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Hot feelings hit terrifying heights in a story that really boils over!
The Black Rebels Motorcycle Club ride into the small California town of Wrightsville, eager to raise hell. Brooding gang leader Johnny Strabler takes a liking to Kathie, the daughter of the local lawman, as another club rolls into town.
CinemaSerf
Apr 4, 2022 · via TMDB
Marlon Brando just oozes charisma in this otherwise rather disappointing tale of two biker gangs who descend upon a small American town. He is "Strabler" - who hates any authority figure - and arrives with his "Black Rebels" gang. Noisy and intimidating but no real danger to anyone, which is just as well because the sheriff "Bleeker" (Robert Keith) is about as effective as a chocolate teapot. Anyway, "Strabler" takes a bit of a shine to local gal "Kathie" (Mary Murphy) but that all changes when he discovers she is the daughter of the policeman. He is soon otherwise distracted by the arrival of the "Beetles" - a group of erstwhile pals lead by "Chino" (Lee Marvin). Old grudges and testosterone take over and what starts as an uneasy truce soon borders on open warfare - helped by local vigilante "Charlie" (Hugh Sanders) who is trying to goad the townsfolk into taking action of their own. It is odd to say this about an whole town, but there is a certain claustrophobia to this drama. The gangs' grip on the place is intimidating to watch, much less to have to live in, and Brando and Marvin are strong sparring partners. The build up is tense and you can sense the palpable apprehension amongst the populace as our anticipated denouement looms. Thing is, though, the interventions of Murphy and an unwillingness from director Laslo Benedek to maximise the peril here, means that the film quite suddenly stops being menacing and starts being quite soppy. It didn't need a battle royal at the end, but somehow the conclusion just underwhelmed and was more of a damp squib. There is a paucity of dialogue - which always suited Brando, and the photography with/on the bikes works really well enhancing the tautness of the first half hour, but then it just peters out... Pity!
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Marlon Brando
Johnny Strabler
Mary Murphy
Kathie Bleeker
Robert Keith
Sheriff Harry Bleeker
Lee Marvin
Chino
Jay C. Flippen
Sheriff Stew Singer
Peggy Maley
Mildred
Hugh Sanders
Charlie Thomas
Ray Teal
Frank Bleeker
John Brown
Bill Hannegan
Will Wright
Art Kleiner
Robert Osterloh
Ben
Wally Albright
Cyclist (uncredited)
Chris Alcaide
Deputy (uncredited)
Don Anderson
Stinger (uncredited)
Robert Anderson
Sage Valley Race Patrolman (uncredited)
Robert Bice
Wilson (uncredited)
Norman Budd
Chino's Boy (uncredited)
Timothy Carey
Chino's Boy (uncredited)
Bill Coontz
Cyclist (uncredited)
John Doucette
Sage Valley Race Official (uncredited)
Johnny Duncan
Gang Member (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth
Man (uncredited)
Jack Gargan
Man (uncredited)
Sam Gilman
Deputy (uncredited)
Frank Hagney
Official (uncredited)
Harry Landers
GoGo (uncredited)
Carey Loftin
Gang Member (uncredited)
Eve March
Dorothy (Telephone Operator) (uncredited)
Mort Mills
Deputy (uncredited)
Alvy Moore
Pigeon (uncredited)
Mary Newton
Mrs. Thomas (uncredited)
Pat O'Malley
Sawyer (uncredited)
Jerry Paris
Dextro (uncredited)
Angela Stevens
Betty (uncredited)
Gil Stratton
Mouse (uncredited)
Del Tenney
Man (uncredited)
Bruno VeSota
Simmonds (uncredited)
Blackie Whiteford
Bystander at Art's Accident (uncredited)
Ben Maddow
Additional Writing
László Benedek
Director
Stanley Kramer
Producer
Leith Stevens
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FISFiC Vol. 1
2011
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
2015
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
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Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
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