Arrow Video is releasing a “Limited Edition” 2-disc 4K Ultra HD set and a 2-disc “Limited Edition” Blu-ray on December 19th.
The Warriors has had a long and storied history. This action film follows the members of a Coney Island-based street gang trying to make their way home from the Bronx through hostile territory. It came out of the blue from a young director and created a huge stir upon its release. While exaggerated and stylized, there weren’t a lot of stories being onscreen about gang life and the movie struck a chord with audiences. But after a few violent incidents at packed cinemas during the opening weekend, a nervous Paramount Pictures started removing advertising for the film and eventually removed some of the screens it was playing on.
Many believe this act hampered the title’s success. Yet it still grossed nearly six times its production budget (which would make it a box-office hit by just about any definition). The movie was also a major success on video and DVD, developing a bigger and more devoted following. But then it went out-of-print. In 2005, a “Director’s Cut” DVD was released. This edition didn’t contain the original cut and instead presented the movie with major alterations. Those who loved the movie were frustrated that the beloved theatrical cut wasn’t being made available.
Now, 17 years later, Arrow Video is finally debuting The Warriors on 4K Ultra HD and on Blu-ray. Both editions include the altered “Director’s Cut” and the long missing “Theatrical Cut.” The results are wondrous, with an outstanding picture that is spotless, yet still retains the gritty look of New York in the late 1970s. The film itself is an action classic and the bonuses on the set are equally outstanding.
For those unfamiliar with the movie, it begins with all of New York’s gangs being called together for a meeting in the Bronx. The Warriors from Coney Island decide to attend and viewers are introduced to group leader Cleon (Dorsey Wright) and his crew. They include second-in-command Swan (Michael Beck), scout Fox (Thomas G. Waites), graffiti artist Rembrandt (Marcelino Sanchez), as well as enforcer Ajax (James Remar) and fellow members Snow (Brian Tyler), Cowboy (Tom McKitterick), Cochise (David Harris) and Vermin (Terry Michos). Once there, all attendees are encouraged by esteemed leader Cyrus (Roger Hill) to overcome personal differences, join forces and take control of the city.
However, rival Turnbull ACs gang leader Luther (David Partick Kelly) wants no part of the plan. He assassinates Cyrus and points the finger at The Warriors. The protagonists must make their way more than 30 miles back home with all of the city’s gangs in pursuit (as well as the police, who are portrayed as just another menacing organization). Along the way, they are joined by tough-talking Mercy (Deborah Van Valkenburg), who wants to trade-up in the gang world for a more promising outfit.
The film’s depictions of gangs are intentionally over-the-top and surreal. All are costumed, often with a unifying outfit and theme in mind. Somehow, this is actually one of the movie’s charms, as distinctive-looking threats come out of the darkness from borough to borough and try to wipe out the leads. Viewers are treated to gangs dressed as baseball players, or wearing roller skates and other get-ups. The filmmakers often use these unique elements to create inspired fight scenes. Since the story is all set in over one evening with all of the characters in continuous danger, the excitement never lets up. The beautiful photography, expert editing, slick pace and talented young cast (which includes many familiar faces making early screen appearances) deliver in spades.
If that wasn’t enough, the story even manages to insert social commentary into the mix. There’s a wonderful, memorable scene towards the end of the picture that takes place on a train car that doesn’t feature a word of dialogue, yet brilliantly stresses the class divide in America. The movie is a winner and one of the best action pictures of its era.
The 4K Ultra HD and the Blu-ray sets are also winners, delivering visuals that are incredible. The movie was shot at night with neon lights on wet streets and in train stations filled with character and atmosphere. The photography has never looked more stunning than on this new release.
There are also great extras. Those who picked up the 2005 “Director’s Cut” DVD will note that all of the bonuses from the set have been ported over. This includes a lengthy and insightful multi-part making-of documentary that chronicles the production, as well as the challenges faced by the crew shooting through summer nights in New York. Most of the cast and crew participate and their stories are entertaining and insightful. Hill explains that he was inspired to make a story about gangs that was styled like a comic (hence the “Director’s Cut,” which adds literal comic book elements that irked many fans). He also explains that he didn’t want to judge the characters or gang life, simply presenting them as is during a particularly difficult night. The cast share great stories too, including David Patrick Kelly, who explains how he improvised the villain’s iconic taunt near the close of the film.
The old extras have always been exceptional, but the new additions add even more information. There’s a film historian commentary from Walter Chaw (who wrote a book on director Walter Hill) that offers plenty of remarkable details. He comes to the same conclusion as most fans about the 2005 cut, saying that the comic book panel additions were completely unnecessary and that they serve only as a frustrating distraction to audiences who already love and admire the original movie. He is also thrilled to have the “Theatrical Cut” available again.
There is also a new interview with Hill himself, as well as the editor and the costume designer. A series of drawings with costume designs for the gangs are also presented and are impressive to look at. Additionally, there’s a new appreciation of the score, which marked early use of the synthesizer. And the discs include a 75-minute discussion with filmmakers Josh Olson (A History of Violence), Lexi Alexander (Green Street), and Robert D. Kryzkowski (The Man Who Killed Hitler and then Bigfoot) about the movie and their admiration of Hill’s other cinematic work.
Over the course of all of these new bonuses, Hill and the others open up more about what really happened behind the scenes and some of the struggles they faced. He notes that the wild gang looks were the result of a night of pizza and beer, with the filmmaker coming up with ideas so that the costuming crew would be inspired to create some wild looks. Hill dislikes the New York Yankees, and so he decided to make them bad guys and asked that the bat-toting Furies’ outfits be inspired by the team’s pinstripe uniforms.
The character of Fox has always been a curious one, as many know that he was originally intended to be the star of the story but had his part shaved down considerably. While in earlier documentaries the reason given is that co-star Beck and Valkenburg had better onscreen chemistry. But as it turns out, this was not the whole story. Hill and co-star Waites were not getting along well. The script involved a large subplot with Fox spending time separated from the gang with Mercy. The two were to fall in love and Fox was going to consider leaving The Warriors. Waites didn’t appreciate the script’s action elements and was belligerent towards Hill for weeks.
The director finally fired him, quickly improvising a manner to remove him from the story and insert Beck as the love interest. It’s fascinating to listen to this tale and it’s equally amazing that the final movie manages to work so well with radical story changes that occurred in the middle of the shoot. Hill states he felt bad about having to fire his lead, but says that it was the right decision and that he is happy he and Waites were recently able to patch things up.
Hill and the editor also talk about problems with the opening of the film and how they chopped a scene and crafted a slick and fast-paced opening that establishes mood, gives a general sense of location and where the characters are, as well as placing the leads into the action quickly. The fight scenes are expertly put together and there’s a lot of discussion of establishing geography so that the actions of the entire ensemble are clear at any point. They note other new and original editing tricks that were used to make the conflict as dynamic as possible.
The set also comes with a ton of publicity materials including trailers, image galleries and more. And if that wasn’t enough, these “Limited Editions” also come with a 100-page collector’s book with writing on the film and archival material. The packaging features a reversible sleeve with original and newly created art for the title (there’s also a double-sided fold-out poster that includes these images). And it also comes with six postcard-sized art-cards and gang logo stickers.
It’s late December, but Arrow Video’s “Limited Edition” of The Warriors might be one of, if not the best releases of the year. It’s a major upgrade in terms of image quality, includes all archival bonus material and great new extras that give even more insight about the production. Of course, the movie is also an action classic of the highest order. This release is phenomenal and about as good as it gets. Those who “dig” this movie need to pick it up immediately!