The Wild Angels
Directed by Roger Corman
Written by Peter Bogdanovich and Charles B. Griffith
1966/USA
American International Pictures
First viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] Heavenly Blues: We wanna be free! We wanna be free to do what we wanna do. We wanna be free to ride. We wanna be free to ride our machines without being hassled by The Man! … And we wanna get loaded. And we wanna have a good time. And that’s what we are gonna do. We are gonna have a good time… We are gonna have a party.[/box]
Totally over-the-top biker movie starring some of the future’s best actors.
The Wild Angels motorcycle gang is clearly based on the Hells Angels, whose members participated as extras. The gang is under the leadership of Heavenly Blue (Peter Fonda) and “Mama” Mike (Nancy Sinatra). Heavenly Blue, Mike, best friend “Loser” (Bruce Dern), and Loser’s girlfriend Gaysh (Diane Ladd) head off to the Coachella Valley to retrieve Loser’s bike from some Mexicans who stole it. Lots of brawling, partying, drug use, and general anti-establishment behavior ensue. With Michael J. Pollard as a gang member.
I had to see this as most of it is set close to where I live. The movie is really quite fun from the horrible acting to the surf music sound track. Bruce Dern chews the scenery with great relish. Hard to believe that he would become a staple in Hollywood. Go for it if the genre appeals.
Fun trivia: Dern and then-wife Diane Ladd conceived daughter actress Laura Dern during the making of this picture.
