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starring: Margaret Bauer, Susan Blakely, Lou Byrne, Paul Jabara, Perry Kingdirected by: Stephen Verona
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786302823486
Format: Color, NTSC
ISBN: 630282348X
Label: Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Release Date: June 28, 1994
Running Time: 86 minutes
Sales Rank: 27231
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: 1974
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
When The Lords of Flatbush was released in 1974, Sylvester Stallone was still an unknown actor polishing his screenplay for Rocky, and Henry Winkler was approaching TV superstardom as 'Fonzie' in the first season of Happy Days. In this modest, low-budget feature, they play second and third fiddle (respectively) to Perry King, whose respectable career, ironically, would never reach such stratospheric heights. As for their costar and diminutive fourth 'Lord of Flatbush,' Paul Mace appeared in only one more movie after this (Stallone's Paradise Alley), and was killed in a 1983 traffic accident at the age of 33. Such is the random nature of fame and fate.
The movie itself is noteworthy mostly for the pre-stardom appearances of Stallone and Winkler, and a strong costarring role for that most ubiquitous of '70s actresses, Susan Blakely. Despite its amateurish style, muddy sound quality, and rambling scenes that have casual appeal but minimal narrative momentum, the movie is blessed with laid-back authenticity, recognizing the value of awkward pauses and jumpy rhythms of conversation. The ensemble of self-named Lords--four leather-clad rebels in 1957 Brooklyn, moving reluctantly toward adulthood--is solidly cast, and even the most familiar scenes (like making out at a drive-in showing From Here to Eternity) ring with engaging truth. Codirector Martin Davidson later covered similar territory in Eddie and the Cruisers, and Barry Levinson transcended this shoestring affair with his 1980 classic Diner, but The Lords of Flatbush stands on its own as an earnest and lightly entertaining drama that boosted its costars to bigger and better things. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Great little classic in the American Graffiti mode makes it's DVD debut,Stallone and Winkler in before they were famous roles!!!
So glad to have this little gem of a movie on DVD in Anamorphic Widescreen format,the picture is a bit soft and the sound could be better,but this is a very low budget film about life in the 50's(simialr to American Graffiti),so it looks fine enough for me,some better extras would have been nice(all that's included are a very rough looking original theatrical traier and some bios for a few of the stars,and 2 so called bonus trailers for the films Bugsy and La Bamba(,but overall a fine DVD,much better ... Read More
Rating: - Pre-Grease
This is a pretty good movie. It is pre-grease, for those who are wondering. Grease actually came out a year after this was made. Here's a little tidbit of information, the character Stalone played-Stanley Rosiello, is what the Happy Days crew based Henry Winkler's character-The Fonz, off of.
Rating: - Hilarious and Poignant Masterpiece
This disjointed look into the mentality of four not-so bright shop class dropouts is unforgettable in that it captures all the hormonal angst and harmless thuggery of growing up in the 50's. It was a bygone era, where greasing up your hair and riding a motorcycle predated today's sideshows and drivebys. Stallone and King are unforgettable in their honest portrayals without a hint of selfconsciousness. Their girlfriends are as dimwitted as they are. Susan Blakely as the well-to-do girl interested in Perry ... Read More
Rating: - "Bulldog" COLUMBUS
I grew up in Philadelphia and I remember guys like this Brooklyn quartet.
This is a hard-to-find film, but well worth it. I remember first seeing "The Lords Of Flatbush" at the theatre and when it came out on DVD, I was glad to eventually get my own copy. This is a "historical" film since it was the starting point for most, if not all, of the main characters. The actors' dress, hair styles, language, cigarette smoking, toothpick chewing, girlfriends and situations are "timely"... and the cars are wonderful. ... Read More
Rating:  - A weak flick that has not aged well since the 70s.
This is one of the weaker efforts that emerged from the nostalgia craze of the 1970s. It is interesting to see the work of a very young Sylvester Stallone and Henry Winkler, and as one might expect, Winkler shows great potential while Stallone's performance is excruciating to watch. The young ladies who play Stallone's love interest and her best friend are hilarious Brooklyn stereotypes. Beyond this, however, the film is nearly unwatchable. The first half hour is a series of pointless vignettes meant to establish ... Read More
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