We have a librarian to thank for Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of S E Hinton’s novel, which was the result of Jo Ellen Misakian sending the film director a petition from the students of the Lone Star School in Fresno, California. The film is dedicated to them. S E Hinton was involved with the film and even had a cameo as a nurse.
There are two versions of this adaptation. The original theatrical release in 1983, and the re-release, ‘The Complete Novel’, in 2005, which restored some deleted scenes and added some pop music to the soundtrack. The Complete Novel is a near-perfect adaptation which closely follows the storyline. The only things missed out are some minor details and the consequences of Soda and Sandy’s relationship. I would have liked more voiceover from Ponyboy occasionally to remind us that he is writing the story and to tell us what’s going through his head. There are great performances from the young actors C Thomas Howell (Ponyboy), Matt Dillon (Dallas), Ralph Macchio (Johnny), Patrick Swayze (Darry), Rob Lowe (Soda), Emilio Estevez (Two-Bit), Tom Cruise (Steve Randle) and Diane Lane (Cherry). Tom Waits appears in the minor role of Buck Merrill and there are also cameos from Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nicholas Cage, and Sofia Coppola.
If you’ve seen both versions of the film, it’s obvious which is the best version and the truest to the novel. The main differences between them are that the re-release has a better soundtrack and some significant scenes, such as the one where Ponyboy is attacked by the Socs (he has a cut on his neck, which has no explanation if you’re watching the original version) and scenes at the courtroom and school.
In summary, read the book, then watch the Complete Novel.
Film poster by IMP Awards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15732289