

The X-Box game, I don't know if it was released for any other system or not, has loads of great detail modeling for other gangs that exist in The Warriors world.

The plastic gangers from Gangs of Mega City-1 are the basis for a lot of my gangs used for playing these scenarios.

Haven't seen this movie for years but my favorite gang was the baseball players.

Victory Force miniatures make figures

It is a great film. I also loved the game (have it on PS2)

Saw it when I was a kid during it's first run. Loved it then, and I always enjoy rewatching it.

Luther: Warriors, come out to play-i-ay.

The actor (Luthor) said using the bottles was an ad lib, he was waiting for seen and just messing around.
Thanks for the reminder, great movie.

"A sort of Greek chorus (in the form of a radio DJ) appears throughout the film, commenting on the action" – never realized the similarity, very cool.

Mirosav – the Baseball Furies were cool, reminded me of baseball players who were KISS fans

The movie was fantastic, the game was fantastic, the original book was ok but it was written a long time ago so it's a bit dated.

Nice little summation by the OP.

"Of for the "good old days" when gangs could rumble with busted pool cues, bike chains"

Oh for the good old days is right. I grew up in those neighborhoods. That movie was required viewing for all us delinquents growing up in the inner city in NY. Those were my streets from the tip of the Bronx to the tip of Coney Island Brooklyn. While , yes, it was a corny and fun movie. We took it seriously back then since it was a subject we had to live with on a daily basis.

I liked everything about the flick, except the the Warriors themselves. Only Ajax looked tough, the rest looked like a bunch of wussies. I grew up in NYC on the lower east side and I can tell you for a fact that *nobody* would adopt a nickname like "Swan". He might as well have been called Daisy or Dumpling. A guy named "Swan" would have been laughed out of the neighborhood!

"You Warriors are good;real good." "The best."

>>"You Warriors are good;real good." "The best."<<

Not really. A bunch of girls (the Lizzies) scared the cr*p out of three of them.

Well they were shooting at them and trying to kill them.

But this needs a remake and up hte number of gangs that the Warriors have to trash before getting back home.

Thing in the movie just who was Luther calling all the time?

He was messing around but actually got that from a neighbor of his and even though it shows he cannot fight he actually is a martial artist