From "Outsiders" to American Heartthrobs: Brat Packers Explode onto the Movie Scene

Before Patrick Swayze took up Dirty Dancing and Ralph Macchio became the Karate Kid, both actors starred in the nostalgic 80s movie, The Outsiders (1983). Directed by the infamous Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather) and based on a novel by Tulsa tomboy-turned-novelist, S.E. Hinton, this endearing coming-of-age story introduced America to an exciting cast of actors who would soon go on to become some of the most well-known leading men ever to grace the big screen.

Classic 80s movie connoisseurs should have no difficulty recalling various members of the "Brat Pack," a term which became popular during the 80s and was used to refer to young actors and actresses who were well their way to mega-stardom. Aside from Swayze and Macchio, The Outsiders boasts a cast that requires little elaboration: Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, Leif Garret, C. Thomas Howell, Diane Lane and Rob Lowe. In addition, the beautifully written song, "Stay Gold" by Stevie Wonder, captures the essence of the film and penetrates straight through heart with such lyrics as:

Life is but a twinkling of an eye

Yet filled with sorrow and compassion

Though not imagined

All things that happen

Will age too old

Though gold

In a nutshell, The Outsiders is a tale of the haves and have-nots - two rival gangs of teenaged boys referred to as the Greasers and the Socialites, or Socs. The story centers on the heartthrob Greasers (Swayze et al), who are from the wrong side of the tracks but are united in brotherhood and friendship. Swayze plays Darrel Curtis (aka Darry), older brother and guardian to Sodapop Curtis (Lowe), and narrator, Ponyboy Curtis (Howell). Their friends, the frail and sensitive Johnny Cade (Macchio), jokester Two-Bit Mathews (Esteves), tough-boy Dallas "Dally" Winston (Dillon) and hothead Steve Randle (Cruise), help to round off the group. Lane plays Cherry Valance, who captures Ponyboy's heart but is the girlfriend of a rival Socialite, Bob Sheldon (Garrett).

The Outsiders is a collector's item for anyone who is a fan of the talented cast and wants to keep a special part of movie history in their personal archives. Copies of the movie can be obtained by visiting any the following websites:

Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000A0GOE6/bookstorenow49-20

Tower Video:

http://www.tower.com/outsiders-matt-dillon-dvd/wapi/107051752

Best Buy.com:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=17064882&st=The+Outsiders&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=23728

Movies Unlimited:

http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/product.asp?sku=D15934

Barnes and Noble:

http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?r=1&EAN=12569705968&ourl=DVD%2FThe%2DOutsiders%2FC%2DThomas%2DHowell

CD Universe:

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?PID=6885592&style=movie&frm=lk_pricegrab