| | | | Streets Of Fire
(1984) |
owntown. Sometime.
Kids of all ages are streaming into the local Theater for the return performance of Ellen Aim, the local girl who hit the big time with her band, The Attackers. The place is stomping. and the first song in the set is huge. In the wings, Ellen's manager / boyfriend Billy Fish is cursing his decision to come back to this 'two-bit neighborhood'. And his fears are proved right. There's a surge from the rear of the hall, and The Bombers, a biker gang of immense numbers, storm the stage and carry off Ellen. It seems that Raven, the leader of the Bombers, has taken a shine to Ellen and this is the ideal opportunity, as he says, to 'have you love me for a week or two'. The Bombers trash the hall and beat up anyone who tries to resist them, before riding off into the night.
Reva, the owner of a local coffee shop, is the only one who seems to know what to do - call for Tom Cody. Her brother Tom and Ellen were an item for years, until her career took her away. Reva figures he's the only one who would get her back. And so he arrives back in town, and almost immediately gets into a fight with some young punks who turn up after the excitement has ended looking for some action of their own. Tom gives them a good kicking, and they run off, leaving their car behind. Tom 'appropriates' the car, and sets off for a drink. In the bar, he meets McCoy, an ex-soldier who ran out of wars. She's looking for a way to make some cash and a bed for the night. Tom provides both, when he agrees to go get Ellen back for Billy Fish, in return for $10,000.
But getting her back isn't that easy, as they need to break into the Bomber's clubhouse, deep in The Battery, a dark, industrial complex full of mad bikers with guns. Cue many more explosions, much more great music, and some of the best one-liners ever quoted in a movie. Just as they are about to leave, Tom and Raven eyeball each other, and they know that whilst it doesn't end here, it will end soon. Then Tom walks off, and their escape from The Battery is almost as eventful as their journey in, involving a meeting with the local police, a close-harmony group called The Sorels who were on route to a gig, and some kind of wierd 1980's neon scene where everyone is dressed in garish parodies of fifties clothing. Bizarre.
But eventually they get back. And cue the only real poor bit of the movie. Now, we know that Ellen and Tom used to be "close - real close" so things come to a predictable head when Tom refuses the cash Fish was offering for the rescue, and then Ellen decides to go after him, and.... well, you know.
Thankfully, this moment of predictable sloppiness is cut short when the Bombers reappear, and the showdown begins. As the police chief says when his small force is faced down by around two hundred Bombers with guns: "Well Tom Cody, my plan went to s**t. Lets see how you do. Kick his a$$!". The showdown involves a baying crowd, two real hard men, and ice-picks.
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When was this movie set? There's a good mix of fifties fashions with eighties neon colours, great music from the Sorels (sixties motown) and Ellen Aim (Jim Steinman seventies/eighties), classic cars from the fifties, and with a dark, post-apocalyptic feel to the Battery area which could suggest early twenty-first century?
Don't let this confuse you.
The performances in the movie are superb, from Michael Pare (Tom Cody) and Willem Defoe (Raven) in particular, but also from Diane Lane and Amy Madigan as Ellen Aim and McCoy. There are some great minor roles for established stars such as Rick Rossovich, Bill Paxton and Ed Begley Jr., but it's Rick Moranis that's the revelation. Surprisingly, he's actually good in this. And I can't say that about many of his movies - Little Shop Of Horrors and My Blue Heaven are really the only others I can stand to watch.
But this movie isn't about stars. It's about the music, the moment, the action, and the feel. Go to the IMDb and watch the trailer. or just go buy the DVD, through the links on this page. This movie is one of the rare ones where there is enough action and substance in the first five minutes to grip you, and ensure that you are still there at the end. I watched this movie again a while back with my pal Rupert, and he said "that movie is immediately placed at #4 in my all-time favorites list". And if you knew Rupert, you'd know that he would be very serious about that, believe me.
For the action, the humour, the music, the scenery and the fashions, this is a winner. And the fight scene at the end made me grip the seats. Those two guys going at each other with ice-picks!
Sit back and enjoy the experience that is Streets Of Fire, and never mind that it's obvious who will win in the end, have fun seeing how they get there!
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Director Walter Hill intended "Streets of Fire" to be the first in a trilogy of action films starring Michael Paré as Tom Cody. Unfortunately, "Streets of Fire" did not come close to breaking even at the box office. What was expected to be Michael Paré's career breakthrough sadly demoted him to B-movie status, where he remains to this day.  -Thanks to Michael Manzano
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The stripper in the bar is Marine Jahan, who was one of Jennifer Beals dancing doubles in "Flashdance".
The club name "Torchy's" is also seen in 48 Hrs. (1982) and The Driver (1978).
Streets of Fire was the inspiration for Capcoms legendary 1989 arcade beat'em up FINAL FIGHT which featured, among other things, a kidnapped Girlfriend and a Character called 'Cody'. Strangely enough Final Fight was in turn an inspiration for the even more closely named STREETS OF RAGE For the Sega Megadrive, itself borrowing many elements from the film. -Thanks to Staresy
Deborah Van Valkenburgh was also featured in Walter Hill's 1979 film "The Warriors". -Thanks to Nuni
The fight scene between Michael Pare and Willem DaFoe was with 'Spike Mauls' which were normally used to drive railroad spikes into the cross ties hence the long hammer heads. They could drive a spike from the opposite side of the rail without hitting the handle on the top of the rail. -Thanks to Stephen Mathews
The Sorrells singing group never gets much attention but all four actors continued to work. Stoney Jackson and Grand Bush might not be household names, but Robert Townsend and Mykelti Williamson seemed to find plenty of work after "Streets." -Thanks to James Neal
Raven's main sidekick (the one not wearing a hat, who punches out that guy from Twister and Rick Moranis and throws a garbage can through a window and screams) is famous punk rocker Lee Ving, from the 80's LA punk band FEAR. He got into movies because FEAR was the dead Belushi's favorite band. -Thanks to Gabriel
Deborah Van Valken who potrays the baby sis, played Jackie on 'Too Close for Comfort' in the mid 80's. -Thanks to Lisa
The name of Diane Lane's character and band name is Ellen Aim and the Attackers, that band name also makes an appearence in a Renny Harlin Film, "The adventures of Ford Fairlane". The name "Ellen Aim and the Attackers" appears on a computer screen amongst a list of other band names at the top of the list. -Thanks to Matt Handfield
Bill Paxton (of Aliens, Twister, and Titanic fame) is in Streets of Fire! He plays Clyde, the annoying bartender friend of Cody's (the one Amy Madigan insults). If you watch closely, you can see him get punched & thrown off the stage at the begining of the film. -Thanks to Josh
Rick Rossovich who played Office Cooley in "Streets of Fire" also played the Lt. (j.g.) Ron 'Slider' Kerner in "Top Gun". -Thanks to Robert
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Find much more great trivia in the filmmaker's commentary on the Streets Of Fire DVD.
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check out this list: ..... Angel ..... Raiders of the Lost Ark ..... Beverly Hills Cop ..... Die Hard ..... Predator ..... Terminator ..... Black Rain ..... 48 HRS ..... Untouchables ..... Lethal Weapon ..... Rocky IV ..... Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior ..... Top Gun ..... Highlander ..... Commando .....[More]
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When Amy Madigan read for the film, she read for the part of the lead character's sister. Madigan told Walter Hill that the best part in the script was the lead character's sidekick. That part called for a man and the character's name was Mendez. The part was rewritten for Madigan and was renamed McCoy.
Much of the movie's night scenes were shot under huge tarps during the day, because a lot of the extras were young enough to still be subject to the US Child Labor laws.
When the girl strips off her top in the bar she remains topless for a few seconds, her top then mysteriously reappears for a while then disappears again. -Thanks to Toggers
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|  |  |  | | Streets Of Fire
Locations |
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The New York Street set at Universal Studios was used for most of the shots for Streets of Fire. This is mentioned several times on the Universal Studios tour in Hollywood as well as the giant tarps that were used to create the night effects for the night scenes. False supports for the elevated Subway tracks were built and placed along he street to create a Chicago style atmosphere. [Thanks to Luis Lujan]
The interiors of the old subway were filmed with Michael Pare on location in Chicago, using the older '70s model white and green train cars. [Thanks to Greg R.]
Tucson, AZ. Reid Park Band Shell- Concert Misc. Tucson streets. [Thanks to Louis]
A few scenes of the film were filmed on location in Chicago on Lower Wacker Dr; near the famous Billygoat Tavern. [Thanks to Josh]
Can you help? Do you know any of the (or any other) filming locations used for Streets Of Fire? [Please send them in]
|  | | | | ![[Letterbox -NOT 16:9 Enhanced]](lbx.gif) | ![[5.1 CH SURROUND]](dd5.gif) | Trailer, Commentary |
| | | | Trailer, Notes |
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The real strong element of this movie is the music. There is a mix of Meatloaf, Mowtown, ballads and good old Rock and Roll, written by Ry Cooder, Tom Petty, Bob Seger, Stevie Nicks, Duane Eddy and Jim Steinman.
Both 'Nowhere Fast' & 'Tonight Is What It means To be Young' are both written by Meatloaf collaborator Jim Steinman, but are sung by Boston area musician Laurie Sergeant, vocalist for the 80s pop Group Face To Face (not to be confused with hard rock 90s outfit) who were repsonsible for 2 Top-100 hits '10-9-8' and 'Under The Gun' [Thanks to Robert Sprenger]
Track listing of soundtrack:
1. Nowhere Fast - Fire Inc.
2. Sorcerer - Marilyn Martin
3. Deeper and Deeper - The Fixx
4. Countdown to Love - Greg Phillinganes
5. One Bad Stud - The Blasters
6. Tonight Is What It Means to Be Young - Fire Inc.
7. Never Be You - Maria McKee
8. I Can Dream About You - Dan Hartman
9. Hold That Snake - Ry Cooder
10. Blue Shadows - The Blasters
It's not suprising that 'Nowhere Fast' is Meatloaf style. It was written and performed by his writer, Jim Steinman.
A VHS tape "Streets of Fire: The music videos" was released directly to the home market at the same time of the films theatrical release. After the films failure, the tapes became impossible to find and have become major collectors items. The tape includes videos for "Nowhere Fast" "Tonight is What it Means to be Young" and "I Can Dream About You". It also features a behind the scenes featurette. -Thanks to Dennis Orton
Though most people don't remember the movie, they do remember the song "I Can Dream About You" by Dan Hartman, lip-synced by the doo-wop group at the finale of the film and written for this soundtrack.
The original song "Tonight is What it Means to be Young" was sung by Michael Montecarossa and it is a totally different version than from the movie. -Thanks to Karen
'Nowhere Fast' and 'Tonight is What it Means to be Young', both lip-synced by Diane Lane in the film, were performed by group Fire Inc. (mainly studio musicians). Two overlooked very hot 80's tunes.
Remember the band playing during the "rescue" The guy singing was Dave Alvin from "the Blasters" and the song was "Blue Shadows". -Thanks to Luis Reyes
The name of the movie was lifted from the Bruce Springsteen song of the same name. The soundtrack was going to include several Springsteen tracks but was nixed by the distributors of "Born in the USA" which was going to be released at nearly the same time. All Springsteen fans were highly anticipating the arrival of the movie, only to hear later that the tracks were replaced with songs by "The Fixx". -Thanks to Mike
The Attackers were the real-life band-mates of Laurie Sargent, who provided the singing voice for Ellen Aim. Their band was called Face to Face and they played mainly "new wave" music around the Boston area. The group split up in 1988.
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Soundtrack Available:
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| | "A Rock and Roll Fable."
| | Year:
| 1984 | Studio:
| Universal Studios | Director:
| Walter Hill | Starring:
| Michael Paré,
Diane Lane, Rick Moranis, Willem Dafoe, Amy Madigan,
Deborah Van Valkenburgh, Rick Rossovich, Bill Paxton | | - | - | Genre:
| Action | | | | + | Music. Action. Scenery. Humour. Rick Moranis (yeah, I KNOW!!!) | - | It's a movie, so it works out in the end..... and why put in the love scene? Didn't need it, IMHO.... |
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