Biker movies
The first films about motorcycles, most likely, will seem boring to the modern viewer. And this is understandable because in them you will not find any bright special effects, computer graphics, a mind-blowing plot, or even sound, but only a dull black-and-white picture and a simple plot.
For example, in the pioneering motorcycle genre film “Uncontrollable Motorcycle”, moviegoers were invited to look at the story of a teenager who intended to take revenge on his older brother for the offense he had caused with the help of explosives planted in his motorcycle. Everything just ended much worse than the young hooligan had planned. Because of his explosive device, not only the motorcycle was damaged, but also the house.
After the short films, the producers decided to switch to films about motorcycle racing, popular in the 20-40s of the 20th century. It turned out that motorcycle competitions did not grab the attention of the audience, which affected the number of films released on the topic - no more than 10.
When the opinion was already in the air that the motorcycle theme in cinema was an empty investment of time and effort, bikers came who burst into American life in the late 40s like fresh air into a clogged room.
And they called him "Savage"
Yes, what is hard to argue with is the claim that Marlon Brando was a brilliant actor. In the States, cinema is traditionally divided into "the era before Brando" and "the era after Brando".
In fact, what was his genius? Speaking exclusively in the context of bikers, it is that he, for the most part, on his shoulders, pulled out a film that later became a cult. Unlike other actors, it was easier for him to get used to his character, biker Johnny since Brando actually had a lot in common with bikers: the same impudent rebellious character, unwillingness to accept other people's points of view and bend under the imposed rules. Brando, like bikers, knew how to ride a motorcycle. By the way, the outfit of the Joniya character (leather jacket, pants, and boots), as well as his Triumph Thunderbird motorcycle, is the personal property of Marlon Brando.
Biker Johnny, played by Marlon Brando, leads a column of his biker gang
Even though in "The Wild One" motorcyclists are exposed as troublemakers who just want to get drunk and fight, many moviegoers were captivated by the biker lifestyle, and they decided to become part of the biker movement.
A lot of the stereotypes that appeared in The Wild One were then copied incessantly in other films for 2 decades, for example:
- Hostility and conflicts, developing into an open confrontation, between the townsfolk and bikers. Sometimes the movies showed confrontations between the police and motorcyclists.
- A war between two biker gangs.
- Sharply negative image of bikers.
- Optionally, at the choice of the director, a melodramatic line between the main character and the main character.
Biker movie pipeline with one gem
The Savage set off a chain reaction. The audience was crazy about the brazen, bratty guys in leather jackets filling the frame with themselves and snarling motorcycles.
The 50-70s are the time of "bikers" who were thrown out of the depths of Hollywood studios onto cinema screens at the speed of a machine gun. And that's not a pretty figure of speech. In the 70s, up to 9 "bikers" were filmed in one calendar year.
It is clear that such a pace of production could not but affect the quality of the product. For the most part, he was frankly low and was a pathetic parody of The Savage.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the pearl of this period in the development of biker cinema was filmed not in Hollywood, but on a small budget by two guys, Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda, who also played two main roles in the film. We're talking, of course, about Easy Rider.
Reading about how Easy Rider was filmed: in a drug and alcohol frenzy, with rewriting scenes on the go and endlessly reshooting them, as well as non-professional directors, it's hard to believe that the tape had any chance to shoot and become a cult. As it turned out, the violation of all known canons of cinema at that time led the creators of Easy Rider to success.
The film explores the question: if America proclaims freedom as its core value, do its citizens really need it? As the drunken lawyer played by Jack Nicholson told the main characters, bikers infuriate the townsfolk by personally symbolizing freedom and the ability to do what you want. And this fact annoys the townsfolk so much that they would rather break the legs of bikers, but do not recognize their chains and their slavery.
So as a result, it happened that the American rednecks simply shot the main characters of the film from a shotgun. The viscous swamp has sucked freedom into its quagmire.
However, bikers appreciate this film and consider it a masterpiece for the unwavering commitment of "Captain America" and Billy to biker values, for the inflexibility of their will even in the face of death.
Series about bikers
For a person who wants to get to know biker culture, their way of life, and their way of thinking, it will be more useful to watch TV shows about them than movies. Of course, cult films like "The Savage" and "Easy Rider" are worth looking at, at least to understand what bikers were like 50-70 years ago. However, TV shows have a significant advantage over movies. They have more screen time, which means more opportunities to reveal and demonstrate the biker lifestyle to the viewer.
Hike into the world of biker serials, I think, it is worth starting with "Sons of Anarchy". 92 episodes over 7 seasons will introduce the viewer to the turbulent and controversial life of the Sons of Anarchy motorcycle club from California. I consider the creators’ detailed study of the smallest nuances, for example, stripes on vests, slang, and the “inner kitchen” of the biker community, to be a great advantage of the project.