Motorcycle Gang (1957 film) explained

Motorcycle Gang
Director:Edward L. Cahn
Producer:Alex Gordon
Starring:John Ashley
Music:Albert Glasser
Studio:Golden State Productions
Distributor:American International Pictures (US)
Anglo-Amalgamated (UK)
Runtime:79 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English
Budget:$100,000[1]

Motorcycle Gang is a 1957 film which is a semi-remake of Dragstrip Girl. It was released by American International Pictures as a double feature with Sorority Girl.[2]

Cast

Production

The film was announced in March 1957. Lance Fuller was going to star.[3]

Filming was held up when star John Ashley was drafted into the army. It was shot during two weeks when he was on leave after basic training.[4]

The cast also included former Our Gang star Carl Switzer.[5]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called it "commendably free of unhealthy sensationalism... tells its unpretentious little moral simply enough."[6]

The Monthly Film Bulletin said the film "without being positively vicious... has its fair share of violence and unpleasantness."[7]

Diabolique magazine claimed Ashley gave the best performance.[8]

Legacy

Film director John Carpenter listed the movie as one of his guilty pleasures. "Good guy teen Steve Terrell vs. cool bad guy teen John Ashley on motorcycles. Anne Neyland has some trouble deciding between them. Carl (Alfalfa) Switzer is the comic relief. Russ Bender tries to help testosterone-fueled teens go straight and narrow. Very cool."[9]

Theme Comparison

1950s motorcycle gang interest, showing the same influence of female gentleness upon aimless, male youth, may further be studied in The Wild One.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. The John Ashley Filmography. Trash Compactor. Volume 2 No. 5. 26. 1990. John. Lamont.
  2. Book: Sanders, Don and Susan . The American Drive-In Movie Theatre . 1997 . Motorbooks International . 0-7603-0425-4 . 121.
  3. News: FILM EVENTS. Mar 5, 1957. Los Angeles Times. .
  4. Mark McGee, Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures, McFarland, 1996 p133
  5. News: Schallert, E.. 'Seven for sinners' due to match roman, horton; elaine davis signed.. Aug 10, 1957. Los Angeles Times. .
  6. News: C, S.. Romances of cycle hounds told in film. Nov 22, 1957. Los Angeles Times. .
  7. News: MOTORCYCLE GANG. 1958. Monthly Film Bulletin. 25. 36. ProQuest.
  8. Stephen. Vagg. A Hell of a Life: The Nine Lives of John Ashley. Diabolique Magazine. December 2019.
  9. News: Carpenter, J.. 1996. John Carpenter's guilty pleasures. Film Comment. 32. 5. 50–53. .