``Streets of Fire'' Cast that instantly shone at its best, and a cast that opened up new horizons

Amy Madigan already embodies the ``diversity'' that appeals to modern times.

Willem Dafoe left a strong impact as Tom Cody's nemesis, Raven. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2017, but Bill Paxton played the role of a bartender who appeared in many roles, leading to the subsequent `` The Terminator ''. ``Streets of Fire'' provided the opportunity for many actors to break out, including Rick Moranis, who was disliked by Michael Paré because of his lightheartedness on set, but the one who is still talked about even today is Amy. Could it be Madigan?

"Streets of Fire" © 1984 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Tom Cody tries to rescue his beloved Ellen Aime from being captured by a bad guy. McCoy, a former army vehicle attendant, lends a hand. If you hadn't seen the movie, you'd think it was an obviously male character, but McCoy is a woman. Originally, Amy Madigan was offered the role of Ellen Aime's sister who brings Tom back to town, and even read the script. At that time, Edward James Olmos, who played Detective Gough in Blade Runner , was slated to play McCoy as a Hispanic soldier. However, Madigan's strong desire to play McCoy at any cost led to a major change in the role's gender.

"Streets of Fire" © 1984 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Of course, fighting heroines had appeared before ``Streets of Fire,'' such as in `` Alien .'' However, what was innovative about the role of McCoy was that he never gave the impression that he was a ``female'' character. Although he cooperates with Tom Cody, he has no romantic feelings for men and women. That doesn't mean she's a lesbian. At the time of its release, the character, who is female but does not make us conscious of her gender or sexuality, was truly refreshing and left a strong impression on the minds of those who watched ``Streets of Fire.''

Not only was this a turning point for Amy Madigan, who played the role, but the role of McCoy still has an appeal that transcends 34 years, even in today's world where ``diversity'' is being talked about a lot in the film industry. It easily transcends the boundaries of being a man or a woman, and is truly a symbol of diversity. Amy Madigan's direct appeal greatly contributed to Streets of Fire's enduring appeal.

Text: Hiroaki Saito

Became freelance in 1997, contributing movie reviews and interview articles to various media such as movie magazines, theater pamphlets, and movie sites. The column is constantly updated on Yahoo! News. Star Channel's program "GO! Theater" introduces the latest released works.

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Streets of Fire

July 21st (Sat) Cinemart Shinjuku and other Dynamite Roadshows! Released nationwide thereafter

© 1984 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

*Information as of July 2018 article publication.