Hell's Angels '69

source: Hell's Angels '69

This is maybe the worst film I have ever watched (10 minutes total) in my life. Anyone associated with it should be thought of as complete morons. I have no idea why it was put on TV tonight. Do not watch even 5 seconds of this gutless garbage.

Two members of the Hell's Angels' Boston chapter ride out to the Southwest Desert and plot a robbery of a Las Vegas casino in this nihilistic movie. The credits thank the Hell's Angels, who are not portrayed in any complimentary fashion. They're first seen terrorizing a driver in a convertible. Was this the image they wanted for themselves? Paul Lohmann's first movie as DP is a stunning example of Technicolor at its best; the sharp colors and late-afternoon lighting of the outdoor scenes (and of night-time Las Vegas) give the impression that they are the modern equivalent of Tennyson's Lotos-eaters, drinking beer and riding their Harleys into the sunset.

So I kept waiting for Sonny to do a 69 with any of the other bearded gays as the name says. They were gay. They were hanging around. And that is about it. An action movie that is slow. Lost minutes with the bearded gang going around. The most expensive part of the movie. And probably the reason of its sales as biker *. The acting is almost as bad as an Eastern European action movie. The stunts are about the same, but that was probably a way to calm down the extras. And the story? There is no story. Only cardboard silhouettes moving around, stock characters with no past or future. Sure, when you have read at least one biography about Sony and his merry gang you can fill in the blanks and make it look like a story. In the end this is the visual support for a child's doll play. The bikes go vroooom! And there is a strange girl to trick the censors into not label this gay propaganda. Contact me with Questions, Comments or Suggestions ryitfork @ bitmail.ch

Tom Stern and Jeremy Slate are swing bachelor's planning to hijack a casino, ala "Ocean's 11", and pin it on the Hell's Angels. Bad move. For a film with the words Hell's Angels AND the number 69 AND featuring actual Hell's Angels, this movie is surprisingly tame. The Hell's Angels truly deserve a better film to be centered around them. Not this snoorefest. Luckily this is one of the DVDs that features commentary by Joe Bob Briggs so the pain of having to sit through it is greatly alleviated. If you watch it any other way, let me recommend something to you. DON'T!! My Grade: D DVD Extras: Joe Bob Brigg's commentary; Conny Van Dyke's message to her fans (she has more than one?); Photo gallery; Theatrical Trailer; and Trailers for "Blood Shack", "Hell High", "Samurai Cop", and "The Hollywood Strangler"

Two brothers have a plan on how to rob the Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas. They join a motorcycle gang and while the others are drinking and partying outside of town, they change their clothes and head off to rob the casino. Of course, the police do not look for two well dressed criminals among the Hell's Angels. Not a fan of this genre, but this is actually a good little movie with real Hell's Angels. Interesting to take a look back at Las Vegas in the 60s too.

After the success of Roger Corman's Wild Angels in the mid sixties, there were probably a hundred or so biker movies flung out to the masses. Most with Hell's Angels or some rip off version of The Angels' name. All shared some degree of low budget schlock value. This movie is completely different from the rest! First, it has a decent and interesting plot and even some back story subtext between the two brothers in the movie. Secondly, it has an original soundtrack that, although slightly dated, isn't that bad. A sort of psychedelic garage band plays at the party at the beginning of the movie. Also the movie seemed to have a decent budget spent in all the right places. Lastly, The actual Oakland Hell's Angels appear in the movie as not only extras but speaking and acting roles and their actually not too bad. So I highly recommend this to motorcycle movie and crime caper fans. If nothing else, it's got the most real Harley's and choppers you will ever see in a 60's/70's biker flick.

I'd watch "Hell's Angels 69" a hundred times before I'd watch "Easy Rider" again. If you are tired of stoner biker movies where essentially nothing happens other than perhaps several pretentious ego trips, then skip "The Wild Angels", and come along for a ride with the real deal, "Hell's Angels 69". This is a film that actually has a plot, infiltrating a biker gang to pull off a casino heist, while leaving the bikers holding the bag. Things don't exactly go as planned, ending with a desert chase on dirt bikes, and a final showdown. Sonny Barger and his authentic cycle gang buddies deliver realistic performances not found in other biker films. Recommended of it's type. - MERK

The Orson Wells of Motorcycle films, Tom Stern, turns in one of his best performances. For nothing more than a "B" film, this turns into a highly enjoyable robbery heist flick in the nature of Ocean's 11. Stern teams up with his buddy Jerome Slate to play spoiled,bratty, millionaire brothers who decide to rob a Vegas hotel while posing as members of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. The story plot is surprisingly good and the acting and action scenes are very well done. The Vegas of 1969 is captured, and boy has it changed! Hell's Angel leader Ralph "Sonny" Barger steals the show simply by playing himself. Overall an impressive effort by Tom Stern.