Can You Dig It?

 The Keep it Oldskool Movie of the Week

This 1979 cult classic is based on a 1965 novel of the same name that was written by Sol Yurick. The movie tells the tale of a Coney Island NY gang called the "Warriors" who travel far out their territory for a gang summit only to be set up for the murder of Cyrus the charismatic leader of the largest gang in the city the Grammercy Riffs  and have to "Bop" their way home against all the rival gangs when a bounty is put on their heads.  The "war chief" of the gang named "Swan" has to take over and lead the other 7 members of the gang back to home territory. The gangs they encounter have names like Turnbull ACs,Furies,Rogues, Orphans and a female gang called the Lizzies. With each victory against a rival the other gangs are updated by the local radio DJ.









This movie is mostly known for many of the memorable lines and scenes in the movies such as "Cyrus" plea to organize "Cuz we got the street suckas" and of course "Can uuuuu diiiiig itttt" and the near finale challenge by the Rouges to the Warriors  to "come out and plaaaay" The setting of the movie is the pre revitalized New York City and the mostly nameless police are no more than just props that are moved about in the movie. The movie starred a mostly unknown cast. The movie was different from the novel in that there were Caucasian characters. The movie studio (Paramount) did not want an all-African American cast for "commercial reasons" Most people have seen the video where Puff Daddy clasps the 2 bottles and says "Bad Boy come out and plaaaaay" or the Eminem led D-12 video "Fight Music" based on the Warriors journey back to Coney Island. One of the most startling points in the movie is after making it all the way back "Swan" as he looks upon the run down homes and bottles and despair he states "This is what we have been fighting to get back to? It’s not just the younger generation many people in their 30s and 40s have never seen this movie. Netflix it,Redbox it or just call me I let you borrow my VCR tape or DVD.


 KEEP IT OLDSKOOL