One Gang Movie You Have to See

America loves gang movies!  Scarface, Godfather, American Me...  The list goes from Italian American gangs, Irish, Mexican and the bloody, urban, film list goes on...
But one movie is never mentioned and I hope you have the time and the luck to find this gem.
1979 film, The Wanderers is a film that has comedy, great acting and more importantly, "the giant rumble."
The Wanderers is considered a "greaser" film but what makes it unique is the recognition of many "ethnic" gangs and does not view them as a threat but as part of growing up.  Phillip Kaufman wrote and directed the script (based on the novel written by a 24 year old author) and the authenticity comes in the fact that Philip was a gang member.  When you look at Kaufman's work, it is diverse as The Wanderers.  Kaufman is credited with directing Invasion of The Body Snatchers (1978), The Right Stuff (1983) and Quills (2000).  A truly dynamic range from horror to period piece, Kaufman has no limitations.  Now, most of his work are in screenplays but The Wanderers represents a piece of American Film-making that is rare in today's films.
Today, in high school movies, we see the infamous tour seen where the new student is being shown the school and where everyone hangs out.  The Wanderers has such seen and we witness the school being divided by gangs, racial gangs.
The Wongs ("Nobody fucks with the Wongs"), The Mo-Mo's, The Del Bombers and The Ducky Boys are an array of gangs divided by race and later united by necessity and the changing times.  In fact, this film represents the division of gangs such as Little Rascals, into the real dark side of gangs we see today.  The Ducky Boys in the film is depicted as a dark, sadistic, evil gang.  They are zombie like, dimly lit and portrayed as destructive and hopeless.  In the film, all the racial gangs unite and fight the Ducky Boys and win the battle.  This is a battle that represents the true America, uniting into one to fight an opposition that is destructive and evil.  
The most fascinating aspect of the film is the death of President Kennedy.  The movie has its plot, comedy, violence and then the Assassination of Kennedy happens and disrupts life and the movie itself.  The community is unified in sadness and it all doesn't really matter what was going on in your life at that moment.  Everyone shares their feelings of  remorse and sadness.  I was not around during Kennedy's death but watching The Wanderers gave me a true feeling of the interruption in the routine of life, triggered by a tragedy that everyone feels.
The Wanderers is a truly American film and will never grow old, the soundtrack is golden, acting is great and you will yearn for more films like The Wanderers but will learn, its one of a kind.