On this day March 17 1989 the urban drama Rooftops premiered in theaters. Directed by legendary filmmaker Robert Wise the film starred Jason Gedrick Troy Beyer Eddie Velez and Tisha Campbell in a gritty story about survival and street culture in New York City.
The film followed a young drifter who finds himself caught up in a world of rooftop dancing street fights and inner city struggles. Rooftops attempted to blend action romance and social commentary but struggled at the box office earning only 2 million. Despite this it remains a unique entry in Robert Wise’s long and celebrated career.
80s insight: Rooftops was the final film directed by Robert Wise who had previously helmed classics like West Side Story and The Sound of Music.