The Wanderers – A Perfect Pop Culture Portrait of 60’s New York

The Wanderers is a 1979 film directed by Philip Kaufman, based on the novel by Richard Price. The movie follows the story of a group of teenagers, known as The Wanderers, who are living in the Bronx in New York City in the early 1960s. It stars Ken Wahl, Tony Ganios, John Friedrich, Karen Allen, Toni Kalem and Jim Youngs. The film follows their struggles with growing up and finding their place in the world, as they face challenges and obstacles such as family problems, school conflicts, and street violence.

The story is told through the perspectives of several different characters, including Richie, the leader of The Wanderers; Joey, who is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality; and Perry, who is obsessed with science fiction and wants to escape his mundane life.

Throughout the movie, The Wanderers get into conflicts with other gangs in the neighborhood, including The Baldies and The Ducky Boys. They also struggle to navigate their relationships with their families and with each other, as they confront issues such as racism, peer pressure and teen angst. All these struggles are set to a colourful pop culture backdrop that creates a vivid and authentic portrait of New York City in the 1960s.

One of the most notable ways in which the movie uses pop culture is through its soundtrack. The movie features a range of popular songs from the 1960s, including tracks by artists such as The Four Seasons, The Shirelles, and Dion and the Belmonts. These songs are used to create a sense of nostalgia for the time period and to transport the audience back to the 1960s. The music also helps to establish the setting and mood of the film, with the doo-wop and rock and roll sounds of the era reflecting the energy and spirit of the characters.

In addition to the soundtrack, the movie also references popular culture of the time. For example, there are several references to the movie “West Side Story,” which was released in 1961 and tells a similar story of rival gangs in New York City. The characters in “The Wanderers” also use slang and fashion that was popular in the 1960s, such as leather jackets, pompadour hairstyles, and greased-back hair. These references and details help to establish the time period and location of the movie, while also providing insight into the characters and their experiences.

Another way in which the movie uses pop culture is to explore themes of identity and belonging. The characters in the film are trying to navigate their way through adolescence and figure out who they are and where they fit in. They use popular culture as a way to connect with others and to establish their own identities. For example, the character Richie uses his love of rock and roll music as a way to connect with his girlfriend and to establish his own identity within his group of friends. Similarly, the character Perry uses his interest in science fiction as a way to escape his mundane life and to imagine a more exciting and adventurous future.

Overall, “The Wanderers” movie uses pop culture in a variety of ways to create a rich and authentic portrait of New York City in the 1960s. Through its soundtrack, references, and exploration of identity and belonging, the movie captures the spirit of the era and provides insight into the experiences of the characters.