Jim Steinman Walks the "Streets of Fire"

Jim Steinman, who passed away recently, was the master of over the top, emotion-filled pop/rock songs. Steinman struck gold with his long-standing collaboration with Meat Loaf on albums like the unforgettable Bat Out of Hell. He also produced and penned hits for Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, and Sisters of Mercy, among others. “Too much is never enough” was always the mantra in Steinman’s musical oeuvre. One of the best showcases for his work was the movie Streets of Fire, which was released in 1984. The film was directed by Walter Hill, who also helmed The Warriors and The Long Riders. Hill had just scored a major hit with 48 Hours, which co-starred Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy, so he was a hot property in Hollywood at the time. Hill conceived a story that featured all the things he wanted to see in a movie; lots of action, car chases, motorcycles, and a damsel in distress who is saved by a tough guy anti-hero, all set to a pulsating rock soundtrack.

Originally titled The Adventures of Tom Cody, Hill and screenplay co-author Larry Gross shaped Hill’s concept into a “Rock & Roll Fable” set in “Another, Time, Another Place,” a world that entwined the look of a retro 1950s biker flick fused with the cool vibe and flashy visuals of 1980s music videos. The film tells the story of rock singer Ellen Aim, who’s kidnapped by a gang led by the villainous Raven Shaddock. Her former flame, war veteran Tom Cody, leads a ragtag group of heroes to rescue her, including Billy Fish, Ellen’s manager and current boyfriend, the tough talking female soldier of fortune McCoy, and Tom’s sister Reva. After they track Raven and his gang through the neon streets and rock and roll nights of the city, Tom manages to recue Ellen. But the vengeful Raven wants revenge. He demands a mano a mano showdown with Tom, or he and his gang will cause death and destruction across town.

 The amazing production design and kinetic visuals of the movie, courtesy of noted cinematographer Andrew Lazlo, give the film a look that was unique at the time. Streets of Fire definitely influenced subsequent movies and television shows, and its visionary style holds up well today. The cast includes Michael Pare as Cody, Diane Lane as Ellen Aim, Willem Dafoe as Raven, Rick Moranis as Billy and a fantastic supporting turn from Amy Madigan as McCoy. The part of McCoy was originally written for a man, but when Madigan tested for the part of Tom’s sister, she told director Hill she felt she could play McCoy (then called Mendez in the script), and that it would be really effective to showcase a woman in the role. Madigan turned out to be right, and her performance is one of the highlights of the film, which is an entertaining blend of genres, including Westerns, action movies, biker flicks and an MTV styled rock musical.

 

Speaking of music, Streets of Fire features tunes written by Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers band-mate Benmont Tench, Ry Cooder and Dan Hartman, whose song “I Can Dream About You” became a big hit during the time of the film’s original release. But the songs that perfectly encapsulate what Streets of Fire is all about are a pair of tunes written by Jim Steinman. Originally, Hill wanted to use Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Fire” in the film’s finale, and a sequence was filmed with Diane Lane’s character Ellen Aim performing the song. Negotiations with Springsteen broke down, so Hill and his crew turned to Steinman, who’d written a song called “Nowhere Fast,” which was set to open the film. He composed “Tonight It Was It Means To Be Young” a typically Steinman-esque power rocker, in just two days. The song has all the things we love about Steinman’s music all rolled into a glorious seven minute, over the top, rock and roll epic. The producers loved it so much they spent additional money to re-shoot the closing sequence with Lane lip-syncing the song to vocals by the group Fire, Inc. who had also contributed to “Nowhere Fast.” Fire, Inc. wasn’t an actual band, but the studio group featured vocalists Holly Sherwood and Laurie Sargent, who contributed the vocals for Lane’s on camera performances.

 

The world of Streets of Fire, with its archetypal characters, stunning visuals, and genre-bending story, is a perfect fit for Steinman’s grandiose music, and his songs are certainly highlights of the film. It’s no surprise that two of the music videos created to promote the movie were adapted from those opening and closing sequences. While the film wasn’t a hit upon its original release, it’s turned into something of a cult favorite over the years, and has a loyal cadre of fans. Sadly, since the movie wasn’t successful at the box office, a pair of sequels planned by Walter Hill never materialized, although Road To Hell, a low-budget film directed by Albert Pyun, featuring Michael Pare reprising the role of Tom Cody, was released in 2008. Like the music of Jim Steinman, if it’s in your wheelhouse, Streets of Fire isn’t just a movie you watch it’s a movie you experience. If you’re new to the film, and are looking for something different to watch, I recommend checking it out, especially if you’re a fan of Walter Hill’s other work as a writer and director on films like Hard Times, The Driver, and The Warriors. You might find that Streets of Fire will become a new favorite, or at the very least, a guilty pleasure. I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy it and you'll dig the music, too. Here’s a look at the trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEOvn2IaLMM.