Link Between Gang Violence and Films?

“Colors” isn’t the first film about gangs, nor is it the first to become immersed in controversy. “The Warriors” and “Boulevard Nights,” both made almost 10 years ago, provoked the same speculation about the link between gang violence on screen and in real life that recently hit “Colors.”

When “The Warriors,” about a night of urban gang combat, opened in February, 1979, three murders and several theater brawls occured in incidents in Oxnard, Palm Springs, New York and Boston. “Boulevard Nights,” a look at Chicano teens in East Los Angeles, opened a month later to similar bouts of violence and killings.

“Warriors” distributor Paramount Pictures offered to pay for security guards at 670 theaters around the country and revised its advertising campaign. Two theaters, in Oxnard and Palm Springs, canceled the movie’s engagement after violence erupted.

“Boulevard Nights” executive producer Tony Bill pointed out at the time that gang violence occurs all the time in Los Angeles anyway, regardless of what movies are being screened.

According to Richard Yniguez, one of the stars of “Boulevard Nights,” the film wasn’t designed to incite anyone to violence, but “some people are always waiting in the wings, and they’re just itching for a fight anyway.”

Eddie Murphy’s concert film, “Raw,” was the last major film to be connected with youth violence. Last December, scores of people were involved in a fracas in Westwood after a showing was stopped because the audience became unruly, a man was stabbed during a fight between rival gangs outside a Monrovia theater and another was shot and killed at a Paramount drive-in theater where the Murphy film was playing. Law-enforcement authorities said that although the movie itself had nothing to do with the violence the screening attracted rival gangs to the theaters.

John Malone, area commander of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, said it is too early to get anxious about the possibility of gang problems when “Colors” is released.

“Our position is one of wait-and-see. We’ll judge the reaction of the audiences, but we have no way of knowing until it’s shown,” Malone said.

But Steve Valdevia, executive director of Youth Gang Services, a civilian anti-gang group, said “Colors” has the potential to incite violence.

“With the way things are going now, anything could set off a series of shootings , “ he said. Valdevia, who has not seen the film, now says he won’t go to see it after it is released and “subject my family to danger.”