Los Angeles, late 1980s. Bob Hodges is a seasoned officer in the LAPD's C.R.A.S.H. unit, which patrols neighborhoods where gangs set their own rules. His new partner, Danny McGavin, is an eager and headstrong rookie who must learn to survive on those streets. As tensions rise among the Bloods, the Crips and Hispanic street gangs, the two officers find themselves caught in a conflict that tests their ideas about policing and justice. The film follows their partnership and the different ways each man reacts to violence that seems to have no end.

How it was made

The project began with a script by Richard Di Lello set in Chicago and focused more on drug dealing than on gangs. Dennis Hopper asked for changes, and Michael Schiffer was hired to rewrite it, moving the story to Los Angeles and placing the gang world at its center. Shot entirely in the city in 1987, the production hired real gang members as on-location security and as actors and extras, a decision that caused tension during filming. Robert Duvall and Sean Penn lead the cast, Haskell Wexler shot the film, Herbie Hancock composed the score, and Ice-T wrote and performed the title theme. Orion Pictures produced it.

Reception and legacy

Colors drew both praise and criticism. Critical response was generally favorable, with an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 28 reviews. The film earned around 46 million dollars in the United States during its release. It marked Dennis Hopper's return to directing after Easy Rider and sparked debate about its depiction of gang life and violence. Over time it has been cited as one of the period's films that examined Los Angeles gang culture from a police perspective.

Stills

Trailer

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Trivia

A rewritten script

Richard Di Lello's original script was set in Chicago. Dennis Hopper requested changes, and Michael Schiffer rewrote it for Los Angeles.

Penn and the extra

Sean Penn was arrested on April 2, 1987, for punching an extra who was photographing him without permission. He was sentenced to 33 days in jail for the assault.

More films by Dennis Hopper

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