Rebel Rousers (1970)

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

"Paul Collier" (Cameron Mitchell) is an architect who drives into a small town in search of his girlfriend, "Karen" (Diane Ladd) who is noticeably pregnant. He wants to marry her but she essentially wants to raise her child all by herself. As it so happens, a gang of motorcyclists known as "the Rebels" rides into this same town and begins causing trouble. Fortunately for Paul, the leader of the gang, "J. J. Weston" (Bruce Dern) is an old high school acquaintance of his and because of that they are on good terms with one another. Unfortunately, J. J. doesn't quite have as much control over some of the more violent members of the gang and when they take an interest in Karen things begin to turn extremely ugly. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie I will just say that this film wasn't nearly as fun or exciting as it should have been due in large part to the chaotic script and lackluster direction. Additionally, I personally didn't care for the use of a pregnant woman as a sex object. But maybe that's just me. In any case, I would think that having a cast which included Jack Nicholson, Harry Dean Stanton and the aforementioned Bruce Dern and Cameron Mitchell would have been more than enough to ensure a somewhat interesting biker film. Apparently, the director (Martin B. Cohen) wasn't up to the task and because of this I have to rate this film as below average.

The strange behavior of various characters in this movie made me wonder if this might be a parody of biker movies. It was funny when the stereotypical dumb, lazy and cowardly Latino deputy was on screen. He and the sheriff were the only law, and at one point even the sheriff wasn't around. The bikers could have taken over and terrorized the town. And yet they weren't as mean as they could have been, which was never really explained. It was like there was an on-off switch deciding whether the bikers were going to be violent, or funny, or whatever. Some of them were more peace-oriented than the others and tried to get the meaner ones to behave. What really made no sense was the reaction of Cameron Mitchell's character to the bikers. At first I thought he and Diane Ladd were giving good performances. Now I have to wonder. I can say this much: I enjoyed the music that was played in the scenes where Cameron Mitchell and Diane Ladd were together, and of course the funny deputy.Other than that, what was this?

"I think that's what it's all about" - Jack Nicholson pretty much sums up this movie, "Rebel Rousers". Brilliant, moving, and real are other words I can use to describe this definitely dated documentation of the times. Cameron Mitchell.... Paul Collier: a biker with a biker attitude. Bruce Dern.... J.J. Weston: A stereotypical Architect businessman whose character embodies the prevailing male, city dweller of his time.. strong and weak at the same time. Diane Ladd.... Karen: A confused 60's girl in a big wild world. Jack Nicholson.... Bunny: The Rebel Rouser whose independent stand takes him all the way to the end. Harry Dean Stanton.... Randolph: Strange man in a strange place.Halverson Neil Burstyn.... Rebel: Has to lve with himself. Lou Procopio.... Rebel: Others have to live with him. Earl Finn.... Rebel: There's one of these guys in every crowd. Unfortunately. Philip Carey.... Rebel: Just along for the party. Robert Dix.... Miguel: A brave and just lawman. Sid Lawrence.... Townspeople: 60's fer sure. John 'Bud' Cardos.... Townspeople: 60's Western US male. Jim Logan.... Townspeople: Struggling to survive the 60's Helena Clayton.... Townspeople: Surviving the 60's Frankie O'Brien.... Townspeople: Simple life of the 60's hero."Rebel Rousers" is a faithful rendition of the crazy party life of a small California gang of bikers. None of them knew what they were doing... just doing it... right or wrong. They each had different ideas of what a rebel was. Much the way real life is. Triumph for some... failure for others. Some fought to live some fought to die. A reminder not to "live to win", but rather "win to live". Beautiful West Coast scenery. Magnificent acting that captures the essence of a day as a "Rebel Rouser".

Ahh, bad biker flicks. Bad biker chicks in underwear. Bad Jack Nicholson before he got any respect. Bruce Dern is the star of this piece, and he's an actor in search of a plot. His wife (in real life) Diane Ladd, has a thankless role as a damsel in distress, at the mercy of a juvenile motorcycle gang. Cameron Mitchell is no help. Jack Nicholson leers and trys to look menacing. And I believe Harry Dean Stanton plays the comic hipster biker in the 1940's be-bop suit. But I could be mistaken. The best scene is when Nicholson and Dern are arguing, and Dern tells him to quit grinning....how either one of them kept a straight face during the proceedings is beyond me.