“Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic

Summary Rob Lowe and Tom Cruise would box for fun during the filming of The Outsiders.
Lowe recalls how he and Cruise would knock each other out, which even included a black eye on the action star.
The Outsiders adaptation stays faithful to the novel with strong performances from the cast, including Ralph Macchio and Patrick Swayze.
Rob Lowe shares how he and Tom Cruise would box during their time working on The Outsiders. Lowe played Sodapop Curtis in Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s beloved novel, while Cruise portrayed a minor character named Steve Randle. Both Sodapop and Steve were members of the gang known as the greasers, with Lowe and Cruise’s Outsiders characters participating in the climactic fight between the gangs known as a rumble.
While speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, Lowe was asked about his favorite memory of working with Cruise throughout their careers. He reflected on their time together while filming The Outsiders and recalled how they would fight each other for fun, bringing an unrestrained physicality that was not just reserved for their characters. Check out Lowe’s comments below:
He’s [Cruise] so competitive that we used to box in the hallway of the hotel we were staying at during Outsiders. So much testosterone. We’re 18-year-old guys stuck on location. So we would wear headgear, and we’d have mouthpieces in, but we would legitimately spar. Tom is like this beast. And I hit him real clean and I rang his bell. And the next thing I knew I woke up and I was coming to on the floor. He like completely knocked me out. I hit him hard and his eyes went black. But that’s the stuff we did, that’s what guys do, it’s like Fight Club.
Rob Lowe And Tom Cruise Are Only Part Of What Makes The Outsiders Great
The Outsiders’ Cast, Direction, & Score Help Make It A Strong Film Adaptation.
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While there were inevitable differences between The Outsiders book and movie, the adaptation was faithful to the source material in the ways that mattered most.
The physicality and energy Lowe and Cruise brought to their respective characters was tremendous and was complemented by the rest of The Outsiders’ cast and crew. A young Ralph Macchio brought the heart and emotional vulnerability needed to play Johnny Cade and to make the iconic “Stay gold, Ponyboy” line as powerful as it was in the source material. C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, and Diane Lane all delivered memorable performances as well and did their characters justice.
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From the rumble featuring many gang members fighting to quieter scenes with Johnny and Ponyboy Curtis (Howell) talking while hiding out in an abandoned church, the acting was always on point, further cementing many of the actors as part of the legendary Brat Pack. Their talents were maximized through Coppola’s stellar direction and ability to bring the 1960s Tulsa setting to life. The original music composed by Carmine Coppola also helped set the tone for the coming-of-age story.
While there were inevitable differences between The Outsiders book and movie, the adaptation was faithful to the source material in the ways that mattered most. This was particularly true in how the movie honored the novel’s timeless themes and a careful balance of humor, tragedy, and hope. Lowe, Cruise, Macchio, and many of the other young actors going on to have successful careers is a testament to their work on The Outsiders.
Source: The Rich Eisen Show