Knightriders

 

Moviedrome Introduction

Film Details 

Release Date: 1981

Director: George A Romero

Stars: Ed Harris

Plot Summary

The film follows Billy, the self-styled King of a travelling troupe who recreate the world of King Arthur through motorcycle jousting, sword fighting and medieval pageantry. The group lives on the road, trying to maintain its own code of honour and independence while making enough money to survive.

Their way of life is threatened when Morgan, Billy's close friend and champion, becomes increasingly frustrated with the group's poverty and lack of recognition. Opportunities for greater fame and financial success begin to tempt him, while Billy remains determined to preserve their ideals. Tensions within the troupe grow as relationships, rivalries and disagreements over their future emerge.

As the group comes into conflict with promoters, the police and commercial interests, Billy is forced to confront the possibility that his idealistic experiment may be impossible to sustain. The story ultimately becomes a struggle between living according to one's principles and accepting the compromises that come with money and success.

Personal History

Never heard of it.

Current Review

This is very probably the worst film I have ever seen. Certainly the worst of the Moviedrome series. It defies comprehension as to how a 157 minute film can be more or less just jousting on motorbikes. I was bored before I even began and quickly nodded off to the sound of trail bikes going around in circles. When I woke up - anywhere between 10 minutes and an hour later - the same motorbikes were doing the exactly the same thing.

Apparently, it was meant to say something about Americans relationship with the past and how they like to recreate things from before their time.

A saving grace? It is free on Amazon.

And that was too expensive.

Quirky Facts

Apparently, George A. Romero has stated that the first cut of the movie ran for around a staggering 17 hours. Can you imagine?

Stephen King and his wife Tabitha King played a spectator with a loud mouth opinion and a fairly messy face and his wife in the first scene at the fair. And they are easy to spot. King was on the set because he working on the script for Creepshow (1982) with George A. Romero.

The film, which mixes motorcycles with Arthurian legend, was released on exactly the same day in 1981 as the Arthurian-legend film Excalibur, which is a far superior film.

Quotes

None

Future Inspiration

None - let's move on, as quickly as possible.