He brilliantlybalances the innocence and toughness of this tragic character, whose story arc is incredibly heartbreaking.
Their rivals are the wealthy upper class Socs, who have always had it out for them.
While in hiding, they witness a church fire with children trapped inside.
Image by Nimesh Niyomal
If anything, Macchio couldve even passed as younger back then.
Macchio has the power of boyish innocence on his side when taking on this dark material.
Through his extremely youthful appearance alone,he heightens the audiences emotional investmentin the character and his devastating arc.
Image via Warner Bros.
Its not solely his fresh-faced looks that Macchio relies on when playing Johnny.
There is a real heart to this performance, and its obvious thatMacchio is hugely invested in this character.
Coppola notoriously pushed boundaries with his young cast to get the results he needed.
Image via Warner Bros.
I didnt want him to give me anything but this part.
Macchio was a big fan of the originalS.E.
Maybe I could have loosened up a bitwith some of the fun times, he says.
Im not saying I was closed in a closet and never came out til the camera was ready.
Thats not the case, but I certainly was not the spearhead person of the wild and crazy times.
Jonathan Entwistle will direct the next installment in the growing ‘Karate Kid’ franchise.
Set in a small town, a group of underprivileged teenagers known as the Greasers constantly clash with the affluent Socs. The stark contrast in their socioeconomic statuses leads to a tragic chain of events, testing the bonds of friendship and the notion of loyalty among the Greasers.
From book to film, Johnny Cade andThe Outsidershave been a huge part of Ralph Macchios life and career.
ConsideringThe Outsiderswas his first major film, Ralph Macchio certainly lucked out in landing the role of Johnny Cade.
