The Outsiders

The 1983 American coming-of-age crime drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, with a screenplay by Kathleen Knutsen Rowell, is based on S. E. Hinton's 1967 novel of the same name. Set in 1965 Tulsa, Oklahoma, the story centers on the rivalry between two teenage gangs: the underprivileged "Greasers" and the affluent "Socs." The protagonist, 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis (C. Thomas Howell), lives with his older brothers Darrel (Patrick Swayze) and Sodapop (Rob Lowe) after their parents' death. His best friend, the shy and traumatized Johnny Cade (Ralph Macchio), kills a Soc in defense of Ponyboy, prompting the two to flee. With assistance from Dallas Winston (Matt Dillon), they hide in an abandoned church, which later catches fire; they rescue trapped children, earning public admiration. However, tragedy ensues as Johnny dies from his injuries, and a grief-stricken Dallas is killed by the police. The film delves into themes of class disparity, friendship, honor, and loss. The cast features future stars Emilio Estevez (Keith "Two-Bit" Mathews), Tom Cruise (Steve Randle), Diane Lane (Sherri "Cherry" Valance), Leif Garrett (Bob Sheldon), and Darren Dalton (Randy Anderson). Filming took place in Tulsa, inspired by a letter from school librarian Jo Ellen Misakian on behalf of her students. The film achieved cult status, and in 2005, an extended version titled "The Complete Novel" was released, featuring additional scenes and a new musical score.