''Motorcycle Gang'' is a 1957 film which is a semi-remake of '' Dragstrip Girl''. It was released by

American International Pictures American International Pictures (AIP) is an American motion picture production label of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In its original operating period, AIP was an independent film production and distribution company known for producing and releasing fi ...

as a

double feature The double feature is a motion picture industry phenomenon in which theatres would exhibit two films for the price of one, supplanting an earlier format in which one feature film and various short subject reels would be shown. Opera use Opera h ...

with ''

Sorority Girl ''Sorority Girl'' (also known as ''Sorority House'' or ''The Bad One'') is a 1957 film noir exploitation film directed by Roger Corman. It stars Susan Cabot as Sabra, a sociopath who plays a very disruptive role in a sorority, with Barboura Mo ...

''.

Cast

*Anne Neyland as Terry Lindsay *

Steve Terrell Steven Terrell (born December 6, 1929) is an American actor who worked extensively on American films and television series in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for his association with American International Pictures for whom he made ''Invasi ...

as Randy * John Ashley as Nick Rogers *

Carl Switzer Carl may refer to: * Carl, Georgia, city in USA * Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name * Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of ...

as Speed *

Raymond Hatton Raymond William Hatton (July 7, 1887 – October 21, 1971) was an American film actor who appeared in almost 500 motion pictures. Biography Hatton was born in Red Oak, Iowa. His physician father steered him toward a career in medicine. Howev ...

as Uncle Ed * Russ Bender as Lt. Joe Watson * Jean Moorhead as Marilyn *Scott Peters as Hank *Eddie Kafafian as Jack *Shirley Falls as Darlene *

Aki Aleong Assing "Aki" Aleong (born December 19, 1934) is a Trinidad and Tobago–born American character actor and singer who has also been active in songwriting and musical production. His first important role was in the 1957 movie '' No Down Paymen ...

as Cyrus Q. Wong *Wayne Taylor as Phil

Production

The film was announced in March 1957.

Lance Fuller Lance Fuller (December 6, 1928 – December 22, 2001) was an American actor. Biography Born in Somerset, Kentucky, he worked as a contract actor for most of the 1950s with Universal-International. With many uncredited roles for the fir ...

was going to star. 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.Mark McGee, ''Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures'', McFarland, 1996 p133 The cast also included former

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, also the ...

star

Reception

The ''Los Angeles Times'' called it "commendably free of unhealthy sensationalism... tells its unpretentious little moral simply enough." The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' said the film "without being positively vicious... has its fair share of violence and unpleasantness." ''Diabolique'' magazine claimed Ashley gave the best performance.

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."

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 ''The Wild One'' is a 1953 American crime film directed by László Benedek and produced by Stanley Kramer. The picture is most noted for the character of Johnny Strabler, portrayed by Marlon Brando, whose persona became a cultural icon of the 1 ...

''.

References

External links

* *
Review of film
at Variety 1957 films 1957 drama films Films directed by Edward L. Cahn American auto racing films American drama films American International Pictures films 1950s gang films Films scored by Albert Glasser Outlaw biker films Motorcycle racing films Drag racing 1950s English-language films 1950s American films {{1950s-drama-film-stub