''Angel Unchained'' (also known as ''Hell's Angels Unchained'') is a 1970 American

action thriller film Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...

directed by

Lee Madden Lee Madden (born Leon Blank, March 6, 1927 – April 9, 2009) was an American film and television director. He is known for directing the biker film, ''Hell's Angels '69'', starring the original Oakland Hell's Angels. His other films include an ...

for American International Pictures and starring

Don Stroud Donald Lee Stroud (born September 1, 1943) is an American actor, musician, and surfer. Stroud has appeared in over 100 films and 200 television shows. Early years Stroud was the son of vaudeville actor Clarence Stroud (of "The Stroud Twins" team ...

as the title character Angel. It was released in the United States on September 2, 1970.Gary A. Smith, ''The American International Pictures Video Guide'', McFarland 2009 p 13

Plot

Following a biker brawl involving the Exiles MC (Nomad Chapter), their leader, Angel (Don Stroud) quits in pursuit of a new life. He meets Merilee (Tyne Daly), who was harassed by local men who despise hippies. She introduces him to her commune and their leader, Jonathan Tremaine, who is running from the anti-hippie townsfolk. Angel is quick to fall in love with Merilee, but the commune is under regular harassment. When the situation becomes too tough to handle, Angel is forced to ask the Exiles MC to help out the hippies.

Cast

as Angel *

Tyne Daly Ellen Tyne Daly (; born February 21, 1946) is an American actress. She has won six Emmy Awards for her television work, a Tony Award and is a 2011 American Theatre Hall of Fame inductee. Daly began her career on stage in summer stock in New York, ...

as Merilee *

Luke Askew Francis Luke Askew (March 26, 1932 – March 29, 2012) was an American actor. He appeared in many Western (genre), westerns, and had a lead role in the spaghetti Western ''Night of the Serpent'' (''La notte dei serpenti''; 1969). He also had a s ...

as Jonathan Tremaine *

Larry Bishop Larry Bishop (born November 30, 1948) is an American actor, screenwriter and film director. He is the son of Sylvia Ruzga and comedian Joey Bishop. He has been featured in many Hollywood movies including '' Hell Ride''. Early life Bishop atte ...

as Pilot * Aldo Ray as Sheriff * T. Max Graham as Magician

Production

Also known as ''Hell's Angels Unchained'', ''Angel Unchained'' was directed by Lee Madden, written by Jeffrey Alan Fiskin, and produced by American International Pictures. Filming locations included

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

, and real-life bikers were recruited for the film. ''Angel Unchained'' marked the film debut of T. Max Graham, who played Magician. Parts of this movie were filmed in Lehi, Arizona

Release

The film had its United States premiere in August 1970, before being theatrically released nationwide on September 2, 1970. Until December 1971, there were still screenings of ''Angel Unchained'' in Gadsden,

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...

. A soundtrack recording was released in 1970 on American International Records featuring music composed and sung by Randy Sparks.

Reception

A reviewer of ''

The Nevada Daily Mail Rust Communications is an American privately owned media company based in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The '' Southeast Missourian'' is its flagship publication. The company has its origins in 1967, when Gary Rust and his wife Wendy purchased the sm ...

'' considered the film to be an unsuccessful attempt to combine elements of both ''

The Wild Angels ''The Wild Angels'' is a 1966 American outlaw biker film produced and directed by Roger Corman. Made on location in Southern California, ''The Wild Angels'' was the first film to associate actor Peter Fonda with Harley-Davidson motorcycles an ...

'' and ''

Easy Rider ''Easy Rider'' is a 1969 American independent drug culture road drama film written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern, produced by Fonda, and directed by Hopper. Fonda and Hopper play two bikers who travel through the American So ...

''. Although offering that the film was not quite meaningful, he found it to be a "fair motorcycle picture".

References

External links

* * * * {{rotten-tomatoes, angel_unchained 1970 films 1970s action thriller films American action thriller films 1970s English-language films Outlaw biker films American International Pictures films Films directed by Lee Madden 1970s American films