

Walk Proud
“He was tough enough for the streets... was he tough enough to leave them?”
Synopsis
Emilio Mendez is a 17-year-old Chicano man in California comes to realize that the gang life is not what he really wants but doesn't know how to get out. Robby Benson plays a young gang member in Los Angeles who begins to question himself when Mendez meets and starts to fall for a White girl who encourages him to try and leave. Emilio, with great pride in his Native Mexican heritage, suffers a further identity crisis upon meeting his father, a European-American who got his Brown mother pregnant when she was just 16.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Release History & Theatrical Window
June 15, 1979
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Robert L. Collins
- Screenplay & Story
- Evan Hunter
- Original Score
- Robby Benson, Don Peake
- Original Title
- Walk Proud
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Production Studios
- Universal Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Robert L. Collins
Evan Hunter
Robby Benson, Don Peake
Bobby Byrne
Douglas Stewart
Lawrence Turman
Department Leadership Roster
Robby Benson
Original Music Composer
Robert L. Collins
Director
Douglas Stewart
Editor
Evan Hunter
Writer
Lawrence Turman
Producer
Don Peake
Original Music Composer
Bobby Byrne
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Walk Proud.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Walk Proud.
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Urban Movies
MovieLens[50K:]
High School/Punk/Cult/Gang's/80's/Teens
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Frequently Asked Questions About Walk Proud
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Walk Proud about?
Emilio Mendez is a 17-year-old Chicano man in California comes to realize that the gang life is not what he really wants but doesn't know how to get out. Robby Benson plays a young gang member in Los Angeles who begins to question himself when Mendez meets and starts to fall for a White girl who encourages him to try and leave. Emilio, with great pride in his Native Mexican heritage, suffers a further identity crisis upon meeting his father, a European-American who got his Brown mother pregnant when she was just 16.
Who directed Walk Proud?
Walk Proud was directed by Robert L. Collins.
Who stars in Walk Proud?
The principal cast of Walk Proud includes Robby Benson, Sarah Holcomb, Henry Darrow, Pepe Serna, Trinidad Silva.
When was Walk Proud released and how long is it?
Walk Proud was released in 1979 with a total runtime of 1h 42m.
Who composed the musical score for Walk Proud?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Walk Proud was composed by Robby Benson, Don Peake.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Walk Proud?
Walk Proud holds official age classifications: US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).



















