The Wanderers (1979)

The Wanderers are an Italian American gang vying for respect on the streets of the Bronx in 1963. Between rumbles with rivals such as the Ducky Boys and the Fordham Baldies, the group of toughs learn some difficult lessons about life -- and love. Leader Richie Gennaro (Ken Wahl) finds himself entangled with Despie Galasso (Toni Kalem), the daughter of a mobster, while the artistically inclined Joey (John Friedrich) falls hard for Nina (Karen Allen).

Plot

Joey and Turkey are members of the Wanderers, an all-Italian-American street gang. In the Bronx, New York, Joey tries to dissuade Turkey from joining a rival gang, the Fordham Baldies. Before Turkey can ask, Terror's girlfriend Peewee overhears Joey insulting the Baldies, calling them a "bunch of pricks with ears". Joey and Turkey flee, and the Baldies chase them. Richie—the leader of the Wanderers—and Buddy come to help but they also flee from the Baldies. After being cornered, the Wanderers are helped by a tough stranger named Perry, who has recently moved to the Bronx from New Jersey. After much persuasion, Perry joins the Wanderers.

In school, the Wanderers get into a racial dispute with another gang, the Del Bombers who are all African American. Both gangs agree to settle their dispute, seemingly a street fight, but the Wanderers struggle to find a gang willing to back them. With no other options, Richie asks his girlfriend's father, local mafia boss Chubby Galasso, who agrees to help solve the gangs' dispute.

During a game of "elbow-tit", Richie gropes a woman called Nina. He feels ashamed of himself, apologizes for his actions and persuades Nina to accept Joey's telephone number. The Wanderers then decide to follow Nina in Perry's car.

After Perry becomes lost, the Wanderers are attacked by an all-Irish-American street gang called the Ducky Boys. They escape after Perry's arm is broken.

While drunk, the Baldies are tricked into joining the Marines. Before reporting for training, they decide to crash Despie's party, where Turkey—who has recently joined the Baldies—is told to draw the Wanderers outside. After drawing them out, Turkey realizes the Baldies have abandoned him. He tries to chase them but fails. Upset, Turkey visits a nearby Catholic church. After being spotted by a member of the Ducky Boys attending Mass, Turkey is chased down the street. After climbing a fire escape ladder in an attempt to escape, he falls to his death.

In school, while the Wanderers are mourning Turkey's death, the rest of the gang oust Richie for sleeping with Joey's date Nina. After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Richie rekindles his relationship with Despie. When Chubby discovers his daughter is pregnant, he forces Richie into marrying her.

In the climax, we discover the Wanderers and the Del Bombers are settling their dispute not with a street fight but with a football game organized by Chubby. Richie uses the opportunity to make amends with Joey. A member of the Ducky Boys interrupts the game, as the Wanderers momentarily turn their heads, hundreds of Ducky Boys invade the field. Many of the Wanderers and the Del Bombers flee, but some stand their ground. The remaining players join forces with spectator gangs in the stands, including one called the Wongs and even Emilio. After a long and bloody battle, the Ducky Boys flee.

After being physically abused by his father Emilio, Joey decides to spend the night at Perry's apartment. Perry tells Joey he is planning to leave the Bronx and move back to New Jersey. Joey asks Perry if he can go with him; after an initially skeptical response, Perry agrees. Emilio, drunk, enters Perry's apartment and fights with him; Joey knocks Emilio unconscious with a glass bottle. Joey and Perry quickly leave the apartment and head to Richie's engagement party. At the party Richie notices Nina walking by and quickly follows. Before he catches up to her, she walks into a bar where Bob Dylan is performing "The Times They Are a-Changin'". Accepting that their relationship is over, he makes his way back to the party.

Upon his return, Joey and Perry say an emotional goodbye to Richie, and when they leave, Richie realizes things will not be the same. At Richie's party, members of the Wanderers, the Del Bombers and the Wongs embrace one another while singing "The Wanderer". The movie ends with Joey and Perry traveling to California.

Cast

Ken Wahl as Richie Gennaro, the leader of the Wanderers.
John Friedrich as Joey Capra, Richie's closest friend and a fellow Wanderer.
Karen Allen as Nina Becker, Richie's love interest.
Toni Kalem as Despie Galasso, Richie's girlfriend and Chubby Galasso's daughter.
Jim Youngs as Buddy Borsalino, a leading member of the Wanderers.
Tony Ganios as Perry LaGuardia, a member of the Wanderers and a close friend of Joey.
Alan Rosenberg as Turkey, a member of the Wanderers who wants to join the Fordham Baldies.
Dolph Sweet as Chubby Galasso, the local mafia boss and father of Despie Galasso.
William Andrews as Emilio Capra, Joey's father.
Erland van Lidth as Terror, the leader of the Fordham Baldies.
Linda Manz as Peewee, Terror's girlfriend.
Michael Wright as Clinton Stitch, the leader of the Del Bombers.
Samm-Art Williams as Roger, the only black member of the Fordham Baldies and the cousin of Clinton Stitch.
Val Avery as Mr. Sharp, a high school teacher.
Dion Albanese as Teddy Wong, the leader of the Wongs.

Snakes Review

Character: A place like the Bronx is no country club. Richie and the boys are one tough gang to survive 1963 and stand up to the Ducky Boys. The Wanderers would come in handy, if Snake needed to rumble.

Movie: The movie fans at IMDB have given a score of 7.4, and Snake would agree. Plenty of tough guys and no backing down, a little romance and one insane fight at the end.    

Snakes Score: 7.4