80 Blocks From Tiffany's is a 1979 documentary directed by Gary Weis

Gary Weis

Gary Weis is a movie and television director. He was the second creator of short films for Saturday Night Live .-Selected Filmography:*Jimi Hendrix *Saturday Night Live...

. It depicted the daily life of gangs within the context of the South Bronx

South Bronx

The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....

. It dealt primary with two African American

African American

African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...

 and Puerto Rican

Puerto Ricans in the United States

Stateside Puerto Ricans are American citizens of Puerto Rican origin, including those who migrated from Puerto Rico to the United States and those who were born outside of Puerto Rico in the United States...

 gangs known as the "Savage Skulls" and the "Savage Nomads"

Social context

The South Bronx was known for its severe social decay during the 1970s and this idea was emphasised throughout the documentary. The documentary also illustrated many social issues such as high unemployment, prostitution and drug and alcohol abuse.

Distribution

80 Blocks From Tiffany's was released by Pacific Arts Entertainment for Home Video on VHS in 1985.

Film References

80 Blocks From Tiffany's refers to the distance between Tiffany's jewelry store in Manhattan

Manhattan

Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...

and the South Bronx.