Back in 1998 (me being 13), my Dad sat me down and told me about a film that would go on to change my life forever. The film was The Warriors, a true cult favourite among most movie lovers.
The first thing my Dad told me about it was that it was one of the first films he and my Mom ever went to the see at the pictures. My dad was 21 when the film came out and my Mom about 16. As they stepped up to collect their tickets, my Mom was turned away for not being old enough. My Dad, ever the gent decided to go ahead with his ticket and told my Mom to take the bus home as it was a film he wasn’t prepared to miss out on. My Mom, still to this day argues that the film was ‘Kentucky Fried Movie’, but it’s such a great story that I have to believe my Dad on that one.
The film means so much to me that I even arranged the table plan for my wedding around the film. I designed gang patches and had them stitched up to form the base of each table. The Warriors were of course the top table with every other gang positioned around the room in the route that The Warriors had to bop there way back to the big CI – The Turnbull AC’s, The Orphans, The Baseball Furies, The Punks and then The Rogues.
While on holiday in New York a few years back, my brother in law, @SimonBarber and I decided to take the subway to Coney Island to see the Wonder Wheel and a few of the mean alleyways where the film was set. The whole place was locked up tight, there was glass everywhere and not a single sign of life. We walked around the outside of the fairground and then made a short trip to the beach before leaving. The place appeared to be in the same state as when Walter Hill and the crew were there filming. Amazing!
We also decided to host a screening once a year of the film, last year Simon came in his Warriors vest and I wore my Baseball Furies jersey. The wives tag along too, but it’s only really appreciated by the brothers!
Merchandise:
Suprisingly, there aren’t many companies out there that have latched on to the whole Warriors thing yet but if you love cool T-shirts, I recommend you check out (and be fast) www.darkbunnytees.com for a limited edition box set of Warriors shirts. They even come encased in their very own VHS boxes with some amazing artwork. Follow him on Twitter too: @DarkBunnyTees
The movie is amazing so if you’re reading this and haven’t seen the film yet, take an ex-rental VHS case and beat yourself around the head with it about 4 or 5 times. I have tried to gather up as many items of memorabilia that I own from the film as I can. I never realised I had so much stuff!
Below are pictures of said memorabilia…
I have only very recently got around to seeing ‘The Warriors’ and it’s a crime that I didn’t do it sooner. Definitely a product of its era but what top class entertainment from start to finish. Visually it’s incredibly stylised and striking, I think you’re right that it’s amazing more merchandise hasn’t been created. Great article, thank you.
Well the figures and posters certainly sell out but are limited, we just need some shirt manufacturers to ‘cotton on’ to the gangs and create some cool tees.
Glad you loved the movie though, it really does hold up. The biggest crime is that it has never been turned into a stage musical. That would blow minds.
I remember watching the Warriors on BBC 2 back in 1997 for the first time when i was 16. Loved the film. I taped it again when BBC 2 repeated it in 1999 and still have the VHS of it. I later bought the film on video and later when it came out on DVD. Have the book too which i read. I also got the directors cut but i didn’t like it. The original version is the best. The version that BBC 2 showed that i taped is the one were it shows the Warriors in the day time before they get on the train. That scene was cut from the, Video, DVD and cinema release. So I’m glad i have copy of that even if it is only taped of the TV 🙂
Great! I’ve actually been trying to lay my hands on that 90s TV cut. Is this something you could send me over?
Yeah sure i could do a copy for you no bother. I haven’t watched the one i taped of the TV for years so hopefully the quality is still great. Its sitting here in my bedroom. I can put it onto DVD if thats OK. I even remember when i taped it when it was repeated and what date it was. It was 20th August 1999 which was a Friday night 🙂 The BBC haven’t shown it since.
I only found your blog so have been reading it all of it. Brings back memory’s. I have still a few video tapes yet, still have The Warriors video i bought in HMV back in 2004 and The Thing even though i now have them on DVD. I also have two ex rental copies of the film Heatseeker http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113278/ I got the first one when i rented it and the other one i bought a few years ago. I used to buy a lot of ex rentals. I must have a look and see if i still have any lying about. I do know i have Arena http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101366/
Arena is magic. So good. Well I certainly wouldn’t mind a Heatseeker tape, if it’s going spare, either.
If you could drop me a line to viva @ vivavhs.co.uk, i’d love to take that Warriors TV airing from you.
I’ll get the Warriors TV airing copied this week coming and send you a email when its done.
Do you still have a copy of this been after it for years
Hi adrian I was wondering if you would let me copy the bbc2 one you have with the extra bit at the start I have been looking for this for ages
Can I get a copy please
Do you still have this?
Hey cool story . Nice one going to coney island
It would be really interesting to look into the influence “The Warriors” had on the whole late 80’s early 90’s arcade game beat em up style , in games like Double Dragon and Final Fight , even Street Fighter 2 , where whole styles and genres were lifted straight from the films crazy street punk style…
Have you seen Tromas “Story of a Junkie” ?
Hey man, thanks so much for the comments. Have you ever played The Warriors Playstation game for the PS2? If you complete it, you gain a 2D style machine with a Warriors game on it in the style of Double Dragon, so the theme must have been carried through. Definite inspiration there.
I haven’t seen that Troma flick, but will hunt it down now. Thanks!
Hi can I get a copy of the bbc2 tape you have please