DVD Collectors Online

Run Angel Run, a review by Jimmy

Title: Run Angel Run (1969)

Genre: Biker Movie
Director: Jack Starrett
Rating: Unrated
Length: 1h35
Video: Full Frame
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:
William Smith
Valerie Starrett
Gene Shane
Lee de Broux
Paul Harper

Plot:
Angel (William Smith), a member of a notorious and violent motorcycle gang, gets an offer from a major news magazine. $10,000 in exchange for exposing the secret inner workings of his leather-clad brethren. Angel takes the offer, although it means betraying a coven of outlaw bikers and risking his life!

Time to get back to the roots of this topic that is the little known genre film. The one I've choose today is a biker flick a genre who got its start in 1964¹ with a British film (The Leather Boys) and was a popular drive-in genre untill 1976 with Northville Cemetery Massacre. Most of those movies were build in the same mold : the live free spirit, the violent action and the heavy drinking. The one reviewed here is a little bit different of the usual biker movie. Before talking of the film I'll named some of the people involved since many of those name are familliar for many. First the director Jack Starrett was in The Gay Deceivers, Blazing Saddles, First Blood and Nightwish (a 1989 horror film that Pete had maybe seen). William Smith the title character continue to work today in the industry and you probably know him for Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn, Laredo (Roger certainly know this western TV serie) and many other TV shows. Lee de Broux start a long serie of TV role after this film and he was in Pumpkinhead and Robocop. Finally it was the first movie of Margaret Markov who didn't had a long career (only 5 years) but it was enough to establish her cult actress status with movie like Pretty Maids All in a Row, The Arena, Black Mama, White Mama and The Hot Box. Finally the theme song is sing by Tammy Wynette.    

Like I've said in the beginning this is a different kind of biker flick, sure it countains the long moto driving sequence but not the usual violence attach to this genre (untill the very end when finally it happens²). In fact this is more a drama, I could even say that it's a chick movie since the character who had most of the control in this film is the girlfriend of Angel played by Valerie Starrett that maybe some of you know for her role in General Hospital. It doesn't mean that the film is bad because it is different, since in fact I like it. The movie lie entirely on the shoulders of Smith and Starrett since the central plot of the film is their couple relation, a job that they have achieve with no problem.

I sure recommand this one, since it's a good introduction to the genre if the violent biker film like Hell's Angels 69, Hell's Bloody Devils or Born Losers aren't your bag of tea.

Rating :

1. I've voluntarily written off The Wild One (1953) since it didn't bring a lot of immediate follow up.
2. A 17 years old teenager (Markov) is raped by the four bikers searching Angel, an important moment for the movie conclusion.

(From The little known movie review depot on July 29th, 2009)

Miracle at St.Anna, a review by Rich

Miracle at St.Anna



From Touchstone Pictures comes the powerful and uplifting World War II epic Miracle At St. Anna, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee (The Inside Man). Stationed in Tuscany, Italy, four members of the U.S. Army's all-black 92nd Infantry Division, the Buffalo Soldiers, are trapped behind enemy lines after one of them risks his life to save a traumatized Italian boy. Separated from their unit, they find themselves in a remote Tuscan village where they experience the tragedy and the triumph of war. Based on the highly praised novel by James McBride, and filled with exceptional battle scenes and action, it's a gripping and inspiring story that will touch the goodness within us all and never let go.

Overly long but surprisingly good film, there were a number of positives for a film I began watching with little expectations.
Firstly the story is excellent and unpredictable, I may even invest in the book to delve into the characters more, and it has been adapted to film competently. The settings are perfect, once you accept that a few mistakes were made concerning some of the modern day background signs, roadways and markings which have slipped into the movie. It is entertaining and moving all in one, Omar Benson Miller is absolutely perfect in his role as the BFG soldier protecting the young boy, and I wonder if he is the new Forest Whitaker?
I am sure this will be described by many as a poignant film detailing the sacrifices and contributions made by African American soldiers during WWII, but avoiding the politics of the issue I purely enjoyed it on its entertainment value.
 

(From Riches Random Reviews on February 10th, 2009)

[Rerun Marathon] Spaced, a review by Tom

9/10

Fun episode.

(From [Rerun Marathon] Spaced on November 18th, 2007)