Princeton Happenings

Favorite Books and Movies

<img src=”{filedir_1}The_Outsiders_2.jpg” alt=”The Outsiders ” height=”480″ width=”720″ /><em>The Outsiders</em>, one of my all-time favorite novels which I have read many times and passed down to both my boys to read, was made in to a movie and released 30 years ago this month. March 25, 1983, the world got to see Ponyboy, Johnny, Dally, and Cherry up on the big screen.

The cast of <em>The Outsiders </em>included many famous names such as Tom Cruise, Diane Lane, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio and others who went on to have very successful careers . What an amazing cast fit to an incredible story that after re-reading so many times I still find relevant.

The novel was written by S.E. Hinton and published in 1967. S.E. Hinton was only 18 years old when the book was published but had done most of the writing when she was just 16 and a junior in high school. The book follows two rival groups, the Greasers and the Socs (short for Socials), who are divided by their social status in society.

What brilliance on the part of S.E. Hinton to write about this timeless topic, in such a way to reach so many people and to have such an impact on so many readers. At such a young age herself, to be able to write something to which so many people can relate, is incredible.

Other movies of my generation come to mind, <em>The Breakfast Club </em>or <em>Pretty in Pink</em>, again, movies about teens divided by social status.

Check out <em>The Outsiders</em>, the book or the movie….and remember, <strong>“Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold.”</strong>