Research for an online version of Motorcycle Gang produced only one result: a German-dubbed version. After briefly pondering the purist dilemma, I decided to go ahead and view and review anyway. The MacMahonian has to draw the line somewhere, but right now it is decided to draw it at pan&scan. Viewing was irksome, though, due to generally flat delivery and the frustration of second-guessing one liners.
Anyway, I´ll do my best.
Motorcycle Gang was the 8th feature film, fist TV film and last film to date directed by Jonh Millius, New Hollywood fellow-traveler who, besides having written the script for Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979), earned a reputation between the mid-70s and early 90s for gritty action films with an earnest whiff of Fordian pathos, the best being possibly the surf drama Big Wednesday (1982).
Motorcycle Gang tells the story of typical Milius hero family man Cal Morris (Gerard McRaney, more than adequate) driving across the USA with his wife Jean (Elan Oberon) and daughter Leann (Carla Gugino) for the double purpose of fulfilling a time honoured American script device and of making Leann the object of desire of driving by motorcycle gang leader Jake (Jake Busey, typically typecast) who, with the assistance of his gang members, proceeds to kidnap Leann, there ensuing the expected chase and dispute opposing stand-up family man Cal and wanton youths Jake & friends.
Motorcycle Gang departs slightly from the Rebel Highway formula of loosely revisiting 50s B subgenres - or rather, subject matter commonly associated thereto - to portray the social transformation of the 50s through boy-meets-girl dramas - or rather, nice middle class girl-meets-bad boy, e.g. rocker, greaser, jailbird or even (shock, horror) Mexican - in which said girl will be, for better or worse, released form patriarchal tutelage to pursue a life of freedom. In Motorcycle Gang, rather typically for Milius, the patriarch is the good guy and his authority vindicated. In this sense, this episode is uncharacteristically auteurish.
Interestingly, Motorcycle Gang is reportedly John Milius's favourite own film. A judgement vastly unfair to himself, thinks The MacMahonian, although the film is entertaining and gripping, even in German.
Anyway, I´ll do my best.
Motorcycle Gang was the 8th feature film, fist TV film and last film to date directed by Jonh Millius, New Hollywood fellow-traveler who, besides having written the script for Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979), earned a reputation between the mid-70s and early 90s for gritty action films with an earnest whiff of Fordian pathos, the best being possibly the surf drama Big Wednesday (1982).
Motorcycle Gang tells the story of typical Milius hero family man Cal Morris (Gerard McRaney, more than adequate) driving across the USA with his wife Jean (Elan Oberon) and daughter Leann (Carla Gugino) for the double purpose of fulfilling a time honoured American script device and of making Leann the object of desire of driving by motorcycle gang leader Jake (Jake Busey, typically typecast) who, with the assistance of his gang members, proceeds to kidnap Leann, there ensuing the expected chase and dispute opposing stand-up family man Cal and wanton youths Jake & friends.
Motorcycle Gang departs slightly from the Rebel Highway formula of loosely revisiting 50s B subgenres - or rather, subject matter commonly associated thereto - to portray the social transformation of the 50s through boy-meets-girl dramas - or rather, nice middle class girl-meets-bad boy, e.g. rocker, greaser, jailbird or even (shock, horror) Mexican - in which said girl will be, for better or worse, released form patriarchal tutelage to pursue a life of freedom. In Motorcycle Gang, rather typically for Milius, the patriarch is the good guy and his authority vindicated. In this sense, this episode is uncharacteristically auteurish.
Interestingly, Motorcycle Gang is reportedly John Milius's favourite own film. A judgement vastly unfair to himself, thinks The MacMahonian, although the film is entertaining and gripping, even in German.
