- Diane Lane admits she was “overwhelmed” by the amount of testosterone on the set of the 1983 classic, The Outsiders.
- Speaking on The Drew Barrymore Show, the actress revealed she often “kept to myself” amidst the star-studded male cast.
- The cast included future Hollywood legends like Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, and Matt Dillon.
- Lane also shared a sweet behind-the-scenes story about using cocoa powder to create a dust storm effect during filming.
A Star-Studded but Overwhelming Experience
Decades after its release, Diane Lane is looking back on her time filming the iconic 1983 movie The Outsiders, confessing that the sheer star power and testosterone on set was, at times, a bit much to handle. As the primary female lead among a cast of soon-to-be Hollywood legends, Lane felt the pressure.
During a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, host Drew Barrymore asked Lane what it was like to work with a group of young men who would become massive movie stars, including Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, and C. Thomas Howell.
“It was hot! It was great,” Lane laughed, before admitting the environment could be intense. “It was kind of… too much testosterone for one girl. So I kept to myself. But I was definitely pinching myself. I was definitely overwhelmed.”
Drew Barrymore’s Fangirl Moment
The host completely sympathized with Lane’s position, confessing that the film was a formative experience for her as well. Barrymore quipped in response, “I think that was the movie that made me realize like, ‘I like boys.’ I was like, ‘Oh wow, I get it now.’” Her reaction highlights the cultural impact the film and its cast had on a generation of moviegoers.
Behind-the-Scenes Movie Magic
Beyond the on-set dynamics, Lane also shared a charming anecdote from the production, shedding light on the practical effects used in the Francis Ford Coppola-directed film. She vividly recalled shooting the drive-in cinema scene with co-star C. Thomas Howell, who played Ponyboy Curtis.
“I remember when we were at the movie theater and they were creating this windstorm. They had these big huge fans and they were throwing cocoa powder to make the dust so it wouldn’t be toxic or get in our eyes,” she explained. The sweet-smelling solution had a fun side effect. “By the end of the night, we would just be, like, white striping. Like, ‘Mmm! That’s good!’ We all looked tan and sweet.”
The Enduring Legacy of The Outsiders
Based on the classic S. E. Hinton novel, The Outsiders chronicled the intense rivalry between two teenage gangs in 1960s Oklahoma: the working-class Greasers and the affluent Socs. The film remains a beloved classic, not just for its gritty story but also for serving as a launchpad for many of its young stars. Lane’s honest reflection offers fans a new perspective on what it was really like to be part of such a legendary and testosterone-fueled production.
Image Referance: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/diane-lane-overwhelmed-filming-the-outsiders-1236413551/