by Sarah Baty
The Warriors was probably my favorite movie we’ve watched so far! I really like movies that happen in one day and I couldn’t even tell you why I just enjoy it a lot.
The Warriors is about the gang being wrongly accused of killing a gang leader and are chased through New York City by other gangs seeking revenge. After kicking A BUNCH of ass and losing a couple men along the way, The Warriors make it home to Coney Island; however, how the movie was advertised portrayed the movie a little differently. In our reading “The Warriors”, it talks about how the poster said that “they were 100,000 strong. They outnumber the cops five to one. They could run New York City.” Just by seeing the ad people assumed it was going to be an inciteful film about all the gang violence at the time. It picked up so much heat it was almost banned in Boston. All the commotion caused people to go watch it to see what the fuss was about and was happy to inform that it was actually a “lively, well-made action film full of adventure and humor, no more violent than the film down the block.” I mean that bathroom scene?! COME ON. I am almost positive we can all agree that was the best fight scene in the whole movie. Anyways, after people reacted so positively to the movie they started defending its honor getting Paramount to removed the misleading picture on the picture and reassured the public that the 100,000 strong were only after The Warriors; the public was safe.
In our other reading, “The Cultural Economy of Fandom” by John Fiske, he discusses describing culture as an economy in which people invest and accumulate capitol. In the section discrimination and distinction Fiske refers to a case study of fans of “Cagney and Lacey” to show how the fans use the show and its stars to “enhance their self esteem which in turn enabled them to perform more powerfully in their social world. The fans had reported that the show gave them confidence to stand up for themselves in a variety of situations including a teenager who said the show made her realize that she could perform just as well as the boys in school. This is why it’s important to depict things in real life on television because so many different types of people are watching and can relate. Blacula created the first black protagonist who wasn’t a bad monster but actually a love sick man with a curse. The Warriors gave us a badass girl gang (the best gang y’all can’t even argue with me I won’t have it) which for the 70’s was surprising. They were just as wild and full of badassery as the men were and I loved and appreciated it.
For my last little bit I just wanted to throw in the scene where the kids from Prom get on the subway and The Warriors are all messed up and filthy. They all quietly watch the kids as they laugh with each other and are appreciating how easy their lives are. Once the kids look up and realize they’re all starring they fall silent. Mercy goes to fix her hair and Swan stops her and the kids leave the subway on the next stop. I think that scene was laid out beautifully as it portrayed the two different walks of life all these kids were on. It made my heart ache for Mercy and The Warriors 😦 that is all, happy Sprang Break y’all !!
Cult Movies 
I also loved that scene in the subway, it was very subtle and cool. It’s a great example of the type of movie The Warriors really is as opposed to what people assume about it. great pink post!
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That scene with the prom kids really was a strong moment in the film that also commented on different social classes at the time. Those couples were clearly the ideal citizen, doing light hearted things, seemed very “nuclear family” to me. The warrior couple on the other end was the complete opposite, everything we’ve been taught not to be. I just thought it was a good scene in the film, a comment on class structures and the ideal vs rebellion
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I would agree with your statement that this was the best film of the semester, but since I have watched ”Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood” twice, I would have to say that it is still my favorite of this semester, even though we haven’t watched it yet. I liked your analysis of the prom kids’ scene and would agree with your analysis. It is a small scene in the film, but I believe the film benefited from this scene as a whole.
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YES!!! That scene way powerful with Mercy and Swan on the train. They were just staring at Mercy and Swan as if they were “others”. But also that is what Mercy was talking tp swan about when they were walking un the train tracks. she doesn’t want this to be her life but it is and she just deals with it the best she can. Swan didn’t like that but later understood her and decided to let her stay and protected her.
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