Coney Island, the world-famous resort and national cultural symbol has inspired music, literature, and films. Intellectuals and artists from all over the world were irresistibly drawn to the buzzing lights of Coney.
The dreamlike fantasy of Coney inspired some great movies including Sol Yurick’s 1965 novel Warriors (adapted to the screen by director Walter Hill in 1979), a tale of a New York City gang that travel from The Bronx all the way to their home turf in Coney Island. Hubert Selby’s 1978 novel Requiem for a Dream (decades later directed for the screen by Darren Aronofsky), the story of the amphetamine addiction of an elderly Jewish woman living in the Jewish housing projects and the crimes her son commits to feed his heroin habit, all take place within the bleak backdrop of Coney Island.
This photo essay tries to capture some of the shooting locations that were used in some productions inspired by the original screeplays in an attempt to create a reflection on the cultural importance of Coney Island and how fiction can change an area and turns it into an icon in people’s imagination.
EXT. Stillwell Ave. Station
The prom couples get off at the next station and one of
The prom couples get off at the next station and one of
the girls drops a small flower. Scene fades to sunrise
at Coney Island and the train arrives. The Warriors get off
and Swan picks up the flower as he gets off the train.
Swan gives it to Mercy.
Mercy – What’s this for?
Swan – I just hate seeing anything go to waste.
Swan – I just hate seeing anything go to waste.
This is what we fought all night to get back to?
Maybe I’ll just take off.
Mercy – Well you know I like travelling too.
Swan – Where have you ever been?
Mercy – I’ve never been anywhere, I just know I’d like it.
Swan – Come on let’s go.
Mercy – Well you know I like travelling too.
Swan – Where have you ever been?
Mercy – I’ve never been anywhere, I just know I’d like it.
Swan – Come on let’s go.
EXT. Coney Island Amusement Park
Scene cuts to The Warriors walking through the
Scene cuts to The Warriors walking through the
deserted amusement park at Coney Island whilst
being tailed by The Rogues in their car.
Luther – Stay right on their ass.
The Warriors run under the pier
Swan – Wait a couple of seconds after we move,
Swan – Wait a couple of seconds after we move,
then cut out the other way.
Mercy – Why can’t I stay with you?
Swan – Just do what I tell you, okay?
Mercy – Come on, I can take care of myself,
Mercy – Why can’t I stay with you?
Swan – Just do what I tell you, okay?
Mercy – Come on, I can take care of myself,
I proved that.
Swan – Come on.
Swan – Come on.
Luther in the car starts clanging bottles
together and starts chanting.
Luther – Warriors, come out to play …
Luther – Warriors, come out to play …
Warriors, come out to play …
Warriors, come out to play …
EXT. Coney Island Pier
The pier stretches off into the beautiful sea.
A woman in a red dress walks a baby carriage.
The pier stretches off into the beautiful sea.
A woman in a red dress walks a baby carriage.
Now we’re on Harry, looking healthy and vibrant.
He screams for Marion! But she doesn’t hear him
and she keeps walking. He runs after them.
When he gets close, he suddenly stops.
Marion turns around. He reaches to hug her.
But, as he does we are in -- BLACK
Harry gets terrified.
Harry gets terrified.
He starts to scream for Marion.
Harry - Marion? Marion?!
He steps backwards off the edge of a
cliff and rushes headfirst into
a concrete sidewalk as he screams:
Harry - Marion?
Harry - Marion?
EXT. Streets of Coney Island
Harry and Tyrone carefully navigate
Harry and Tyrone carefully navigate
the TV through the streets of the old
Brooklyn neighborhood.
They go under the elevated train,
past the giant, dying projects,
across the boardwalk, beneath the shadows
of the towering parachute jump and through
the cracking and boarded-up amusement park.
EXT. Wonder Wheel, Conney Island
We’re looking at THE OCEAN. It’s peaceful. Serene.
We’re looking at THE OCEAN. It’s peaceful. Serene.
We Hear the Rolling Waves. The distant sound
of people laughing. We seem to be looking out
from a High Vantage Point And we’re moving upward - -
Rob - I’m really gonna miss this.
Beth - They have ferris wheels in Japan, Rob.
Rob - That’s not what i’m talking about —
Beth - They have ferris wheels in Japan, Rob.
Rob - That’s not what i’m talking about —
Rob Swings the camera around, angling it
back towards himself. And we reveal - -
Rob and Beth are at Coney Island.
Riding side-by-side on the Wonder Wheel.
And, once again, we’re looking at what
used to be on this tape. Rob holds the
camera out at arms length so they’re
both in frame.
As he leans in towards her - -
Rob (playful) - C’mon - - be honest.
You’re gonna miss me, aren’t you?
EXT. Conney Island’s beach
Tony and Eilis on the boardwalk
Tony and Eilis on the boardwalk
at Coney Island. It’s a bright,
beautiful day; Eilis is, after all,
wearing fashionable sunglasses and
a headscarf. They’re both eating
cotton candy. They stop and look
for a space on the packed beach.
TONY - I can see a spot down
there that’s probably big enough
for one. If we can wedge ourselves in,
maybe we can eventually create enough
space for two.
We watch as Tony and Eilis make their
way down onto the beach to become a
small and anonymous part of the
New York summer.
