Compared are the Theatrical Version and the Preview Cut. Both versions are available on the US Blu-ray by Kino Lorber.

In 1963, the teens in the Bronx are organized in gangs. Turkey is actually a Wanderer who are Italian-American and yet he would rather be a Fordham Baldie. His friend Joey wants to stop him from doing that and the two of them have to run from the Baldies due to Joey's insult. At the same time, Richie is busy with his girlfriend Despie but he sees what is going on and comes to help. But at the end of the day, all he can do is run - just like the others. When they are about to get their butts kicked by the gang, Perry shows up. Perry just moved to the neighborhood and he becomes a Wanderer eventually. At school, there is a war going on between the Wanderers and the Del Bombers, an Afro-American gang. A conflict they intend to settle on the field. Way outnumbered, Richie tries to recruit other gangs to play side by side with the Wanderers but he does not have any luck. Despie's father, mobster Chubby Galasso, offers Richie to help. Due to a lack of further options, Richie accepts his help. On the street, Joey and Richie bump into Nina who falls in love with Joey. Richie has strong feelings for her as well. At soome party, he can't supress those feelings any longer. He and Joey get into a fight that goes on until they have to play the Del Bombers. Richie finds out Despie is pregnant which means they have to get married. At his bachelor party, Richie realizes that a chapter of his life is about to end .

One year after Philip Kaufman shot a pretty decent remake of the sci-fi classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, he did something entirely different: The Wanderers. The gang movie turns out to be a slightly surreal coming of age drama. After a light-footed start, it gets more and more serious. There are a lot of 60s songs in the movie as well and they fit perfectly. One of the best scenes is when Richie sees Nina going to a small Bob Dylan concert who is currently singing "The Times They Are a-Changin’". Richie only gets to watch from outside. This also illustrates the end of an era.

In the US, Kino Lorber released a 2-disc Blu-ray set in 2017 that contains the Theatrical Version and also the Preview Cut which is an early version of the movie with a few additional minutes of footage. Until the Kino Lorber release, the Preview Cut had only been shown in special screenings in theaters (there is a Q&A after one of those screenings as bonus). The Preview Cut contains a lot of new scenes that should be pretty interesting for fans. In addition to extended scenes - some of them only a little longer, others much longer - there are alternate scenes as well. And this is not the end of the line yet because the footage cut for censorship is also in the Preview Cut. To be more specific, the Theatrical Version lacks gay people getting insulted and Turkey's bias is crystal clear in the Preview Cut. When the Ducky Boy sees him in front of the church, he offers him a blowjob in the Preview Cut. The Ducky Boy repeats the word "blowjob" - contrary to the Theatrical Version. In other scenes, further swear words are missing. Also, only the Preview Cut shows Chubby accidentally letting the bowling drop right on some other guy's hand - the Theatrical Version shows Richie instead.

All in all, the Preview Cut is a bit better than the Theatrical Version. It is probably based on some movie role which would explain the quality which is a little better in the Theatrical Version. In a few scenes, the images look more red plus there is slight contamination every now and then.

Screenshot Comparison:

Theatrical Version:

Preview Cut:

Theatrical Version:

Preview Cut:

[00:05:43]

Terror a little longer.

Preview Cut: 0.6 sec


[00:07:10]

Further shot of the Fordham Baldies chasing the two of them.

Preview Cut: 2.6 sec


[00:11:38]

Joey tells Perry that the residents were going to stop the elevator in order to relieve themselves in there and that because of the urine on the ground, babies crawling around got sick as well. Perry finds that amusing.

Preview Cut: 18.8 sec


[00:23:06]

The Wanderers go bowling while talking about the fact that they would be outnumbered in the upcoming match with the Del Bombers. Turkey wants to call the Baldies for help but Richie does not like the idea. Despie surprises Richie and asks what was up. Richie says he was busy but they could hang later. Despie tells him their father wanted to speak with him.
Richie goes to the bar Chubby Galasso and his brothers are spending their time. Chubby tells him he had heard about his problem with the blacks and offers to help. Richie wants to think about it.

Preview Cut: 130.8 sec


[00:29:07]

Now the scene from the previous alteration in the Theatrical Version, except it is slightly shorter.

Only in the Preview Cut, Turkey asks Richie if that was all the "niggers" got.

Preview Cut: 2.9 sec
Theatrical Version: 127.9 sec


[00:29:07]

The empty field one more time. The Wanderers realize it is still 150 versus 25. Perry says they were 26 (himself included). The boys are glad Perry is there. Turkey then says to Richie they probably still needed the help of The Baldies.

Preview Cut: 28.8 sec


[00:31:31]

Terror calls Peewee. She stands in front of Richie whose pants are being pulled down. Peewee says he peobably needed a magnifying glass to take a leak.

Preview Cut: 14.3 sec


[00:33:29]

Chubby explains to the two of them that times had changed and conflicts regarding mutual interests were being solved by now. He asks his brothers who tell him church and sports was pretty popular in the black community. Chubby says his brothers and he were huge sport fans as well and they wanted to make a few bucks with the games. He then asks Richie if there was something wrong with that, Richie says no.

Preview Cut: 33.7 sec


[00:34:37]

Theatrical Version:

Cut to Chubby. The dialog is identically equal to the Preview Cut.

Preview Cut:

The mobsters light Joey's cigarette while Richie says the other team was too good - right after Chubby says they had come for a rematch.

Preview Cut: 6.0 sec
Theatrical Version: 4.0 sec


[00:37:59]

Chubby adds "Good enough for you, asshole".

Preview Cut: 1.4 sec


[00:38:02]

Theatrical Version:

Chubby drops the bowling ball, then Richie.

Preview Cut:

Alternate shot of Chubby dropping the bowling ball. The ball lands on the hand. The subsequent shot of Richie is alternate as well.

Preview Cut: 3.7 sec
Theatrical Version: 3.1 sec


[00:39:34]

Richie is drinking some water when a few of the Del Bombers walk by and ask how he is doing. One of the Wanderers gets to Richie and he claims the match was off. Turkey walks past the group, Joey throws something after him but Richie hlds him back. The others get curious. Richie explains Turkey had abandoned his friends and he simply was not worth it. The bell rings and Turkey runs away.

Preview Cut: 52.6 sec


[00:40:33]

Joey longer & earlier.

Preview Cut: 1.9 sec


[00:40:41]

Joey works longer on the poster.

Preview Cut: 3.0 sec


[00:40:47]

Same here.

Preview Cut: 5.4 sec


[00:40:56]

Joey's father earlier. He finishes his exercise.

Preview Cut: 14.0 sec


[00:41:47]

Joey's father wants to know why Joey did not look at him when being spoken to.

Preview Cut: 2.7 sec


[00:41:53]

The family earlier. Emilio stands up.

Preview Cut: 2.2 sec


[00:41:56]

The Theatrical Version cuts to Joey.

The Preview Cut sticks with Emilio who goes to the kitchen.

Preview Cut: 2.3 sec
Theatrical Version: 1.9 sec


[00:42:00]

The Theatrical Version containsa shot of Joey looking up.

In the Preview Cut, Emilio takes a seat at the table, then Joey.

Theatrical Version: 1.7 sec
Preview Cut: 7.8 sec


[00:42:10]

Joey's mother longer, followed by Joey and finally Emilio while the latter keeps telling his story.

Preview Cut: 6.0 sec


[00:54:00]

The Theatrical Version cuts to Richie and Joey.

Richie lets Joey know there was still pizza in his face and wipes it away. Richie then wants to know why he was so nervous.

Theatrical Version: 1.5 sec
Preview Cut: 12.0 sec


[01:17:14]

The Theatrical Version shows the communion, then the Ducky Boys.

In the Preview Cut, the church scene is much longer. The priest walks up to the altar and starts praying. The Ducky Boys get edgy. The priest turns around and everybody is back in their seats. The priest grabs the cup with the bread and administers Communion.

Theatrical Version: 6.6 sec
Preview Cut: 33.8 sec


[01:17:52]

The bread is being handed out longer.

Preview Cut: 4.2 sec


[01:18:43]

First the Ducky Boy, then Turkey saying he was serious.

Theatrical Version: 5.1 sec


[01:19:07]

Turkey says he was serious and asks if the Ducky Boy wanted a blowjob. The Ducky Boy answers the question with another question: "Blowjob?"

Preview Cut: 9.9 sec


[01:19:20]

The shot of the street starts earlier in the Theatrical Version.

In the Preview Cut, further Ducky Boys come out of church and hassle Turkey who screams he was not a fag but a marine. Turkey then runs away.

Preview Cut: 14.4 sec
Theatrical Version: 0.4 sec


[01:20:25]

The Ducky Boys try to hit Turkey with their stick.

Alternate shot of the very same scene in the Preview Cut.

Preview Cut: 1.4 sec
Theatrical Version: 1.5 sec


[01:20:29]

One of the Ducky Boys tries to stab Turkey, followed by their spears in the fire.

Preview Cut: 1.7 sec


[01:20:36]

Further shot of the Ducky Boys in the Preview Cut.

Preview Cut: 0.8 sec


[01:20:39]

Same here.

Preview Cut: 0.6 sec


[01:22:22]

Richie keeps walking. A distraught woman holds on to him for a moment.

Preview Cut: 8.9 sec


[01:24:27]

In the Preview Cut, the transitional tracking shot of the angel starts earlier.

Preview Cut: 2.9 sec


[01:44:26]

Perry adds he was going to live with his aunt Marie and uncle Dino. He calls them "monkeys".

Preview Cut: 5.7 sec


[01:44:54]

Shot of Perry and Joey in the Theatrical Version.

In the Preview Cut, Perry takes a sip from the bottle. Perry suggests to go to China but Joey says they could not because they were communists and Joey does not like the suggestion to go to Africa instead either. Perry mentions sex shows in Singapur during which woman have sex with snakes and bears. According to Joey, a barber pole can be tattooed on the penis in Saudi Arabia/Casablanca and it rotates when having an erection. Perry tells Terry to become tattooist but the latter feels offended by that and explains he was not a fag. Perry says he did not mean it that way.

Preview Cut: 62.4 sec
Theatrical Version: 3.2 sec


[01:46:13]

Joey admits to Perry he was scared.

Preview Cut: 8.8 sec


[01:54:56]

Richie: "Wish me luck."

Preview Cut: 1.6 sec


[01:55:01]

Joey stutters they loved him and they had only dropped by to wish him luck.

Preview Cut: 18.5 sec


[01:55:29]

Perry slightly longer.

Preview Cut: 0.8 sec


[01:55:53]

Peewee adds: "You big shithead."

Preview Cut: 1.4 sec


[01:56:08]

In the Theatrical Version, Peewee says that even after all the time with the Baldies she had not gotten a single card. Joey puts his arms around her and says he was going to send her a card.

In the Preview Cut, Joey says he was going to teach Peewee a lesson. Peewee explains to him he had only attacked her in the first place because he did not have anybody. Joey apologizes. Peewee then says that even after all the tme with the Baldies she had not gotten a single card. Joey puts his arms around her and says he was going to send her a card. Peewee wants to know where he was going.

Theatrical Version: 12.9 sec
Preview Cut: 48.2 sec


[01:56:59]

In the Theatrical Version, Peewee asks where Joey was going.

Theatrical Version: 1.8 sec


[01:57:58]

Richie and Peewee return. Richie tells her to stop crying.

Preview Cut: 6.1 sec