Exploitation cinema has many sub genres, one of the most popular of these being the Biker film. The roots of this genre began in the 1954 with The Wild One, starring Marlon Brando. This was a Hollywood production and was a major hit among audiences, and it did introduce us to the bike riding rebel, which appealed so much to the alienated youths of the 1950's.

Easy Rider, which starred Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson, an independent production directed by Hopper, was released in 1969 by Columbia pictures and presented a very sympathetic counter culture bike riding hero's. But prior to and after this, the exploitation film paved a very violent, drug and sex filled road for the biker to ride on.

Some of these films (the bulk of which where produced between 1967-73) presented negative stereotypes of the biker, (loud, nasty, drunken/drugged menace to society who gang raped and plundered for cheap thrills) while others presented the biker as a misunderstood rebel, truly living and breathing the American dream of freedom.

I think both presentations bear some resemblance as the biker is a hard personality to pin point, multi-faceted and representing the dilemma caused by the hypocrisy of American society, an ideal that preaches freedom but then does everything in its power to surpress it. The biker, like the cowboy of old, always remains the symbol of independence, the one stronghold of the rebel spirit that built this country. I've known a few bikers in my time and I have to say, they are the most loyal and helpful, yet fiercely independent people I know.

The following is a list of rare and out of print biker titles I offer copies of through Cinefear Video. These titles are available for $20.00 plus $3.75 shipping and handling for the first three tapes purchased, a dollar more shipping for any additional tapes ordered. The only exception is Devil's Angels, which is $25.00.

Or, you can have all 12 titles for $210.00, shipping included. That is a total savings of $45.00.

ANGELS DIE HARD ! (1970): With custom bikes by Gary Littlejohn, you can't go wrong with this story of intolerant townsfolk fighting it out with the Angels. An honorary member of the Angels is killed being released from jail. If you know the Angels, well, they are not going to put up with that!!! This winning cast includes head Angel Tom Baker, the incredible William (Grave of the Vampire) Smith and producer Beach Dickerson. |ORDER|

ANGELS HARD AS THEY COME (1972): From producer Jonathan Demme comes this story of loose women, fast cycles and gang vengeance. Featuring Scott Glen in his film debut performance, and if you keep your eyes peeled you will see a young Gary Busey in one of his first performances. |ORDER|

BURY ME AN ANGEL (1972): Here is the first biker film to be directed by a woman, Barbera (Humanoids from the Deep) Peters. Six foot blonde Dixie Peabody gets on her bike with a sawed off shotgun and goes after the killer of her brother. Cast includes Dan Haggerty and Beach Dickerson. |ORDER|

DEVIL'S ANGELS (1967): John Cassevetes stars in this violent follow-up to THE WILD ANGELS. Directed by Daniel Haller. Off a lovely British master. Biker gang has a run in with a small town sheriff. " There god is violence... and like rabid dogs, lust is the law they live by! This tape is extreemly rare and long out of print in the U.S.A. Comes with cool color boxart, hence the price difference. ($25) |ORDER|

THE GLORY STOMPERS (1967): Dennis Hopper's bad boy gang, the Black Souls, beats a man and kidnaps his girlfriend with the intention of selling her to a white slavery market in Mexico. Does this chick's boyfriend intend to lay back and take this abuse? Damn right he doesn't!!! Cast includes Jody McCrea and the incredible Jock Mahoney. DJ Casey Kasem appears as a guy called Mouth! |ORDER|

HELL'S ANGELS FOREVER (1983): A late entry but fascinating documentary on the Hell's Angels as told from the inside. It seems the members trusted the filmmakers which allows for some amazing personal up close information. Willie Nelson is seen performing some music in this must have. |ORDER|

HELL'S ANGELS '69 (1969): Two spoiled rotten East Coast kids trick Sonny Barger and his gang into acting as a diversion for a robbery they pull off in Las Vagas. Needless to say, the Angels don't take this lying down. Why do people keep thinking they can fuck with the angels?!! Cast includes Tom Stern and Jeremy Slate. |ORDER|

HELLCATS (1969): The Brother of a murdered man hooks up with the murdered mans wife and both play biker in order to infiltrate a biker gang with ties to the mob. He will track down his brothers murderer even if it means his own death! A real nifty revenge melodrama with some great brawling and endurance test scenes. A great scene involves two Angels proving their streanth by allowing themselves to be tied between two dune buggies going in opposite directions!!!! Has to be seen to be believed. |ORDER|

HEX (1973): "Meet the Easy Riders of Bingo, Nebraska". Considered by many a "New Age Classic", this unconventional biker flick involves four bikers (Keith Carradine, Gary Busey, Scott Glenn, and Dan Haggerty) who are traveling their way across Nebraska on vintage WWI motorcycles in the summer of 1919. Along the way they run into two teenage witches (thats witches, not bitches) who lay the wammy on them. A nice meeting of biker and horror flick. Very rare. |ORDER|

NAKED ANGELS (1969): Roger Corman was executive producer of this classic. Into the Nevada desert ride the Angels in search of the rival gang that put their leader (Michael Green) in the hospital. The usual rough housing ensues. |ORDER|

NORTHVILLE CEMETERY MASSACRE (AKA FREEDOM R.I.P. 1971): William Dear (that's right, of Harry and the Hendersons fame) directed this wacked out tale of bikers fighting for survival against a red neck sheriff and his posse.It seems the sheriffs men raped the daughter of a multi millionaire and blame it on the bikers, who receive the rich mans wrath. He hires an army of assassins to pick off the bikers one by one. A very bleak film with a no hope ending. But that is the point, life does not always have a happy ending and justice is not always served. |ORDER|

WEREWOLVES ON WHEELS (1971): This is my personal favorite biker film. Bikers interrupt a satanist's ceremonies and pay dearly for it. The film acts sort of as a "who done it" in that you are left guessing who the werewolf is until the end. This flick was directed by Michael Levesque, who acted in directing assistant capacity on some of the above film's. The cast features the incredible Severn Darden (see career retrospect in the next Exploitation Journal, due out Summer 2001) as the Satanist called "One" and the incredible raspy voiced Barry (Eve of Destruction) Maguire as one of the bikers. This is a must!!! |ORDER|

Hope you all enjoyed this trip down biker heaven. For more great reading on biker flicks, pick up Exploitation Journal Vol.2 #5 for George Reis' in-depth coverage of this fantastic genre. As we acquire more rare titles, they will be posted. Check back for more updates. Keep riding on!