Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Streets of Fire (1984): the Only Action Musical Teen Drama Ever Made
Description
Why do cult movie fans love Streets of Fire?
Part musical, teen drama, and all action -- Streets of Fire was too daring for mainstream box office success but has quietly found its audience since its release.
The brainchild of Walter Hill (The Warriors) and writer/producer Larry Gross (48 Hrs.), this film was influenced by everything from John Hughes films to Flashdance.
But Streets of Fire is mostly a hard-talking action film in a comic book style. It was Walter Hill's attempt to launch main character Tom Cody into the pantheon of great 1980s hero's.
It's a thick soup of ideas, but if your movie taste buds can handle something different and wonderful, the film is here for you.
Join me for this discussion of Willem Dafoe as a gothic biker gang leader, Jim Steinman's Wagnerian rock songs, and a sledgehammer vs. sledgehammer finale.
Directed by Walter Hill. Written by Walter Hill and Larry Gross. Produced by Lawrence Gordon and Joel Silver. Starring Michael Pare', Diane Lane, Rick Moranis, and Amy Madigan.
Connect with us on Bluesky:
@not-ni-theaters.bsky.social
And to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com