The Flying Skülls watched Chrome & Hot Leather this evening at "Shitty Motorcycle Movie Night." Beer flowed, pizza was delivered, and we even caught some side-boob in this great 1971 biker / 'Nam crossover flick.
As the biker genre progressed and ticket sales started to dwindle they started to add in elements of other genres, like horror, blaxploitation, gay, war movie, etc. They did this to rekindle the fire and bring in a wider audience. And it's bloody weird. But it rules. They even give Marvin Gaye a part!
It's essentially about a biker gang that accidentally offs a couple chicks, and the 'Nam boyfriend comes back to exact revenge on the gang. The protagonist enlists the help of a couple of his 'Nam buddies and they go under-cover to bust these the gang. It's pretty damn funny.
The production of the film pendulums back and forth between surprisingly good and expectedly shitty. But overall, the Director definitely tries to elevate this above the likes of some of the '68 / '69 flicks. This movie has a plot. It's thin and full of holes, but there's a definite plot and legitimate story arc that makes it look like Hamlet compared to the likes of the Glory Stompers or Devil's Angels. And the cast includes many staples from the biker genre.
The old ladies were top class. Best we've seen in any biker flick of the era so far. Wish we would have seen more of them.
The bikes ruled hard. Amazing choppers. That's what we watch these things for, and this flick did not disappoint. Bikes in almost every scene of the movie. Just as it should be. There's also the obligatory swastika appearance.
The music veers into fusion territory at times. A bit of r'n'b. And then militaristic bugle drills when appropriate. Long gone are the fuzzy guitar tones of 1969.
The 'Nam heroes were seemingly trained in Kung-Fu, or maybe that was the influence of the 70's new-found obsession/exploitation of Kung-Fu. You decide. But all I know is those 'Nam dudes sure wielded a mean chop.
What else? Oh, the coolest thing was Larry Bishop, who's a member of the Wizards M/C...being addicted to pinball. Get it?
Good. This flick ruled. Watch it.
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