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Drama

The Wanderers

- It was The Wanderers against the world ... and the world never had a chance!

The streets of the Bronx are owned by '60s youth gangs where the joy and pain of adolescence is lived. Philip Kaufman tells his take on the novel by Richard Price about the history of the Italian-American gang ‘The Wanderers.’

Release Date : 1979-07-13

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Orion PicturesWarner Bros. PicturesFilm Finance Group

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Ken Wahl

Character Name : Richie

Original Name : Ken Wahl

Gender : Male

John Friedrich

Character Name : Joey

Original Name : John Friedrich

Gender : Male

Karen Allen

Character Name : Nina

Original Name : Karen Allen

Gender : Female

Toni Kalem

Character Name : Despie Galasso

Original Name : Toni Kalem

Gender : Female

Alan Rosenberg

Character Name : Turkey

Original Name : Alan Rosenberg

Gender : Male

Jim Youngs

Character Name : Buddy

Original Name : Jim Youngs

Gender : Male

Tony Ganios

Character Name : Perry

Original Name : Tony Ganios

Gender : Male

Linda Manz

Character Name : Peewee

Original Name : Linda Manz

Gender : Female

William Andrews

Character Name : Emilio

Original Name : William Andrews

Gender : Male

Erland van Lidth

Character Name : Terror

Original Name : Erland van Lidth

Gender : Male

Val Avery

Character Name : Mr. Sharp

Original Name : Val Avery

Gender : Male

Dolph Sweet

Character Name : Chubby Galasso

Original Name : Dolph Sweet

Gender : Male

Michael Wright

Character Name : Clinton

Original Name : Michael Wright

Gender : Male

Burtt Harris

Character Name : Marine Recruiter

Original Name : Burtt Harris

Gender : Male

Samm-Art Williams

Character Name : Roger

Original Name : Samm-Art Williams

Gender : Male

Dion Albanese

Character Name : Teddy Wong

Original Name : Dion Albanese

Gender : Male

George Merolle

Character Name : Peppy Dio

Original Name : George Merolle

Gender : Male

Terri Perri

Character Name : Terri Perri

Original Name : Terri Perri

Gender : Male

Tara King

Character Name : Pretty Girl

Original Name : Tara King

Gender : Female

Michael Pasternak

Character Name : Georgie

Original Name : Michael Pasternak

Gender : Male

Bruce Nozick

Character Name : Dushie

Original Name : Bruce Nozick

Gender : Male

Faith Minton

Character Name : Big Lady

Original Name : Faith Minton

Gender : Female

Adam Kimmel

Character Name : Folk singer

Original Name : Adam Kimmel

Gender : Male

Jery Hewitt

Character Name : Bowler

Original Name : Jery Hewitt

Gender : Male

Leon W. Grant

Character Name : Boo Boo

Original Name : Leon W. Grant

Gender : Male

Sally Anne Golden

Character Name : Crying Woman

Original Name : Sally Anne Golden

Gender : Female

Ken Foree

Character Name : Black Sportsman

Original Name : Ken Foree

Gender : Male

Rosemary De Angelis

Character Name : Waitress

Original Name : Rosemary De Angelis

Gender : Female

John Califano

Character Name : Bowling Bankroller

Original Name : John Califano

Gender : Male

Richard Price

Character Name : Bowling Bankroller

Original Name : Richard Price

Gender : Male

Linda Artuso

Character Name : Buddy's Woman

Original Name : Linda Artuso

Gender : Male

Earlie J. Butler III

Character Name : Del Bomber

Original Name : Earlie J. Butler III

Gender : Male

Rafael Cabrera

Character Name : Del Bomber

Original Name : Rafael Cabrera

Gender : Male

Brian Colleary

Character Name : Referee

Original Name : Brian Colleary

Gender : Male

Lorna Erickson

Character Name : Gloria Galasso

Original Name : Lorna Erickson

Gender : Male

Adam Kimmel

Character Name : Folk Singer

Original Name : Adam Kimmel

Gender : Male

Sheryl Posner

Character Name : Despie's Girlfriend

Original Name : Sheryl Posner

Gender : Male

Bert Samuel

Character Name : Mau Mau

Original Name : Bert Samuel

Gender : Male

Konrad Sheehan

Character Name : Ducky Boy 2nd-In-Command

Original Name : Konrad Sheehan

Gender : Male

Frank Ferrara Sr.

Character Name : Wanderer

Original Name : Frank Ferrara Sr.

Gender : Male

Paul Lisotta

Character Name : Wanderer

Original Name : Paul Lisotta

Gender : Male

Thomas H. LoRusso

Character Name : Wanderer

Original Name : Thomas H. LoRusso

Gender : Male

Anthony Pleskow

Character Name : Wanderer

Original Name : Anthony Pleskow

Gender : Male

Steven Santillo

Character Name : Wanderer

Original Name : Steven Santillo

Gender : Male

Billy Stulberg

Character Name : Wanderer

Original Name : Billy Stulberg

Gender : Male

Victor Terry

Character Name : Wanderer

Original Name : Victor Terry

Gender : Male

F.X. Vitolo

Character Name : Wanderer

Original Name : F.X. Vitolo

Gender : Male

Harry Benjamin

Character Name : Pharoah Leader

Original Name : Harry Benjamin

Gender : Male

Alan H. Braunstein

Character Name : Ducky Boy Leader

Original Name : Alan H. Braunstein

Gender : Male

Mark Lesly

Character Name : Second Ducky Boy

Original Name : Mark Lesly

Gender : Male

Farrel R. Tannenbaum

Character Name : Ray Leader

Original Name : Farrel R. Tannenbaum

Gender : Male

Anthony Tirico

Character Name : Executioner Leader

Original Name : Anthony Tirico

Gender : Male

Vinnie De Carlo

Character Name : Albert

Original Name : Vinnie De Carlo

Gender : Male

Dom De Prospo

Character Name : Dom

Original Name : Dom De Prospo

Gender : Male

Tony Munafo

Character Name : Tony

Original Name : Tony Munafo

Gender : Male

Michael J. Raffaele

Character Name : Mike

Original Name : Michael J. Raffaele

Gender : Male

Danny Aiello III

Character Name : Baldie

Original Name : Danny Aiello III

Gender : Male

Michael Amato

Character Name : Baldie

Original Name : Michael Amato

Gender : Male

John Devaney

Character Name : Baldie

Original Name : John Devaney

Gender : Male

Terrence George

Character Name : Baldie

Original Name : Terrence George

Gender : Male

Nicholas J. Giangiulio

Character Name : Baldie

Original Name : Nicholas J. Giangiulio

Gender : Male

Eddie Horre

Character Name : Baldie

Original Name : Eddie Horre

Gender : Male

Dennis M. Lee

Character Name : Baldie

Original Name : Dennis M. Lee

Gender : Male

Ralph Mazzella

Character Name : Baldie

Original Name : Ralph Mazzella

Gender : Male

Peter Potulski

Character Name : Baldie

Original Name : Peter Potulski

Gender : Male

Jimmy Scagnelli

Character Name : Baldie

Original Name : Jimmy Scagnelli

Gender : Male

Joe Zimmardi

Character Name : Baldie

Original Name : Joe Zimmardi

Gender : Male

Anton Evangelista

Character Name : Wanderer (uncredited)

Original Name : Anton Evangelista

Gender : Male

Olympia Dukakis

Character Name : Joey's Mother (uncredited)

Original Name : Olympia Dukakis

Gender : Female

Wayne Knight

Character Name : Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Wayne Knight

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Rumble in the Bronx. 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

G

griggs79

@griggs79

2025-03-28

_The Wanderers_ definitely isn’t perfect—some moments felt awkward and dated, especially that uncomfortable racist word battle, which made me cringe more than once. But if I look past those issues, there’s plenty here to enjoy, particularly as a lively jukebox film with echoes of American Graffiti and The Last Picture Show. It nailed the nostalgic beats for me, nicely capturing teenage friendships, rivalries, and classic coming-of-age drama. I could sense the director’s genuine fondness for his 60s youth, balanced with a welcome dash of 70s/80s grit. Sure, it’s uneven, occasionally clumsy, and won’t win prizes for subtlety, but the cracking soundtrack alone kept me hooked. If, like me, you’re partial to movies that whisk you back to a slightly romanticised past, you could do far worse than spending an evening with this one. Imperfect, yes, but undeniably good fun.