The Outsiders

I saw "The Outsiders", a 1983 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
Starring C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio,
Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Diane Lane, Emilio Estevez,
Tom Cruise and Leif Garrett.
It's an adaptation of the 1967 novel of the same name by S. E. Hinton (Susan Eloise Hinton).
It has up-and-coming stars, including C. Thomas Howell , Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, and Diane Lane.
They were called "Brat Pack".
Box office is $33.7 million.
It became a popular movie.

An article says----
Francis Ford Coppola received a letter from a school librarian, Lone Star Elementary School in Fresno, California, behalf of her seventh and eighth grade students about adapting The Outsiders.
With about 15 pages of children's signatures written in different colors, the letter asked him to make a movie with this book.
He read it and was impressed and decided to make.

Here's the story.
In 1965 Tulsa, Oklahoma, there are two groups of teens, ones from wealthy families "Socials" and others from poor families "Greasers"
Ponyboy Curtis and his brothers' parents are dead and eldest brother raises his two younger brothers.
Some Socials harass and assault Ponyboy.
Then some of his fellow greasers chase them off.

The next night, he, Johnny and Dallas catch a movie at the local drive-in and meet "Social" Cherry and her female friend.
Later while the two girls walking home with Ponyboy and Johnny, their boyfriends, "Socials" Bob and Randy, feel displeased at this and so the girls leave with them to avoid any escalation.
displeased
And then, ponyboy and Johnny go to a local park, where Johnny grieves his hopeless life and domestic violence of his parents.
They climb on the jungle gym, remembering some fun memories of their childhood.
Suddenly, they are confronted, chased and attacked by Bob, Randy and three other Soc's. Johnny is beaten and Pony is almost drowned in the park's fountain.
To save Pony's life, Johnny stabs Bob to death!

Fearfully, Ponyboy and Johnny find Dallas, who gives them money for food and a loaded gun.
They flee to distant village and hide in an abandoned church.
They dye their hair, play poker and read Gone with the Wind there.
Pony recites a poem of "Nothing gold can stay" by Robert Lee Frost.
It says---
Everything has golden glow, and lose it in the end.

Johnny is impressed by the poem.

Several days later, Dallas visits them.
They go shopping for food and Dallas tells Pony's brother urges Ponyboy to come home.
While returning to church Johnny favors turning themselves in, but Dallas disagrees.

Returning to the church, it's on fire with children trapped inside.
They rescue them, but are burned and Johnny breaks his back. It was a deathblow to Johnny and he is dying.

Their heroic deed has made the cover of the local paper.
And then, Socials and Greasers rumble and Greasers win.
Dallas and Ponyboy visit hospital and tells Johnny
about the greasers' victory.
Johnny tells Dallas not to fight anymore and tells Ponyboy "stay gold".

Upset over Johnny's death, crying "He saved children's lives and is dead!" Dallas robs a store, and is shot by the owner.
Furthermore surrounded by police and is shot to death.

Ponyboy finds a letter from Johnny.
It says---
How saving the children was worth sacrificing his life, and advices Ponyboy to "never change", in other words "stay gold."


I was impressed by theme song at the beginning of the film, and wondered what the words "Stay gold" mean?
And I got the answer at near the end of the story.
What is it?
You will find the answer yourself.

Tom Cruise was not yet the star at this time and played second fiddle.
But right after this, he became a big star with the leading roll in the movie "Risky business" in the same year.
And grew up to the greatest star in the world.
Interesting.