"Streets Of Fire" (1984)

Even tough guys love musicals. Hence Walter Hill's opus to the 50's. Kind of.

This is the cornball stuff that sticks to your ribs...because it's so earnest in its good-heartedness. And now has gained the cult status which eluded them back in the 80's.
The story is about a biker gang headed by a very grey looking Willem Dafoe. He is, essentially, the monster which takes the princess. In this case, Ellen Aim played by an incredibly nubile Diane Lane. There is no bad angle here. She is stunning and a rock star. Belting out, what sounds like Meatloaf tunes. Which...I later found out was composed by the same guy.
So enter Michael Pare...so heroically named Tom Cody. He is called in to rescue Ellen. Thing is, they have a past, and the guy who hired him is sweet on her.
Alright, forget the plot, this movie is out of control movie making. It is...self admittes by Hill, everything he thought was cool as a teenager. Motorcycle gangs, street fights, old cars, tough guy talk, sexy dames and rock and roll!! Which is why this movie really hits you. It's so innocent and sweet. It's hard to hate
And the musical numbers aren't that memorable except Dan Hartman's 80's hit "I Can Dream About You" which featured another 80's hottie, Joyce Hyser. This movie grows on me because it's so innocent. A self proclaimed "rock and roll fable"
Pare is pretty bad though. His acting is wooden and sounds like he's reading lines. A few months back I met him on a film set. I told him how much I liked "Streets Of Fire" He seemed upset. Maybe hitting him at the wrong time. Or bringing back memories he didn't want ro revisit.
Who is really impressive is Rick Moranis as Pare's rival in love. Not really that big of a competition, but still a sore subject to Pare's tough guy journeyman.
The road awaits for Tom Cody's next adventure. According to lore this was suppose to be the beginning of a trilogy that never materialized. A shame. But understandable.
It takes a while for this movie to hit you in the right place. But this illustrate that movies are emotion, even if your brain realizes how silly the story is.