The Vintagent Classics: Evel Knievel
https://youtu.be/CwCARmQakZo
The Vintagent Classics: The films that inspired us.
EVEL KNIEVEL (1971)
Run Time: 1:28:00
Producer: The Fanfare Corporation
Director: Marvin J. Chomsky
Writer: Alan Caillou, John Milius
Key Cast: George Hamilton, Sue Lyon, Bert Freed
FILM MAKERS
"Hell, I'm the best...the last of the daredevils...and my death - IT WILL BE GLORIOUS!"
George Hamilton was writing a screenplay about a bronco rider who became a motorcycle rider. While preparing to film it, he interviewed various stunt men for the lead role and learned about Knievel. Hamilton visited Knievel in a San Francisco hospital and found Knievel's story more fascinating than what he was writing. In December 1969 he announced he was working on a film about Knievel. The screenplay was originally written by Alan Caillou who had written the screenplay for Jack Starrett's The Losers (1970) also for Joe Solomon's Fanfare Films. However George Hamilton was not happy with it. He offered to pay John Milius $5,000 to write some lines in the script. Milius says he went to Hamilton's home at Palm Springs to read the script "and it was terrible. So I threw the script in the pool and beat on it with an oar. And of course the script was waterlogged, so I just wrote another one. He later told me he knew that if I got down there with that script I'd write another one." Milius says Knievel "saw himself as the new gladiator of the new Rome, something larger than a daredevil. He saw the whole spectacle of civilization and the absurdity of what it's turned into, and he fit into that."
Much of the film was shot in Butte, Montana. Actual footage of Knievel jumping his motorcycle was used throughout the film. Additionally, Knievel performed a series of new jumps at the Ontario Motor Speedway for the production, including a spectacular record jump of 129 feet over 19 cars that was included in the film (Knievel held the record for jumping a Harley-Davidson motorcycle over 19 cars for 27 years, until broken by Bubba Blackwell in 1998). Knievel received a flat rate of $25,000 for his rights and the consulting fee.
SUMMARY
"LIVE HARD. RIDE FAST. REGRET NOTHING"
The story is a biography, with fictionalized events, of the famed motorcycle daredevil, who grew up in Butte, Montana. The film depicts Knievel reflecting on major events in his life, particularly his relationship with his girlfriend/wife, Linda. The film opens with Knievel (Hamilton) at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California. Knievel is speaking directly to the camera describing his upcoming daredevil motorcycle jump:
"Ladies and gentlemen, you have no idea how good it makes me feel to be here today. It is truly an honor to risk my life for you. An honor. Before I jump this motorcycle over these 19 cars — and I want you to know there's not a Volkswagen or a Datsun in the row — before I sail cleanly over that last truck, I want to tell you that last night a kid came up to me and he said, "Mr Knievel, are you crazy? That jump you're going to make is impossible, but I already have my tickets because I want to see you splatter." That's right, that's what he said. And I told that boy last night that nothing is impossible. Now they told Columbus to sail across the ocean was impossible. They told the settlers to live in a wild land was impossible. They told the Wright Brothers to fly was impossible. And they probably told Neil Armstrong a walk on the moon was impossible. They tell Evel Knievel to jump a motorcycle across the Grand Canyon is impossible, and they say that every day. A Roman General in the time of Caesar had the motto: "If it is possible, it is done. If it is impossible, it will be done." And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what I live by."
Following his introduction, the story follows a flashback narrative through Knievel's life.
The film ends with Knievel successfully completing the February 1971 jump at the Ontario Motor Speedway (129 feet) and riding off onto a dirt road which leads to the edge of the Grand Canyon (at the time of production, Evel Knievel was hyping a jump over the Grand Canyon, a jump which never got beyond the early planning stage).
As the movie closes over the Grand Canyon, George Hamilton delivers a voice-over monologue in the Knievel character. In the monologue, he describes himself as the "last gladiator", which would later be used by the real Evel Knievel in his 1998 documentary, The Last of the Gladiators.
Below is a transcript of the monologue from the movie:
"Important people in this country, celebrities like myself — Elvis, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne — we have a responsibility. There are millions of people that look at our lives and it gives theirs some meaning. People come out from their jobs, most of which are meaningless to them, and they watch me jump 20 cars, maybe get splattered. It means something to them. They jump right alongside of me — they take the bars in their hands, and for one split second, they’re all daredevils. I am the last gladiator in the new Rome. I go into the arena and I compete against destruction and I win. And next week, I go out there and I do it again. And this time — civilization being what it is and all — we have very little choice about our life. The only thing really left to us is a choice about our death. And mine will be — glorious."
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The Vintagent Trailers: Pit boy And The Silver Eagle
https://vimeo.com/747790432
The Vintagent Trailers: A preview of our favorite feature films out there.
PIT BOY AND THE SILVER EAGLE (2022)
Run Time: 1:36:00
Producer: Differential Films
A Film By: Steve Keller
Key Cast: David Harto, Delvene Reber, Dan Schmalle, Jason Wallace
FILM MAKERS
Steve Keller has been writing, producing, and directing in the film industry for over 30 years. He believes in the beauty and power of cinematic storytelling and brought this passion into every element of Pit Boy And The Silver Eagle.
SUMMARY
Pit Boy and the Silver Eagle is a touching profile of one artist’s relentless determination and thirteen year-long pursuit in metal, mechanics and speed. In 2008, Seattle artist and motor sports enthusiast David Harto took his grandfather’s 1952 motor scooter and began to transform it into a work of rolling art and lean muscle. Four record-setting attempts and thirteen years later he ventured to Utah’s storied Bonneville salt flats in the hopes of joining a short list of legends in the annals of land speed racing glory. Read More.
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Watch the Full Film!
The Vintagent Selects: Halfway to Nowhere
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/halfway2nowhere
The Vintagent Selects: A collection of our favorite films by artists around the world.
HALFWAY TO NOWHERE (2018)
Run Time: 50:00
A Film By: Tim Caraco
Voice Over: Dog Williams
Key Cast: Tim Caraco, Nicholas Agius
FILM MAKERS
Tim Caraco is a well-known Gold Coast photographer and film maker who has travelled extensively capturing images and video footage on various road trips often in remote and distant regions for projects around the world. Tim has been able to combine his love of photography and travel to capture diverse landscape imagery and videography of exceptional terrains especially with his work in the vintage motorcycle world.
Tim’s ability to capture his experiences through a lens is truly special, with a natural talent that cannot be learned overnight. Tim’s journey started in 2006 where he attended AICA Art College and he has been working professionally in the industry since 2007 but his passion for photography and videography can be traced all the way back to his early teenage years filming skateboarding.
He is a regular contributor to LA based Dice Magazine and locally has held two exhibitions of his work and produced a hard cover book called “Freedom Machines”. His specialty and passion lies in videography as it creatively enables the story to be told through Visual imagery and sound.
Tim Caraco passed away in 2018 in a tragic motorcycle accident.
SUMMARY
In September 2016 Tim "Timmo" Caraco and some friends traveled from the Gold Coast of Australia to Tasmania on 50 year old choppers, in a failed attempt to find the most picturesque roads in Australia. The weather was menacing and it was soon realized quite quickly it was not in the comfort and protection of the Mainland. They were greeted with piercing torrential rain, roaring winds and even snow.
Fast Forward to February 2017 and with some better planning the 2nd trip to Tasmania turns into an epic success. Matty South and Timo traveled from the top of Tasmania to the most western road leading into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, one of the last untouched regions on Earth. From there they rode to the most southern beach in Tasmania, all the while witnessing the beauty of this great land from the Aurora Australis, to the Rugged mining mountains of Zheehan, and up the eastern coast of Tasmania.
There’s nothing like traveling this untouched land on a vintage Harley Davidson with your swag tied to the back. There’s a certain freedom in setting up camp wherever you decide to pull over for the day. 1500km’s on these old motorcycles, Tasmania is Australia’s best kept secret and there’s only 1 true way to experience it… on an old chopper!
RELATED MEDIA
The Vintagent Selects: California Dreams
https://vimeo.com/235092765
The Vintagent Selects: A collection of our favorite films by artists around the world.
CALIFORNIA DREAMS (2017)
Run Time: 20:37
A Film By: Tim Caraco
FILM MAKERS
Tim Caraco is a well-known Gold Coast photographer and film maker who has travelled extensively capturing images and video footage on various road trips often in remote and distant regions for projects around the world. Tim has been able to combine his love of photography and travel to capture diverse landscape imagery and videography of exceptional terrains especially with his work in the vintage motorcycle world.
Tim’s ability to capture his experiences through a lens is truly special, with a natural talent that cannot be learned overnight. Tim’s journey started in 2006 where he attended AICA Art College and he has been working professionally in the industry since 2007 but his passion for photography and videography can be traced all the way back to his early teenage years filming skateboarding.
He is a regular contributor to LA based Dice Magazine and locally has held two exhibitions of his work and produced a hard cover book called “Freedom Machines”. His specialty and passion lies in videography as it creatively enables the story to be told through Visual imagery and sound.
Tim Caraco passed away in 2018 in a tragic motorcycle accident.
SUMMARY
This is the story of three mates who shipped there old Harley Davidson Panheads from Australia to California via plane. Travelling through some of the most picturesque and sometimes desolate terrain. All the while meeting new and old friends along the road. Keeping these old motorcycles rubber side up and running was a task in itself.
From the rolling hills of Hollywood, the sandy stretches of Pismo Beach, up through the coast of San Fransisco, down through the windy roads of Grimes Canyon, the desolate desert of Joshua tree to the beat up streets of Mexico, this is their journey!
RELATED MEDIA
Tim Caraco: website
The Vintagent Trailers: Daredevil In Training
https://vimeo.com/1016920479
The Vintagent Trailers: A preview of our favorite feature films out there.
DAREDEVIL IN TRAINING (TBD)
Run Time: TBD
Director & Producer & Still Photographer: Heidi Zumbrun
Director of Photography & Co-Producer: Sean Madden
Editor: Frank Gregory
Line Producer: Rebecca Stern
Key Cast: Jay Lightnin’, Hobo Bill, Ariell Flight, JR Sparks, Miss Corinna
FILM MAKERS
In 2021 Los Angeles photographer & director Heidi Zumbrun packed up her van and drove from California to Tennessee with an invitation from one of the daredevils in training, Corinna Mantlo, to live with and document the American Motor Drome Co. Wall of Death. Heidi traveled with them for 32 days 800 miles and 3 states soon to be joined the following year by the talented cinematographer Sean Madden. Heidi & Sean then joined up and spent the last few years documenting these trick riders & daredevils in training. This is the first teaser of the film coming out in early 2025.
SUMMARY
RELATED MEDIA
The vintagent Classics: Deathsport
https://youtu.be/StGWcZfQv_Q
The Vintagent Classics: The films that inspired us.
DEATHSPORT (1978)
Run Time: 1:22:00
Producer: New World Pictures
Director: Allan Arkush, Nicholas Niciphor, Roger Corman
Writer: Nicholas Niciphor, Donald E. Stewart, Frances Doel
Key Cast: David Carradine, Claudia Jennings, Richard Lynch
FILM MAKERS
Futuristic Science Fiction about a sport to the death, using "destructocycles"
Deathsport is a 1978 sci-fi B-film produced by Roger Corman, who coined the term "Biker Flick" for The Wild Angels (1966) and his production company New World Pictures, whose titles litter The Vintagent Film Archive, starting with Angels Die Hard (1970). The film was a sequel to Death Race 2000 (1975) set in the year 3000 and with motorcycles instead of cars. A third film 'Deathworld' was also planned but unfortunately Deathsport's failure at the box office was the death of Deathworld before its inception.
Failure at the box office was probably inevitable, as the film was troubled from the start. The film's original director Nicholas Niciphor was fired after repeated clashes with its stars, David Carradine and Claudia Jennings. Niciphor said that it became "hell" from the third day of shooting. "The script was too ambitious, the shooting schedule too tight and... the crew and the cast were largely sodden with drugs." At one point, Carradine broke Niciphor's nose, and Niciphor was fired. Allan Arkush was brought in to complete the film, and later recalled "By the time I got there, David Carradine had done one of his karate kicks and sent Nick flying through the air." On another occasion, Jennings had to be physically removed from a motorcycle and the set, as she was drunk and high on cocaine. Jennings had a well-documented cocaine addiction at the time, and the film was one of the last before her death.
Carradine later recounted that "Nicholas was unable to overcome the madness of the shoot". He called the film "terrible" and claimed that "my career never really fully recovered from that blunder." In an interview from 2005, he said that Corman (who had Carradine signed to a five-picture contract) had advised him not to do Deathsport: "He was right too. I knew it the moment I saw the picture. He warned me and I didn’t listen. Asked about his own time finishing the film, Arkush said "Mostly we just blew up motorcycles. Lots of them. We also set some mutants on fire. And the stunning Claudia Jennings got naked. David Carradine...smoked a lot of high-grade weed and helped us to blow stuff up...Sad to say, I couldn't save the picture."
The fire scenes (there are many) are impressive, but they didn't come without peril. During the cave scenes (shot at Bronson Caves in Bronson Canyon), a stuntman playing a mutant was set on fire, but also another actor portraying a mutant was accidentally set on fire. sadly, in the end, the film's tagline "The ultimate ride for survival" may have lent itself more to the filming than the film. Yikes!
*Stunt performer Debbie Evans got her first job on Deathsport and never looked back. A few Women had been stunting on screen since the silent era, ut they were still rare in 1977, and Evans was a pioneer of the industry. Today she is still performing, and is considered one of the best in the world and has appeared in "The Matrix Reloaded" and several of "The Fast and the Furious" films. Hear Debbie in her own words HERE.
SUMMARY
In the year 3000 there'll be no more Olympic Games, World Series, or Superbowl. There'll be only... Deathsport
One thousand years into the future (from Death Race 2000), after the Neutron Wars, the world is divided into a barbaric collection of city states surrounded by wastelands where only mutant cannibals and independent warriors, known as Range Guides, can live. Led by Lord Zirpola, the city state of Helix is planning war on another city state, Tritan, for their fuel supply. Hoping to prove the superiority of their newest weapons, the Death Machines (laser-equipped dirt bikes), they create a new pastime - Deathsport.
The death penalty has been replaced by Deathsport, where criminals battle each other to the death in return for gaining their freedom. Lord Zirpola has managed to capture legendary Range Guide Kaz Oshay (Carradine) and he wants to add a female Range Guide for an upcoming Deathsport event. A female Range Guide, Deneer (Jennings), is captured while leading a group of Tritans across the desert. A child, Tara, is taken by the mutant group during the attack to capture Deneer. In a Helix jail, Kaz Oshay bonds with Deneer and vows to escape with her and find the group's child.
After enduring torture and facing his mother's killer, Ankar Moor, Oshay and Deneer are forced onto the Deathsport motocross field, which is mined with explosives. They easily defeat the other riders and escape from Helix with two other prisoners, Dr. Karl and his son Marcus. During the escape, though, the doctor is killed.
Eventually, they rescue Tara from the mutant cannibals and battle the other Death Machine riders who followed them. Finally safe, Deneer delivers Marcus to Tritan, while Oshay faces Ankar Moor in "honorable" combat, using Whistlers (swords that make a sound like music). After a bloody battle, Oshay decapitates Ankar Moor, thus becoming the greatest Range Guide alive. The film ends with Oshay, Deneer and Tara riding their horses off into the sunset.
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Watch the FULL FILM free!
The Vintagent Selects: Quarter Milestones
https://vimeo.com/347179834
The Vintagent Selects: A collection of our favorite films by artists around the world.
Quarter Milestones (2019)
Run Time: 52:00
Producer: John Stein
Director & Editor: Agusta Einarsdottir
Writer: John Stein
Key Cast: Sonny Routt, Ray Price, Terry Vance, Larry “Spiderman” McBride
FILM MAKERS
As some of you probably know, I wrote a book a number of years ago (2011) on the history of motorcycle drag racing. Thousands of copies have been sold in dozens of countries - many of which I’d have trouble finding on a map. Because of the reception the book received, it was suggested that I follow up with a documentary on the same subject. After 5 years, and with help from my extraordinary director and editor Agusta Einsarsdottir - the film is completed. - John Stein
Get your copy of Motorcycle Drag Racing: A History on Abe Books.
SUMMARY
The history of motorcycle drag racing is a fascinating one, and in an effort to tell the complete story, never before-seen film was gathered and interviews with 17 of the sports icons (including Sonny Routt, Ray Price, Terry Vance, and Larry “Spiderman” McBride) were conducted. While a book provides one type of experience, a film goes well beyond that by providing dramatic action shots of machines from the earliest days of the sport to the present, along with their unforgettable sounds. Most of the footage has never been seen publicly. Now it will be. The result: A highly informative and totally unforgettable film for anyone who loves motorsports, and a fascinating one-hour film!
RELATED MEDIA
The Vintagent Classics: Pray For The Wildcats
https://youtu.be/1-90OC7qjWg
The Vintagent Classics: The films that inspired us.
PRAY FOR THE WILDCATS (TV 1974)
Run Time: 1:40:00
Producer: American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Director: Robert Michael Lewis
Writer: Jack Turley
Key Cast: Andy Griffith, William Shatner, Robert Reed
FILM MAKERS
Pray for the Wildcats is a 1974 American made for TV thriller about a psychopathic business executive chasing his workers on dirt bikes through the desert after he killed a young man. The film was directed by Robert Michael Lewis and starred William Shatner and Andy Griffith, Robert Reed, Marjoe Gortner, Angie Dickinson, and Lorraine Gary. It originally aired as an ABC Movie of the Week on January 23, 1974.
With the stars of four popular TV series cast against type, the film has since gained a cult following, especially due to Griffith's performance as the sadistic villain, a drastic departure following his long run on The Andy Griffith Show. The film would lead Griffith to pursue more villainous roles over the next few years.
Trivia: The shirts the group wears in Baja are almost exact copies of the uniforms from Star Trek (1966). William Shatner and Andy Griffith wear command gold, while Robert Reed has a red security shirt.
SUMMARY
When a power-mad tycoon (Andy Griffith) challenges three advertising executives to a motorcycle trip down Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, their weekend getaway turns into a nightmare of desert warfare. For the trio (William Shatner, Robert Reed and Marjoe Gortner), the initial lure is a multi-million-dollar account, but a sudden terrifying incident along the ride reveals their unpredictable client’s real intentions: to test just how far the men will go to save their careers and their families. As the action intensifies, so do the fascinating character dynamics, driving this engrossing thriller to its startling climax.
RELATED MEDIA
Watch the FULL MOVIE on Cine Meccanica Youtube
The Vintagent Selects: The Rider
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItxUmimzF_s&t=14s
The Vintagent Selects: A collection of our favorite films by artists around the world.
THE RIDER (2024)
Run Time: 29:43
Producer: Greg Moore & Adam Fitzgerald
Director: Roberto Serrini
Key Cast: Matias Corea, Yve Assad, Chris Myott
FILM MAKERS
Roberto Serrini is no stranger to The Vintagent. His film Moto Borgotaro (2015) made a distinct impression on the motorcycle industry at large, and his following work continued to impress. American Wall Of Death (2016), Norton Commando at 50 (2018), Earned: The Story Of Keith Hale's Ducati 750SS (2021), All The Pretty Things (2021) can all be watched in the Archive. Serrini's newest film, a three part series he directed for BMW’s centennial films collectively called 'The Rider' was made in collaboration with Greg Moore and Adam Fitzgerald, the two luminaries behind the quintessential motomag Iron and Air, who were tasked by BMW with telling the 100 year story of Motorrad.
Roberto says "Greg and Adam had just formed The Simple Machine and this would be their first project as a creative automotive production company. They chose Yve Assad, Chris Myott and Matias Corea as their subjects. Everyone had a very different origin story, character, and philosophy, and this was really what I was wanting to capture; that while each of them was a staunch BMW rider, it wasn’t about the brand so much as it was about the person. I don’t think we ride because we love bikes, it’s because we love the ride, and being a rider."
SUMMARY
"In the absence of a rider, a motorcycle is just a bloated gas can. The rider is really what makes a bike a bike, and what brings it to life. Twisting the throttle on your machine is akin to tugging on the strings of a marionette - except these puppets can do burnouts."
In this triptych featuring Yve, Chris, and Matias, we are also introduced in a deeper way to the Director, despite this not being his first time appearing in his own films. Which seems fitting because Serrini also loves BMW’s. "I bought my first bike, a very beat up R65 with a seat made from torn up old leather motorcycle jackets, off some guy in Harlem for 800 bucks. That bike is the reason I first met Peter Boggia (Moto Borgotaro), which eventually led to me making one of my most important films about bikes, which led me to meeting Greg and Adam and doing this project. It’s rare to find clear lineage in our life’s journeys, but not with motorcycles, and that’s really what all these stories are about, which BMW to their credit understood from the conception."
"I give BMW a lot of praise for letting them (Greg & Adam) freely create these pieces. I have fortunately been able to work with most of the top brands in my career, launching iconic machines like the Honda Goldwing and the reincarnation of the Indian Scout. These projects have huge crews, budgets, and creativity behind them, and take months to complete and launch. BMW understood the power in these stories, these films have won some amazing industry awards, film festivals, and contributed to the largest amount of sales on record for BMW, proving you don’t have to show the product to sell it."
The Rider (2024) is proudly sponsored by BMW and is currently on the festival tour. Be sure to stay tuned, as we know we'll be featuring more of Roberto's work here soon.
RELATED MEDIA
The Vintagent Classics: Dutch TT Assen 1954
https://youtu.be/-g18a0Nkehc?si=sKDVXTrYmDUao4hK
The Vintagent Classics: The films that inspired us.
DUTCH TT ASSEN 1954 (1954)
Run Time: 36:35
Producer: Shell Film Unit
Director: Bill Mason
Animation: Archie Shaw
Key Cast: Rod Coleman, Geoff Duke, Phil Heath
FILM MAKER
As a boom in car ownership in the 1930s stoked competition between oil companies, so Shell looked to make documentary films as a way of raising its profile. The company created its Shell Film Unit 80 years ago under the guidance of the UK’s most influential documentary film-maker of the time, John Grierson (1898 – 1972). One of the first to see the power of motion pictures to educate and shape opinion, Grierson is still widely regarded as the father of the documentary today.
The films Shell produced set out to inform and entertain, using action and animation to explain the mechanical marvels of the age to a wide audience. They demonstrated how people around the world could overcome challenges in health, food and transport. The intention was not to advertise Shell’s brands: the film-makers consciously took a journalistic approach, and the company name and pecten logo appeared only at the end of films.
SUMMARY
The iconic 1954 Dutch TT, where the legendary English rider Geoff Duke stole the show with a historic victory in the 500cc category on an Italian machine. This film captures the essence of the event, as riders raced past serene pastures with grazing cows and horses, while spectators eagerly watched from behind rustic straw bales.
Assen, a charming town in the northern Netherlands, served as the perfect backdrop for this unforgettable race day. Over a hundred motorcycles gathered at the ten-mile circuit, showcasing the latest models from renowned factory teams and privately owned machines. These motorcycles weren't just about winning races; they were also a testing ground for new ideas and designs.
With a crowd of 150,000 spectators, the day featured four separate races for motorcycles of various capacities, ranging from 125cc to 500cc.
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The Vintagent Classics: Isle Of Man T.T. 1950
https://vimeo.com/982111098
The Vintagent Classics: The films that inspired us.
ISLE OF MAN T.T 1950 (1950)
Run Time: 28:01
Producer: Shell Films, with the cooperation of the Auto-cycle Union.
Director: Geoffrey Hughes
Narrator: H.W Louis of 'The Motor Cycle'
Key Cast: Leslie Graham, Phil Heath, Bob Foster, et al
FILM MAKERS
As a boom in car ownership in the 1930s stoked competition between oil companies, so Shell looked to make documentary films as a way of raising its profile. The company created its Shell Film Unit 80 years ago under the guidance of the UK’s most influential documentary film-maker of the time, John Grierson (1898 – 1972). One of the first to see the power of motion pictures to educate and shape opinion, Grierson is still widely regarded as the father of the documentary today.
The films Shell produced set out to inform and entertain, using action and animation to explain the mechanical marvels of the age to a wide audience. They demonstrated how people around the world could overcome challenges in health, food and transport. The intention was not to advertise Shell’s brands: the film-makers consciously took a journalistic approach, and the company name and pecten logo appeared only at the end of films.
SUMMARY
This delightful film was produced by the Shell Film Unit using no less than 10 camera crews around the famous Mountain Course. Following a nostalgic look at the pre-race activities, a classic confrontation ensues between the works Norton riders Artie Bell and Johnny Locket who do their best to finish in front of 'newcomer' Geoff Duke. After a runaway first Isle of Man win in the previous year's Clubman's event. Duke was up against formidable opposition in his first Senior TT, not only from his experienced team-mates but also from Les Graham (AJS 'Porcupine') Reg Armstrong (Velocette), Harold Daniel (Norton) and Bob Foster (Velocette). So, with the first ever one-piece leather zipped up thight, head on tank and both wheels powering through some memorable drifts, Geoff Duke set about casting the mould of an historic racing career. The Shell cameras portray the race comprehensively and many viewers enthuse, not only about the high standard of coverage (in black and white) and the super racing, but also about the way it succeeds in encapsulating what the fabulous fifties were all about. We think you will agree!
RELATED MEDIA
Buy the DVD 'IOM Senior TT 1950' at Garage Company
The Vintagent Selects: Ice Road Riders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhI9b-0pai0
The Vintagent Selects: A collection of our favorite films by artists around the world.
ICE ROAD RIDERS (2011)
Run Time: 9:03
Producer: W&W Cycles
Spin Doctor: Wolfgang Schmidt
Videographer: Matthias "Zilch" Grübel
Photographer: Klaus Hagmeier
Key Cast: Paul Jung, Peter Heilmann
FILM MAKERS
Before we unload the machines and kick them over let’s take a short trip back in time: why are we here anyway? Tuktoyaktuk is far from being the first W&W CYCLES destination of the challenging kind. 1995 there was the idea to close the Panamericana Gap between Panama and Colombia on Harleys. The ride got stuck in knee deep mud. But we made it out there and got back home with some breathtaking pics and some broken bits of machinery. 2006 there was the ride to the southernmost beer.
From Buenos Aires over bone shaking gravel roads fighting gale crosswinds down the infamous Ruta 40 to Ushuaia, Patagonia. And exactly right down there, under the influence of some of the southernmost beers of the world the question arose how the world may look like on the other end of the road. Because nobody knew it, we struck on a plan: we‘d have to go there one day.
SUMMARY
In February 2008 W&W Cycles started to ride the Mackenzie River Ice Road between Tuktoyaktuk und Inuvik on 2 Harley Davidson Motorbikes. At a minus record of - 42 °C the windchill reached -60°C for the riders.
The bikes (an original 48 Panhead and a 2006 Shovelhead, completely customized with parts available at W&W Cycles. Both bikes arrived prepared with specified liquids and studded tires and were anyway struck by the severe cold until treated in a heated - or more to say less cold - garage.
The video was filmed with a Panasonic DVX 100 in a Porta Brace Polar Mitten. A wideangle lens was brought but could not be used due to small but centered crystallizing water inside the lens.
The 1948 Panhead was displayed at the MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) in Manchester, as part of the exhibition "Culture, Customising and Harley-Davidson" (running until sept. 15th 2011)
Music: Ouverture "La Gazza Ladra" ("The Thieving Magpie", "Die diebische Elster") by Giacchino Rossini (1792 -1868). Music fully licensed to W&W Cycles through proudmusiclibrary.com. Music sounds familiar? You may have watched "A Clockwork Orange" lately!
RELATED MEDIA
Read more about Ice Road Riders (2011)
The Vintagent Trailers: Sixth Street Specials
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1YwLwXKnAA&t=5s
The Vintagent Trailers: A preview of our favorite feature films out there.
SIXTH STREET SPECIALS (TBD)
Run Time: TBD
Producer: Antonio Polito
A Film By: Ezekiel Victor
Editor: Ezekiel Victor, Antonio Polito
Key Cast: Hugh Mackie, Joshua Mackenzie, Fumi Matsueda, Oliver Meechan
FILM MAKERS
Ezekiel Victor is a filmmaker from Asheville, currently splitting his time between there and Brooklyn. His Uncle used to own the motel and gas station at Deals Gap so some of my oldest memories are seeing bikes race up the hill at the entrance of the Dragon. His second birthday party was even motorcycle themed, giving motorcycles a very personal place in his heart.
The short film 'Sixth Street Specials' will premier at Kustom Kulture Fest, August 23-25 in Brooklyn, NY.
SUMMARY
I met Hugh in 2022 and fell in love with Sixth Street Specials. The Triumph sign, the parts, all the pictures and of course the bikes. It felt as if I was stepping into the world of On Any Sunday. I hope to share that same feeling of discovery through this project. Bruce Brown’s work alongside modern filmmakers and brands like Vahna, Rhythm, and Gimbal God have all provided a sense of freedom and peace for me over the years living in NYC. I think that’s something I hope to convey in the film as well. Hugh and his crew have been more than accommodating and generous with their time and space, I really could not ask for more, and being able to film them working day to day at the shop brought a lot of perspective and reality into what I had first experienced as a dreamlike fantasy, "working on bikes". It’s work, and I think much like a relationship, your true love is revealed in the monotony as much as the highs and lows. To me, that’s encouraging. It’s showing up, it’s getting it done and it’s not taking yourself too seriously.
Following the team to the race is when thing’s got real. Multiple people left in ambulances. There are guys over 80 years old still out there on the track, going faster sidewise than I ever have. I mean there is a 60+ year old class which to me says it all! Darryl Jakabowski, Sixth Street Racing rider (93B) even took a spill on Josh’s 1960’s brakeless Triumph. Once again, I felt like I was stepping into the world that Bruce Brown shot 50 years ago and meeting my heroes. I knew that Hugh was an incredible guy prior to the event, but you go to the races and hear nothing but admiration for him and the guys from everyone there. He’s the real deal. They’re the real deal. I am profoundly grateful to have had the opportunity to merely meet them and see a glimpse into their work and passion, let alone film it with my best friends. Which, this would not be a real project without my DP and cam op Nick Lavion, Producer and Co-editor Antonio Polito, Production Designer Luke Polihrom and Graphic Designer Haley Batson (who made a killer poster). Also, a special thanks to Yul Kim, Matthew Andreini and Demian Neufeld for supporting the project!
The film has been a dream come true for me. I hope people will watch it and get encouraged in their day to day work as much as they are about riding! Sixth Street has taught me it is those that show up everyday that make dreams come true. - Ezekiel Victor
RELATED MEDIA
Filmmaker website
Sixth STreet Specials IG @sixthstreetspecialsinc
The Vintagent Trailers: Hidden Away
https://vimeo.com/527879846
The Vintagent Trailers: A preview of our favorite feature films out there.
HIDDEN AWAY AKA VOLEVO NASCONDERMI (2020)
Run Time: 2:00:00
Producer: Palomar
Director: Giorgio Diritt
Writer: Giorgio Diritti, Fredo Valla, Tania Pedroni
Key Cast: Elio Germano, Oliver Ewy, Leonardo Carrozzoi
FILM MAKERS
Antonio Ligabue (Zurich 1899 - Gualtieri 1965) was an Italian painter and sculptor, among the most important Naive Art artists of the XX century. His art is chacterized by the force of the rural world that Ligabue came from and by the instinct of his madness.
Antonio Ligabue, whose real surname is Laccabue, was born in Switzerland in Zurich December 18, 1899. Son of an Italian emigrant, he was given up for adoption to a Swiss-German family who entrusted him in turn to an Institute for difficult children from where he was expelled at sixteen. Wild, unpredictable for his relationship with the world and reality, he was considered mad all his life. Expelled in handcuffs from Switzerland on complaint by his adoptive mother, he was routed to Italy, to Gualtieri, the paternal city. He worked until 1929 on the banks of the Po river, living like a savage in the woods and floodplains. At that time he began to paint and sculpt with clay more assiduously. In 1937, 1940 and 1945 he was interned in the Psychiatric Hospital of S. Lazzaro in Reggio Emilia for his irascible and violent character and for a "manic-depressive psychosis". In 1961 official recognition finally began, with an exhibition in Rome and a large anthology in Guastalla. Following a paresis Ligabue found himself immobile in a bed, while the fame of his works began to acquire a national dimension. He died at the Carri Hospital in Gualtieri May 27, 1965.
During his entire life he was mainly considered as a madman. Now everybody knows that Antonio Ligabue was one of the greatest painters of all time.
SUMMARY
Antonio is expelled from Switzerland to Italy against his will. For years he lives in poverty in the Po floodplains, but he never gives up his passion for drawing. The story of Antonio Ligabue, a revolutionary loner in modern art.
RELATED MEDIA
Read the The Vintagent article HERE.
The Vintagent Trailers: She Rides
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=lXcgjhIo6BMGdnuq&v=uzECp9aojos&feature=youtu.be
The Vintagent Trailers: A preview of our favorite feature films out there.
SHE RIDES (TBD)
Run Time: TBD
Executive Producer: Sean Kelley
Producer: Rachel Lepley
Director: Gareth Maxwell Roberts
Key Cast: Moira Zinn, Addison Klink, Morgan Pillar
FILM MAKERS
Discover the groundbreaking impact of women in motorcycling with '
She Rides'. From breaking stereotypes to leading clubs and businesses, this film celebrates their resilience and innovation, shaping a future where the road knows no bounds.
In 2019 director Gareth Maxwell Roberts released the critically acclaimed award winning documentary feature film 'Oil In The Blood' about the contemporary custom motorcycle culture. He remembers “One of the most rewarding and fascinating aspects of making the film was meeting all of the inspiring women making inroads in a culture and industry that has historically been male dominated. We featured a chapter on women in motorcycling in the film, and at the time I certainly believed it was worthy of a film in its own right.” A few years later, that film is getting made. 'She Rides'.
SUMMARY
The film came into being from a chance conversation between Gareth and producer Sean Kelley of 73 Moto, and a weekend stop over In Austin, Texas by producer Rachel Lepley on her epic trip across the 48 states of the USA in 48 days on her Royal Enfield Interceptor. Conversations began with eventual associate producers Heidi Zumbrun and Kiki Azim and production was scheduled to begin in early 2024. Sarah and David Pagan joined the team and shooting commenced in February at the Mama Tried Show in Milwaukee.
They have since filmed a number of interviews in Texas and at The 1 Moto Show in Portland. To date the team has interviewed over forty women, from flat track racers to custom builders, dealership and workshop owners, show runners, photographers, influencers, adventure riders and educators. We’ve interviewed mechanics, race engineers, riding gear designers and stunt riders. Our youngest interviewee is six years old, our oldest is in her sixties. All of their stories are fascinating, illuminating, entertaining and inspiring. We plan to speak to many more women about their experiences in motorcycling. Production will continue through 2024 and into 2025 in the US and Europe, and budget permitting Asia and Japan. Gareth states “It’s a privilege to bear witness to the women’s motorcycling revolution that is changing motorcycling and ensuring it’s future”.
RELATED MEDIA
Website
Instagram @sheridesfilm
The Vintagent Selects: Outlaws II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zioejshcumg
The Vintagent Selects: A collection of our favorite films by artists around the world.
OUTLAW II (2024)
Run Time: 35:00
A Film By: Vincent Prat
Key Cast: Nick Ashley, Alberto Garcia Alix, Vincent Borras, et al
FILM MAKERS
“El Solitario is a Gesamtkunstwerk – a total work of art, in which the riders, their gear, their machines, their backup, the photography, and the film made of their adventures, are shaped to one vision.” - Paul D’Orleans, Cycle World
SUMMARY
Vincent Prat´s 35 minute short film was entirely shot with handheld iphone with a narrative style that aims to represent the real life, characters, settings, and events as closely as possible. Refusing effects, post-production and other technical gimmicks. Concentrating on the story and the characters at the cost of any good taste and any aesthetic considerations. Thus, our VOW OF CHASTITY!
"There's one date of the year that I can't afford to miss, and that's in June, around the Summer Solstice, a symbol that's very dear to me, because it represents renewal, my renewal.
Our Spanish friends have understood this, and without really organizing things, they know perfectly well how to unite us around San Juan. One message is all it takes, and we all arrive from the four corners of the globe, ready for a new adventure. As one of us said, the road is OK, but the track is much more exciting, and I finally understood this on our last crossing of the Iberian Peninsula. Having spent forty years exclusively on the road, I discovered the immense pleasure of enduro riding. Being inside the landscape is very different from watching it go by behind the visor, whatever the bike.
Whatever the track, the riding action is permanent, and in the word enduro, there's the notion of endurance and travel. That's what I like, so I've had a real revelation. As I write to you, preparations for a new adventure are getting underway, and I love this impatience.”
Vincent Prat
RELATED MEDIA
Watch the FULL FILM on El Solitario MC YouTube channel
The Vintagent Trailers: The Polar Circle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQx2eUeNmgE
The Vintagent Trailers: A preview of our favorite feature films out there.
THE POLAR CIRCLE aka POLARCIRKELN (Swedish) (2023)
Run Time: 27:00
A Film By: Emil Duvander
Key Cast: Emil Duvander
FILM MAKERS
Emil Duvander is a digital imaging technician that has worked with a number of production houses. Emil grew up in southern Sweden and comes from a family where his father had a lot of interest in cars, motorcycles, and airplanes, but it wasn't until he got his motorcycle license at 20 years-old that his obsession with bikes took hold, as he saw it as the perfect tool for traveling. The Polar Circle premiered at the Toronto Motorcycle Film Festival in 2023.
SUMMARY
Driving motorcycle north of the Arctic circle in February, 2023. The Full 27 minute film is yet to be released. Stay tuned!
RELATED MEDIA
Watch 'Blue Mountains In The Arctic (2019), and Inland Road (2021)
The Vintagent Selects: Inland Road
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnjWzht2HV4
The Vintagent Selects: A collection of our favorite films by artists around the world.
INLAND ROAD aka INLANDSVÄG (Swedish) (2021)
Run Time: 26:39
A Film By: Emil Duvander
Key Cast: Emil Duvander, Mathias Löfquist
FILM MAKERS
Emil Duvander is a digital imaging technician that has worked with a number of production houses. Emil grew up in southern Sweden and comes from a family where his father had a lot of interest in cars, motorcycles, and airplanes, but it wasn’t until he got his motorcycle license at 20 years-old that his obsession with bikes took hold, as he saw it as the perfect tool for traveling. His other motorcycle films include, Blue Mountains In The Arctic (2019), and The Polar Circle (2023).
SUMMARY
Two friends driving across Sweden on the inland road til it's not possible to drive any further.
Watch the FULL FILM.
RELATED MEDIA
