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Looks like a nice Memorial Day Weekend bike ride to me!

-SCOUT

Continuing from where we left off, we rejoin the three Warriors who have made it to Union Square. We see a train coming into . . .

→ Read More: The New York City Filming Locations of The Warriors – Part 3]]> This is Part 3 of a then-and-now look at the New York City filming locations of The Warriors. Click here for Part 1; click here for Part 2!

Continuing from where we left off, we rejoin the three Warriors who have made it to Union Square. We see a train coming into the station…

Wait a minute – there are those Hoyt signs again!

Of course, we’re actually back again at the abandoned Hoyt-Schermerhorn platform, where the 96th Street station was also faked:

The great thing about shooting at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station is that the two unused platforms have distinctly different looks – one with lots of white tiling (above), the other more raw:

The Warriors meet the all-female gang The Lizzies:

The Lizzies convince them to go to their hangout. Note that in the background, they’ve covered over the “Hoyt” tiles with “Union.”

Meanwhile, back in Riverside Park, the other Warriors run into a woman sitting on a park bench.

This was filmed just north of the 99th Street entrance to Riverside, where the paths meet:

One of the Warriors, Ajax, decides to stay with her while the others head out via the great stone staircase just up the path at 99th Street.

Here’s another shot:

Unfortunately, the woman on the bench turns out to be an undercover cop, and Ajax gets nabbed:

Swan returns to the 96th Street subway station, which of course was actually filmed at 72nd Street. Grey’s Papaya has been there for a looooong time…

Also, note that you can see the discoloration from where the 1-2-3 sign used to hang:

Swan heads inside…

Looks like the old booth has been removed:

Turnstiles past vs. present:

Meanwhile, at the Lizzies’ lair, the women try to kill the Warriors, but they manage to escape. Together, they book it down West 49th Street between 9th & 10th:

They duck into a decrepit apartment building…

…which is looking a little nicer these days:

Swan makes it to Union Square – the real Union Square – and waits for the other Warriors. This was shot from the mezzanine looking down on the 4-5-6 platform:

We then get shots of Swan walking through a Union Square that is unrecognizable today, going through tunnels…

…up and down ramps…

…and passing by shops:

Union Square used to be such a maze of passageways and tunnels that full station maps were hung throughout to help commuters get around. The station underwent a major renovation in the 1990s to simplify it, completely changing the structure:

Too bad, because I’d love to know where this Playland arcade was set up.

It’s even rare to find any remaining white-tiled columns:

There was only one location in the movie that was built on a sound stage: the subway bathroom, where the Warriors face off against the Punks.

Defeating the Punks, the Warriors finally return to their home: Coney Island.

The Warriors walk along the path leading from Stillwell to West 15th:

In the background, we can see yet another Coney Island building that has since met the wrecking ball:

The Warriors run under the boardwalk at Stillwell Avenue:

They’d have a little trouble doing that today…

…as the whole entrance has been redesigned, with lots of ramps, and no way to go underneath:

Hidden from view, the Warriors watch as the Rogues approach, and Luther begins uttering his famous line, “Warriors…Come out to play…”

In the shot, we can make out a building called Stauch’s Baths:

Stauch’s was one of the many bathhouses that once lined the boardwalk, and was actually known as an openly gay hangout during the Depression. The building, abandoned at the time of the Warriors filming, was originally featured in several scenes that were ultimately cut from the film. The Warriors name was graffitied across the front, the remnants of which could be seen until it was torn down in the 1980s.

Reunited, the Warriors head to the beach for their final standoff. This should be easy to find, right?

Er, not exactly.

A few clues suggest this was not shot at Coney Island beach. For one thing, we see the Warriors run out on a platform that definitely doesn’t exist at Coney Island.

Then, in the background, we see a number of dunes, which also don’t exist in Coney Island. Does anyone remember the day the Warriors filmed at a beach near your house? Someone commented that they thought it was Breezy Point/Fort Tilden, but unless you’re 100% sure, it’s not worth exploring, as all of these beaches look pretty much the same.

Taken at face value, the Warriors might seem like a ridiculous movie, but I think the reason why it’s so damn enjoyable is that it treats this ridiculousness with utter seriousness. Yes, this is a world where gang members wear matching baseball uniforms, or zip around on roller skates, but at no point does the film ever wink at you to say “we know how silly this is.” And therein lies the magic.

I complain quite a lot about how everyone films the same cliched fantasy of New York, but it’s the cliche I mind, not the fantasy. The singularity of the world the Warriors inhabit is totally original, and one cinematic night wandering through its neon lit, statue-strewn streets is frankly not enough.

In short? Yes, I can dig it.

Hope you enjoyed Scouting NY’s then-and-now look at The Warriors! And if you really liked it, donations to my film fund are always appreciated!

-SCOUT

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Resuming where we left off, the Warriors are on a train heading toward Union Square when a nearby fire forces them out into the the Tremont section of the . . .

→ Read More: The New York City Filming Locations of The Warriors – Part 2]]> This is Part 2 of a then-and-now look at the New York City filming locations of The Warriors. Click here for Part 1!

Resuming where we left off, the Warriors are on a train heading toward Union Square when a nearby fire forces them out into the the Tremont section of the Bronx on foot. This is definitely somewhere under the J train, most likely near Broadway Junction where the chase scene was filmed, but I wasn’t able to identify it. Any thoughts?

Meanwhile, we find Luther and the Rogues gang (responsible for murdering Cyrus, then pinning it on the Warriors) cruising around:

This was shot on First Avenue approaching 1st Street:

They stop at a soda fountain to make a phone call, located at 17 First Avenue…

…which is now a locksmith shop:

Meanwhile, the Warriors continue through Tremont to the next stop. Except, they’re not in the Bronx…

They’re on 45th Road (just off of 23rd Street) in Long Island City, Queens:

45th Road, along with the extraordinarily beautiful 45th Ave one block north, are routinely used in movies because they can be easily faked as Any Borough, NYC. Here they’re given a down-and-out look, but they’re typically used as upscale neighborhoods:

The Warriors run into the Orphans gang, who watch them from all sides:

Across the street, the stationary store is now a barber shop:

Just as it seems all will be OK, a woman named Mercy comes out to cause some mischief:

Mercy convinces the Orphans to deny them passage, but the Warriors continue through anyway. So sad to see that great porch building is gone:

The Warriors continue down the block and turn a corner…

…and are magically transported to way way way out in Brooklyn at 62nd Street and 15th Avenue, a block away from the New Utrecht Ave subway station:

The Orphans arrive, and it looks as though a fight will break out:

As tensions rise, Mercy heads toward the scene, though she’s technically going in the wrong direction. This shot was filmed on 15th Avenue right around the block, but to find the gangs, she should head in the opposite direction to the corner, then turn left.

But such is filmmaking, and she winds up at 62nd Street anyway:

The two gangs square off…

Then, one of the Warriors throws a Molotov cocktail, allowing them to escape:

They run just up the block to the New Utrecht Ave subway stop…

…head through the doors…

…and the camera rises to catch them as they come out on the platform upstairs:

This is one of my favorite shots in the film, as the layout of the subway perfectly facilitates this graceful, non-stop motion:

Meanwhile, Luther and the Rogues stop at a gas station to make another call about the status of the hunt for the Warriors. I did a lot of searching, but wasn’t able to locate this one…Anyone recognize it?

If it helps, there’s an insanely distinctive building right across the street:

Back en route to Union Square, The Warriors find the train lingering suspiciously long at 96th Street station and decide to make a run for it.

At first glance, you’d assume this was shot at the 96th Street and Broadway station, except…

…why do the walls say Hoyt on them?

That’s because this was actually filmed on the abandoned platform at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station in Brooklyn:

Dozens of movies have been shot here, including The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 (remake), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the City Hall subway station), and Michael Jackson’s Bad music video.

Unfortunately, the police spring on the Warriors, and the gang splits up:

Four of the Warriors head up to street level…

…and suddenly, they’re at the 72nd Street 1-2-3 station in Manhattan:

They go outside…

…and run into the totally creepy Baseball Furies gang. This was shot on West 72nd Street looking north-east from the station:

The Warriors head south-west, with the Baseball Furies right on their tail…

…passing this restaurant on the corner.

From West 72nd, they then jump again to West 100th Street between Riverside and West End Avenue, heading toward the park:

A second shot – always great to see how those trees have grown up:

The Warriors rush into Riverside Park by way of the Firemen’s Memorial, another fantastic use of existing New York statuary:

Despite the grittiness of New York circa 1979, this graffiti is a little too photogenic to be completely authentic:

Stone benches have now replaced the old wooden ones:

The Baseball Furies continue their pursuit:

The action then moves a few blocks south, as the Warriors enter Riverside Park via the 97th Street ramp:

Now in the park, they run north along the dirt path that still exists today. Compare the tree on the left for accuracy!

A fight breaks out in the field just a few blocks north, and the Warriors are victorious:

But they still have a ways to go to Coney Island…Check back tomorrow for the final installment!

-SCOUT

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This might come as a surprise, seeing as how the movie revolves around a New York City gang trying to make their way from the Bronx’s Van Cortlandt Park to Brooklyn’s Coney Island, but filming only took place in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. However, . . .

→ Read More: The New York City Filming Locations of The Warriors – Part 1]]> The Warriors never set foot in the Bronx.

This might come as a surprise, seeing as how the movie revolves around a New York City gang trying to make their way from the Bronx’s Van Cortlandt Park to Brooklyn’s Coney Island, but filming only took place in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. However, authenticity aside, The Warriors captured nighttime New York in a way that very few movies had previously, using some insanely brilliant and memorable locations.

Let’s see how many we can find.

As the credits roll, we’re treated to the POV from a rushing subway train zipping through various New York City subway stations.

This was shot along the A-C line in Brooklyn. You can make out the Nostrand Ave (above) and Franklin Ave stations among others (these shots are actually repeated several times during the credits).

The Warriors are headed up to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx for a meeting of all of New York City’s gangs. Based in Coney Island, the gang naturally boards the D-train at the Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue station, which underwent a major renovation in 2004/05.

As the credits continue, we’re treated to several shots of (sadly) unidentifiable subway stations with increasingly defunct elements. For example, the old entry gates…

…and wooden turnstyles (there’s something so cute about the fact that this gang politely buys tokens for each member):

As the movie begins, the Warriors have arrived at the Conclave, scripted as the Bronx’s Van Cortland Park, but actually shot in Riverside Park in Manhattan, just north of 96th Street:

If you visit in person, you might be surprised to find that the park doesn’t seem as big as it does in the movie:

However, this was the perfect location to set the Conclave, as the park’s many tiers (some built for the film) filled with people create the illusion of a much larger space:

A wall was built around the northern side of the park…

…which is good, because otherwise you’d see the very cute Dinosaur Playground just behind all the tough gang members!

As Cyrus tries to convince the gangs to unite, we’re treated to a few shots of the gathered ruffians, including the very evil Luther, seated on the ground:

Here’s another bunch perched in front of the park’s distinctive arches:

But trouble is brewing as the police quietly approach.

These gates can be found at the top of the arched structure (for you drivers, that’s the 96th Street on-ramp to the West Side Highway just beyond):

More police officers arrive…

…pulling up at the park’s main gates:

Luther shoots Cyrus, then blames The Warriors. Chaos breaks out, and soon, everyone is running (by the way, is that a camera guy on the right side of the frame??):

Falsely accused, the Warriors flee for their lives.

More fleeing gang members:

The Warriors exit the Conclave via the false wall at the northern end of the park (just to their left is Dinosaur Playground):

The Warriors seek refuge in a nearby cemetery, which would be Woodlawn if they were actually in the Bronx:

However, this was actually shot in Evergreen Cemetery, in the Cypress Hills section of Brooklyn:

It’s very easy to find the Warriors’ shooting location: as you enter the Conway Street entrance, just follow the road to the right, and you’ll quickly see some of the distinctive graves above just off the road.

I’m actually amazed at how many actual graves were allowed to be featured in the film. Nowadays, you often have to provide your own graves if they’re going to get such significant screen time.

Ditto the fact that they let an actor climb on an actual grave…

But man, what a fantastic use of existing statuary:

Here’s the full grave, belonging to the Yunker family:

Seeing the subway station in the distance, the Warriors head out:

We’re given a few shots of New York’s eerily empty streets. I wasn’t able to identify this first one, which is killing me because the buildings are so distinctive. Anyone know?

The next one is the passageway beneath Riverside Drive at West 96th Street, just south of The Conclave park:

And finally, a street with distinctive elevated tracks. This was shot under the J train at the corner of Broadway and Truxton Street, just outside Evergreen Cemetery, which we’ll return to in a minute.

The Warriors bolt from the cemetery, passing through a tunnel. Check out that “Al” graffiti…

It’s still there!! Special thanks to reader Amir for pointing this out.

The Warriors turn right and run up a hill on the other side:

This awesome tunnel can be found at the corner of Cooke Court and Stewart Street in Brooklyn, another example of a totally unique yet very iconic New York location:

The Warriors descend onto Broadway and scope out the el train staircase across the street, their one hope for returning to Coney Island:

It took me a LOT of trips up and down Broadway before I realized the reason I couldn’t find this staircase: it doesn’t exist anymore:

This entrance to the Eastern Parkway stop (now Broadway Junction) was located at the corner of Conway Street and Broadway. You can just see the Carbone Memorials building behind it, a gravestone manufacturer:

As rival gangs patrol the area, a glimpse in the opposite direction reveals the current slanted entrance to the station in the distance:

As the Warriors run for the stop, a rival gang begins racing them down:

The Warriors hurry down Broadway toward the subway entrance:

There used to be a ton of exposed cobblestones at this end of Broadway, which have since been paved over:

The Warriors book it into the old Eastern Parkway station…

…which today is boarded up, as it’s no longer in use:

So take a look – this doesn’t exist anymore:

CLICK HERE FOR PART 2!

-SCOUT

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CAN YOU DIG IT?

CAN YOU DIG IT?

. . .

→ Read More: Come Out To Plaaaaay…..]]> Can you dig it?

CAN YOU DIG IT?

CAN YOU DIG IT?

Check back Monday….

-SCOUT