The time is 1963, the place New York. The Wanderes, a bunch of Italian-American teenagers, have just challenged the local black gang to a rumble. Trouble is, this movie can't decide whether it wants to be the 1979 version of West Side Story or The Warriors, that savage punk-art fantasy of a few months ago. So it tries to be both, with limited success, despite some interesting performances. Linda Manz, the wisecracking gamin in Days of Heaven, plays a similar role this time as sidekick to the boss of a rival gang. Ken Wahl has a primitive attraction as a gang leader who steals another member's girl, and Karen Allen is sexy and sweet as the girl. Best of all is Toni Kalem as the jilted girlfriend whose Mafia-like father shows the boys who really runs the neighborhood. There are lots of songs from the '60s, plus dirty language and studied gee-whiz innocence. But the movie, based on the novel by Richard (Bloodbrothers) Price, has come so late in the gang film craze that there is little left to say. (R)
Your Reaction
