Run Angel Run
From The Deuce
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Tagline
- Raw and Violent
- He squealed on his gang and the word was out...WASTE HIM!
Main Details
- Released in 1969
- Color
- Running Time: 95 Min.
- Production Co: Fanfare Films
- Distribution Co: Fanfare Films (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
Cast and Crew
- Directed by Jack Starrett
- Written by Richard Compton, V.A. Furlong, Jerome Wish
- Starring William Smith, Valerie Starrett, Jeb Stuart Adams, Wally K. Berns, William Bonner
- Produced by Paul Rapp, Joe Solomon
- Original Music by Stu Phillips
- Cinematography by John M. Stephens
- Film Editing by Renn Reynolds
Film Review
After selling his personal story to Like Magazine for $10,000, a biker named Angel ("King of Biker Movies" William Smith) skips town with his current floozy Laurie (Valerie Starrett). The two drive up the California coast towards San Francisco (Open Road Montage), but are quickly followed by Angel's old biker gang who are out to get revenge on him for exposing the bike club to the public. After Angel and Laurie have their second argument (I love the way these two go at it), Angel drops Laurie off at a train station and splits (he does this about 4 times in the movie). Pretty soon the biker gang track them down and Laurie is attacked in the trainyard. Director Jack Starrett utilizes split screen here and it really creates an exciting effect. Angel finally comes back and saves Laurie from harm (YAY!). Laurie jumps on the train while Angel goes into Evel Knievel mode and pulls a cool stunt in which he jumps onto the traincar with his bike. Bravo! The two get away safe and sound...that is until they run into some boxcar hobos who start messing with them. An altercation occurs and Angel throws two of the bums out of the train. He gives the black hobo his colors (biker jacket) and splits with Laurie.
Angel and Laurie find an old abandoned barn in the country, where they decide to hang out, roll in some hay and smoke weed. Like far out maaaan. The two argue some more, make love and find a vacant house where they begin setting up their own little place. Meanwhile, the bikers are still looking for them and while hanging out at a bar, they get into a fight with some squares (Biker Bar Fight). Back at Casa Del Biker, Angel runs into a local farmer named Dan Felton (Dan Kemp) who he strikes up a friendship with. Angel shows Dan how to ride a chopper (Country Road Montage) and Dan offers Angel a job on his farm...sheep dipping. Nice! Angel accepts the job offer and goes to work shoveling sheep shit. Angel gets to know Dan and his family, including his daughter Meg (Black Mama White Mama's Margaret Markov) a pretty little thing. Meg tells Angel about a local hangout spot and asks him to stop by, but Angel declines. Meg goes with her friends and they run into none other than the vengeful biker gang. When the bikers inquire about Angel and find out that Meg knows his whereabouts, they bring her to a secluded spot and then they rape her. The gang then head to Angel's house and beat up Laurie. When Angel arrives home from work, he finds Laurie in bad shape. Angel sobs quietly and suddenly the bikers call him outside. Angel blows up at the gang and this actually comes off pretty goofy with William Smith's reading of the dialogue. Angel goes batso and takes on all the dirty bikers in one last face off!
If you're a fan of William Smith, this is one of his best roles in a biker movie. It's also his first biker film. You can tell he was heavily influenced by Marlon Brando in The Wild One the way he runs the gamut of emotions from the angry, macho outlaw to tender, dreamy lovestruck dope. He's really great in this. Run Angel Run is interesting because its a love story and biker film mixed together, and although I generally like the standard wild and crazy, violent biker films, I enjoyed this one alot and I reccomend it to both biker and William Smith fans.
Reviewed by Popeye Pete - 5/7/08
Cool Quotes
- Angel: I gotta be free...I gotta fly..like that bird up there.
- Dan: I bet even that bird has a nest to go home to.