Motorcycle Gang (1957 film)

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]

For the 1994 television film, see Motorcycle Gang (1994 film).
Motorcycle Gang
Directed byEdward L. Cahn
Written byLou Rusoff
Produced byAlex Gordon
StarringJohn Ashley
Music byAlbert Glasser
Production
company
Golden State Productions
Distributed byAmerican International Pictures (US)
Anglo-Amalgamated (UK)
Release date
  • October 22, 1957 (1957-10-22)
Running time
79 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100,000[1]

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

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

See also

References
  1. Lamont, John (1990). "The John Ashley Filmography". Trash Compactor (Volume 2 No. 5 ed.). p. 26.
  2. Sanders, Don and Susan (1997). The American Drive-In Movie Theatre. Motorbooks International. p. 121. ISBN 0-7603-0425-4.
  3. "FILM EVENTS". Los Angeles Times. Mar 5, 1957. ProQuest 167105474.
  4. Mark McGee, Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures, McFarland, 1996 p133
  5. Schallert, E. (Aug 10, 1957). "'Seven for sinners' due to match roman, horton; elaine davis signed". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167173023.
  6. C, S. (Nov 22, 1957). "Romances of cycle hounds told in film". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167171207.
  7. "MOTORCYCLE GANG". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 25. 1958. p. 36 – via ProQuest.
  8. Vagg, Stephen (December 2019). "A Hell of a Life: The Nine Lives of John Ashley". Diabolique Magazine.
  9. Carpenter, J. (1996). "John Carpenter's guilty pleasures". Film Comment. Vol. 32, no. 5. pp. 50–53. ProQuest 210277066.


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