 Filming of The Wanderers began in September 1978 , most of which occurred in the Bronx . Kaufman said that during filming , " [ This ] Puerto Rican motorcycle gang came pushing its way through the crowd ; wanting to see what was going on " , and " they pushed everyone aside " . They walked away after bumping into van Lidth . The crew also encountered trouble from former members of the " real " Baldies , who complained the film portrayed the Baldies incorrectly , saying : " [ The movie ] is a lie ! This was not a bad neighborhood . There was no crime , no robbery . Murder , yes , but no crime ! " Rose Kaufman eventually told them to " fuck off " , which nearly resulted in a brawl between the former gang members , Wahl and several other actors . 
