Top Ten Biker Movies Review

Inspired by the new TV series "Sons of Anarchy" on FX, here's my list of the Top Ten Biker Movies ever made. While I've never owned a motorcycle, and can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've been on one, I've always had great affection for biker flicks, and have seen dozens of 'em. I'm going to focus on dramatic films, although there are some great documentaries on the subject.

So here 'tis, people:

1. Easy Rider (1969): More than just another biker movie, Easy Rider was a cultural phenomenon. Peter Fonda produced and stars as "Captain America," while director Dennis Hopper plays his sidekick Billy. After selling a large quantity of cocaine to Phil Spector, the two head off in search of America. Unfortunately for them, they find it. Jack Nicholson co-stars in his breakthrough role as George Hanson, a small-town Southern lawyer who catches a ride with them, and proceeds to steal the show. With a screenplay by the great Terry Southern (Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb), and a killer sountrack featuring Steppenwolf, the Byrds, and The Band, among others. Available on DVD from Sony Home Entertainment.

2. The Wild One (1953): The original biker movie stars Marlon Brando as Johnny Strabler, the leader of the Black Rebels Motorcycle Club. A girl asks him, "What are you rebelling against, Johnny?" To which he replies, "Whaddya got?" Although looking a little pudgier than he had in previous films, Brando's still the epitome of cool, the original rebel without a cause. Based in part on real incidents much tamer than those portrayed in the movie. With Lee Marvin as Johnny's even more badass rival. Sony Home Entertainment.

3. The Wild Angels (1966): Roger Corman kick-started a whole new cycle of motorcycle movies with this nihilistic tale of an outlaw biker gang led by Peter Fonda as "Heavenly Blues" ("We wanna be free! Free to ride our machines without being hassled by the man! And we wanna get loaded!"). When "Loser," a gang member played by Bruce Dern, get shot by the cops, the Angels break him out of the hospital, leading to a hastily arranged biker funeral when he dies from his wounds and lack of medical attention. Featuring Nancy Sinatra as "Mike," and a great fuzz guitar score by Davie Allan & the Arrows. The Hell's Angels sued for defamation of character. Available from MGM Home Video as a two-fer with Hell's Belles.

4. The Glory Stompers (1968): Dennis Hopper stars as Chino, the perpetually stoned leader of the Black Souls Motorcycle Club, who kidnaps a pretty young thing (Chris Noel) after laying a beat-down on her boyfriend (Jody McCrea). Hopper's performance is not to be missed, and the dialogue is priceless: "Here's the situation, baby. Like we accidentally snuffed out your old man. Now the only way out for me and my people is to either snuff you out, or to sell you, to some high-class Mexican friends of ours. Now, being good people, we decided to sell you." With Casey Kasem and Jock Mahoney.

5. Hell's Angels on Wheels (1969) Jack Nicholson stars in this cycle opera from director Richard Rush (Psych-Out, The Stunt Man) as newly initiated member of the Angels who falls for the neurotic biker mama of chapter president Adam Roarke. Mayhem inevitably ensues. Featuring members of the Oakland chapter of Hell's Angels. Originally produced in 1967, shelved, then released after Nicholson's success in Easy Rider. Image Entertainment.

6. Devil's Angels (1967): After the success of Wild Angels, AIP churned out a series of biker epics, of which this was one of the first, starring John Cassavetes, Beverly Adams, Mimsy Farmer, and Buck Kartalian (whom you may recall from the film Please Don't Eat My Mother) as "Funky." Written by the great Charles Griffith (Little Shop of Horrors, A Bucket of Blood), the movie concerns the wacky misadventures of the Skulls motorcycle gang, and their world-weary leader, Cody. The Skulls like to blow off steam by getting loaded, pouring beer over one another's heads, and outraging the local citizenry. After accidentally running down an unlucky square, the gang splits the scene for greener pastures. Cassavetes is excellent in the role, oozing ironic detachment and old school cool. Mimsy Farmer is lovely as ever, a mix of innocence and curiosity, and inevitably, the object of biker brutality.

7. The Born Losers (1967): Writer-director-star Tom Laughlin originated the character of Billy Jack in this tale of a Native American Viet Nam vet who brings vigilante justice to a gang of nasty bikers led by the despicable Jeremy Slate, after the gang has raped several local girls. The film's success led to the even greater success of 1971's Billy Jack. With Jane Russell. Available as part of The Billy Jack 35th Anniversary Collection from Billy Jack Entertainment.

8. Psychomania (1974) and Ghost Rider (2007): Here's a couple of movies that combine motorcycles with the supernatural. In Psychomania, Nicky Henson is the leader of a British biker gang called the Living Dead who attain immortality through ritual suicide, with appropriately ghoulish results (Geneon Home Video); In the film adaptation of Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider, Nicolas Cage stars as motorcycle daredevil Johnny Blaze, who is transformed into the title character to do battle with Big Evil. Co-starring Peter Fonda, making his third appearance in this Top Ten list (Sony Home Entertainment)

9. The Losers (1970):  A biker gang called the Devil's Advocates is recruited by the CIA to execute a daring rescue behind enemy lines in Cambodia. I kid you not. After customizing their Yamahas into combat-ready death machines, the gang roars into action on this unlikely suicide mission. Heavy casualties ensue. With biker movie stalwart William Smith and Bernie Hamilton. Dark Sky Films.

10. Electra Glide in Blue (1973): For a change of pace, here's a movie about a motorcycle cop, played by alleged wife-killer Robert Blake, who sets out to solve a murder, but doesn't like what he finds. Great bike, and well-done action sequences. Directed by music producer James William Guercio, co-starring Billy Green Bush, Mitchell Ryan, and Jeanine Riley. MGM Home Video.

Honorable Mention:

On Any Sunday (1972): Steve McQueen, directed by Bruce Brown.

Evel Knievel (1971): George Hamilton.

Run , Angel, Run (1970): William Smith.

Hell's Angels '69 (1969): G.D. Spradlin, Sonny Barger.

Rebel Rousers (1967) Bruce Dern, Jack Nicholson, Cameron Mitchell.

Wild Rebels (1968): Steve Alaimo, directed by William Grefe.

The Cycle Savages (1969): Bruce Dern.

Angel Unchained (1969): Tyne Daly, Aldo Ray.

Satan's Sadists (1971) Russ Tamblyn, directed by Al Adamson

The Mini-Skirt Mob (1968) Diane McBain, Harry Dean Stanton

She-Devils on Wheels (1969) Directed by Herschel Gordon Lewis

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