The 1988 film Colors was directed by Dennis Hopper and focused on the growing gang violence in Los Angeles. The film follows two police officers, veterans Hodges and McGavin, as they are partnered with rookie cop Danny McGavin to patrol the streets of East LA. Colors gained notoriety for its gritty realism in portraying the violent world of LA gangs like the Bloods and Crips. While the film aimed for authenticity, there has been debate over how accurate its depiction truly was.
Plot Summary
In Colors, Hodges and McGavin act as mentors to the rookie Danny as he learns the ropes of being a LAPD officer. They emphasize the importance of colors when dealing with gangs – blue for Crips and red for Bloods. The film showcases the bitter rivalry between the two gangs as they compete for territory. McGavin in particular is determined to take down the violent 21st Street Gang.
The plot revolves around a war brewing between the Crips and a subgroup of the Bloods called the BGA (Black Gangster Army). A respected Crip called High Top is killed under mysterious circumstances, with each side blaming the other. The murder of a Blood graffiti artist named Rocket further escalates tensions.
McGavin and Hodges disagree on how to handle the escalating gang problem. McGavin wants to be aggressive and take down gang leaders, while Hodges advocates for a more cautious approach. The two officers clash as the gang war intensifies.
Authenticity of Settings and Characters
Colors aimed for realism in its depiction of 1980s South Central LA, where gang violence was rampant. The film was shot on location in actual LA neighborhoods afflicted by poverty, drugs, and crime. Areas like Imperial Courts and Nickerson Gardens were known as Crip and Blood strongholds. By filming in the real locations, Colors added to the authentic feel.
The cast featured both veteran actors and newcomers from the inner city. Robert Duvall played Hodges as a hardened yet pragmatic cop. Sean Penn gave an intense performance as the volatile McGavin. Meanwhile, actual LA gang members were hired as extras and bit players. Both Crips and Bloods were recruited to ensure the gang crowd scenes felt genuine.
The characters’ costumes, language, and mannerisms also strove for authenticity. Gang members wore authentic colors, flags, and other markers of Crip and Blood style. The dialogue included real LA street slang and Spanish phrases. The actors emulated the swagger and menacing attitude of real gang bangers. This added to the realism.
Accuracy of Gang Rivalry and Violence
Colors aimed to provide an authentic look at how vicious the Blood and Crip rivalry had become in LA. News reports had shown increasing gang violence and drive-by shootings in the 1980s, especially in South Central. Colors captured how quickly minor disputes over territory and respect could turn deadly between the gangs.
The drive-by shooting scenes in the movie strongly mirrored real gang attacks happening on LA streets. Ambushes and retaliation killings were common as the gangs battled for power. Critics praised Colors for vividly depicting the ruthlessness of LA gang warfare.
However, some aspects were still sensationalized or exaggerated. The scale of the all-out urban combat seen in Colors’ climax was grander than typical gang confrontations. Some activists also argued the gang members were portrayed as too animalistic and the police as too heroic. The real situation was more nuanced. But the core violence and animosity between legendary LA gangs like the Crips and Bloods was largely accurate.
Historical Accuracy of Events and Timeline
While Colors took liberties for drama, the general historical setting aligned with the reality of LA gang life in the late 1980s:
| Dates | Colors Film | Real Life |
| 1979-81 | Existing Crip-Blood rivalry | Crenshaw-Piru feud sparked rivalry |
| 1984-85 | Increasing drive-bys, mutual escalation | Record spikes in gang homicides |
| 1988 | All-out urban warfare | Over 300 gang related murders in LA |
The film correctly set the scene as an already established feud spiraling out of control. By the late 1980s, the crack epidemic and proliferation of guns had made real life gang violence even worse than depicted in Colors. While condensed, the film’s timeline matched the historical context.
Accuracy of Police Procedures and Attitudes
Colors also aimed to capture the challenging realities faced by the LAPD in combating entrenched gang violence. The film showed homicide detectives and patrol units using actual LAPD protocols as they targeted gang-run drug operations.
Rookie cop Danny provided perspective on the community relations challenges. The LAPD struggled to recruit minority officers and bridge the racial divide with residents. Danny faced suspicion and hostility from both gang members and law-abiding residents.
Hodges and McGavin embodied the range of attitudes among 1980s LAPD cops. Hodges showed the veteran weariness and cynicism. McGavin displayed the aggressive, combative approach that would become controversial. Their debates on policing strategies reflected real divides within the department.
The Daryl Gates-led LAPD did come under criticism during the 1980s for excessive force and over-aggressiveness toward minority communities. But Colors largely portrayed practical procedures and realistic officer mindsets.
Conclusion
While dramatized for the big screen, Colors succeeded in providing a compelling snapshot of the height of the LA gang wars in the late 1980s. Through the gripping narrative, the film viscerally depicted the dangerous world inhabited by the Crips, Bloods, and the LAPD officers who battled them. The stark portrayal of life on LA’s gang-afflicted streets showed the extent of the gang violence crisis.
Though some liberties were taken, Colors overall gave an effectively authentic dramatization. It brought attention to a deadly serious issue plaguing the city. The film’s impact lay in conveying the human costs of gang violence through a dramatic narrative lens – something statistics alone could not achieve in the same visceral way. Colors deserves credit for providing a mostly accurate window into a turbulent period of LA’s history.
