For those of you who may think that the genre of “outlaw biker films” is no more, think again--it’s alive and well and living vicariously via the all-new retrospective compilation Biker Mania. Presented and assembled by Johnny Legend, Biker Mania presents trailers and highlights from 40 different motion pictures, ranging from famous (e.g. The Wild One and The Wild Angels) to the infamous (including several Al Adamson flicks such as Hell’s Bloody Devils and Angels’ Wild Women) and right down to the completely obscure (a preview entitled Racers From Hell, featuring what appears to be a collection of real-life racetrack follies, comes instantly to mind).
The whole thing begins with the memorable intro from the trailer to the 1966 horror/comedy The Undertaker And His Pals (including the trailer’s hilarious narration--which accompanies Biker Mania’s credits) and moves the Marlon Brando epic The Wild One (1953) before hitting us with a number of B-Ditties from the '50s and '60s (many of which were produced or released by AIP and are more hotrod/racecar oriented) including Motorcycle Gang (1957) with John Ashley and former Our Gang/Little Rascals personality Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer (his second-to-last role before his untimely death in ‘59); Dragstrip Riot (1958) starring Yvonne Lime and Gary Clarke; Racers From Hell (year unknown); and 1957’s Hot Rod Rumble with Brett Halsey (under the re-release title Road Devils).
A look at The Wild Ride from 1960 gives us a wonderful look at a very yo
ung up-and-coming star by the name of Jack Nicholson; Arch Hall, Jr. shows us what The Choppers (1961) are all about; and clips from the previews for Teenage Gang Debs (1966), Del Tenney’s The Horror Of Party Beach (1964), followed by Wild Ones On Wheels (which co-stars and was photographed by Ray Dennis Steckler) from 1962, and--thrown in for good measure--a vintage Yamaha commercial wherein two of the slowest motorized vehicles ever are seen in action.
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