Watch The Lords of Flatbush

The Lords of Flatbush is a 1974 drama film directed by Martin Davidson and Stephen Verona, starring Sylvester Stallone, Henry Winkler, Perry King, and Paul Mace. The movie is set in 1958 in Brooklyn, New York, and follows a group of teenage friends from the neighborhood called The Lords, as they navigate their way through the challenges of adolescence, including love, friendship, family, and their own personal dreams.

The movie opens with a stunning display of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge and sets the tone for the rest of the story. The Lords are a tight-knit gang of teenagers, consisting of Stanley Rosiello (Stallone), a tough guy with a chip on his shoulder; Chico Tyrell (Winkler), a womanizer firmly entrenched in the Brooklyn street culture; Butchey Weinstein (Mace), a soft-spoken member who is keen to help his friends out whenever they need him; and Wimpy Murgalo (King), the group's photographer who revels in documenting their exploits.

The group has a collective interest in motorcycles and cars, spending most of their time at a local hangout, Porky's, where they ogle women and talk shop about their favorite bikes and cars. However, their true passions lie beyond their current realities. Stanley dreams of being a professional boxer, while Chico wants to pursue a career in music. Butchey wants to work at his father's dry cleaning business, but his father wants him to run the store instead. Meanwhile, Wimpy has his sights set on college, leaving the rest of the group behind.

As they move through their teenage years in the rapidly changing 1950s, The Lords struggle with the pressures of their environment - expectations from their families, the lure of fast money, and the temptation of easy women. In the midst of all of this, Chico falls in love with a shy, reserved woman named Jane Bradshaw (Susan Blakely) and seeks to win her over with his charisma, while Stanley grapples with his feelings for his childhood sweetheart, Frannie Malincanico (Maria Smith).

Throughout the movie, the boys' tight friendship is put to the test, as they struggle with their individual needs and goals, and tensions run high. The Lords of Flatbush showcases the raw energy and excitement of adolescence, as well as the inner turmoil that comes with growing up.

One of the most memorable aspects of the movie is its excellent soundtrack. The film's original score was composed by Joe Brooks, while the soundtrack features a variety of classic music from the '50s and '60s, including hits like "It's in His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song)," by Betty Everett, and "A Teenager in Love," by Dion and The Belmonts.

Overall, The Lords of Flatbush is a classic coming-of-age film that captures the spirit of adolescence and the challenges of growing up. The dynamic cast, including a young Sylvester Stallone and Henry Winkler, delivers standout performances that make the story engaging and heartfelt. The movie is an excellent snapshot of a particular time and place, evoking the nostalgia of Brooklyn's golden age when there were still neighborhoods with their own distinct personalities.

The Lords of Flatbush is a 1974 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6 and a MetaScore of 53.