Evel Knievel (1971)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Marvin J. Chomsky

Writers:

Alan Caillou (story)
Alan Caillou (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 September 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Drama

Tagline:

For Fame, Fortune and Broken Bones!

Plot:

Biography of the famed motorcycle daredevil, much of which was filmed in his home town of Butte, Montana...

Plot Keywords:

Daredevil | Motorcycle | Biker | Motorcycle Crash | Accident

Cast

George Hamilton	...	Evel Knievel
Sue Lyon	...	Linda
Bert Freed	...	Doc Kincaid
Rod Cameron	...	Charlie Knesson
Dub Taylor	...	Turquoise Smith
Ron Masak	...	Pete
Hal Baylor	...	The Sheriff
Judith Baldwin	...	Sorority Girl
Kathrine Baumann	...	Sorority Girl
Ben Bentley	...	Man in Bar
Alana Stewart	...	Nurse #1 (as Alana Collins-Hamilton)
Joe Davis	...	Showgirl #2
Lee de Broux	...	Wrangler #1 (as Lee De Broux)
Roger Edington	...	Bartender
Frank Ellis	...	Rodeo Clown

Runtime:

USA:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (DVD rating) (2005) | Australia:M | Norway:12 | USA:GP

Filming Locations:

Astrodome - 8400 Kirby Drive, Houston, Texas, USA

Quotes:

[first lines]
Evel Knievel: [speaking to the camera] Ladies and gentlemen, you have no idea how good it makes me feel to be here today. It is truly an honor to risk my life for you. An honor. Before I jump this motorcycle over these 19 cars - and I want you to know there's not a Volkswagen or a Datsun in the row - before I sail cleanly over that last truck...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Evel Knievel (2004) (TV)

dangerous to laugh at , but good-humored

This film is a comedy and a satire, and as both, it is a double-edged sword - it laughs with it's target audience - 'good ol' boys' and wannabees along the drive-in circuit, primarily in the South - and at them. It is dangerous to laugh at this film, because you may find out you're laughing at yourself - but of course, it is so good-humored, you won't be able to avoid it.

This film is not really an Evel Knieval biopic; it is really a study in the culture that makes Knieval possible. The makers of this film - primarily producer-star Hamilton - understand that in the 20th century, Americans developed an unhealthy fascination for 'sports' wherein the performers flirted with death; this could only make sense if some of the performers actually did die. The performers themselves well understood that, but all believed they were invincible, that therefore they were manipulating the secret desire of the audience rather than satisfying it. However, inevitably some - like the rodeo bull-rider early in this film - just did die; no human is invincible, after all.

How do film-makers address such a culture without getting cynical or preachy about it? You take one such 'sports'-star and take him on face-value. The ground of this film is the Evel Knieval legend that Knieval himself was hyping at every opportunity - it is simply arraigned in a way that many of his tall-tales reveal themselves as just 'too much' for their own good - even if true, why would anybody do that? Finally, one has to note that this is a fine specimen of a film made specifically for the drive-in circuit: clearly enunciated dialog (those car-speakers), over-lit (has to play against moonlight), fast-paced, careful avoidance of close-ups (only Sergio Leone's were able to hold attention at the drive-in), sweeping scenery, episodic (plenty opportunities for couples to neck), and none too deep.

Bottom-line: I first saw this film 20 years ago and only recently saw it again; neither the film nor my opinion of it has changed much all those years - there must be something that still works here.