Bullet Points: Defiance (1980)
Before there was Cannon or PM Entertainment or Nu Image, there was American International Pictures.
The original American International Pictures got its start in the 1950s and produced movies up until 1980 with the release of Brian DePalma’s Dressed to Kill.
Over the years we have covered numerous movies produced by American International Pictures including Hell’s Angels ’69, Sixpack Annie, Friday Foster, High Ballin’ and Breaker! Breaker! to name a few. The latest American International Pictures production to join them… 1980’s Defiance!
- Overboard: Jan-Michael Vincent plays Tommy, a merchant seaman who finds himself in New York City’s lower east side after an incident at sea caused Tommy to be suspended for six months. Tommy ends up renting a rundown apartment and it isn’t long before he becomes acquainted with the residents of the area, both good and bad… The first neighbor, who gets off on the Tommy meets is Kid, an orphan who ended up in the custody of former heavyweight boxer simply known as Whacko (played by Luca Brasi himself, Lenny Montana). Then there’s Tommy’s upstairs neighbor, Marsha (Theresa Saldana, The Evil That Men Do)… Tommy’s introduction to Marsha is a wet one, when Marsha doesn’t realize that Tommy is sitting outside on the fire escape while she is watering the plants on her portion above. It’s all good though because Tommy makes her wet later in the film (if you know what I mean!)… There’s also Carmine (Danny Aiello, The Protector) and his fun loving friends that get off on the wrong foot with Tommy… And last but not least, is Abe (Art Carney, Last Action Hero) who runs the corner grocery store.
- Angel Town: Unfortunately a street gang known as The Souls has used violence and intimidation to put a stain on the neighborhood. The tight knit community now lives in fear never knowing when Angel Cruz (Rudy Ramos, The Enforcer) and his boys are going to show up and cause trouble. Tommy sees what The Souls can do first hand when he pops into Abe’s grocery store and witnesses a couple of The Souls walk in, grab some stuff and walk right out. Abe waxes nostalgic about how nice the neighborhood used to be, while Tommy takes the stance that he is just passing through and is not looking for any trouble… Unfortunately for Tommy, trouble comes looking for him. Tommy, who enjoys painting during his free time, took the subway to pick up some watercolors. When he gets off at his subway stop to return to his apartment, he is assaulted by The Souls in the subway station men’s room and they steal his watercolors. Marsha ends up finding a beaten and bloodied Tommy in the lobby of the apartment building and she gets him up to her place where she nurses him back to health, further laying the groundwork for their romantic relationship.
- Violent City: The Souls reign of terror continues with Whacko, Abe and even Kid feeling their wrath. No one is safe and nothing is safe with The Souls running around… they tear up the rooftop garden that Tommy, Kid and Whacko made for Marsha… they even terrorize the local bingo game and the priest that runs it… It is no wonder that Tommy, who didn’t want any trouble, can’t stand by any longer and he fights back, this of course only escalates the violence. But it’s not just Angel and The Souls that take notice of Tommy’s actions… Carmine and his crew, The Sportsmen, gain a huge amount of respect for Tommy as he proves that The Souls are not invincible!
- Boiling Point: The inevitable “this town ain’t big enough for the both of us” moment comes for Tommy and Angel Cruz. Heading into the war to settle the score, Tommy is seemingly outnumbered, but in classic movie fashion, the neighborhood rises up, to say no more to The Souls! Tommy, Carmine and others are battling The Souls on the street, while people are pelting The Souls with garbage from their windows… what a moment! Kid takes it a step further and starts throwing Molotov cocktails from the roof! And wouldn’t you know who tries to slip away during the chaos… that’s right big, bad Angel Cruz… but Tommy wasn’t going to let him get away!
Not only is Defiance the latest American International Pictures movie to be reviewed on the site, it’s also the latest movie I regret sleeping on. You’ve got a neighborhood filled with likeable characters, a reluctant hero, well established villains and a satisfying ending… this is simple storytelling done right.
If I am doing my job right, it’s now time to throw it to some Bonus Bullet Points…
- Familiar Faces: When Tommy attempts to get a job on another ship, he goes to the union office to visit Karenski, who was played by none other than Joe Campanella of No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers fame…. How could I not recognize a young Paulie Walnuts!?!? Tony Sirico played Davey, one of Carmine’s running buddies… Last but not least, was a familiar face and voice at the bingo game! Chino “Fats” Williams (Action Jackson and Iron Eagle) played one of the locals who was none too happy that The Souls ruined Bingo Night!
- If You Ever: …wanted to listen to Jan-Michael Vincent attempt to learn Spanish via a record, then Defiance is the movie for you.
- Montage Alert: There’s an entertaining bowling alley montage featuring Tommy and a gussied up Marsha, who had no idea her date with the new guy in town would be her first night bowling.
- Bastard Count: There were two “bastards” said in Defiance, both in reference to The Souls. One was a garden variety “bastards”, the other was the extra special, “rat bastards”.
- The Name Game: Not to be confused with 2008’s Defiance starring Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber.
