Naked Angels
Encyclopedia
Naked Angels is a 1969
outlaw biker film
, directed by Bruce D. Clark. Starring Michael Greene
as Mother, Jennifer Gan
as Marlene and Richard Rust
as Fingers. Later documentary director Penelope Spheeris
is a cast member in her first appearance as an actress. Actor Corey Fischer
also appears in the cast.
The distributor of this film called "Favorite Films" started out in business in 1913 during the era of silent movies. They distributed 160 films in the USA. Naked Angels was the last film distributed by Favorite Films.
Get an inside look at the bizarre lifestyles of the outlaw bikers in Naked Angels. Many of the roles are played by actual members of the notorious "Hells Angels" in this classic Roger Corman
production.
The story concerns a death feud between two rival biker gangs. The Angels are out to revenge themselves on the Las Vegas Hotdoggers who severely beat their leader, Mother (Michael Greene
).
As the story opens, Mother is just returning to the Angels and his old lady, Marlene (Jennifer Gan
) who had become the property of Fingers (Richard Rust
) the new head of the clan. When Mother reappears he quickly reassumes leadership of the gang as well as the rights to the strawberry blond, lascivious, foul mouthed Marlene.
The Angels go looking for the Hotdoggers at their hangout, a bar in Vegas. Not finding their rivals, the Angels bust up the bar and terrorize the local citizenry. A lone Hotdogger betrays his gang and tells the Angels of a secret mine hangout in the desert where they can find his gang.
Later that evening, Mother and Marlene are riding his chopper around Vegas, when a showgirl in a car catches his eye. He splits with the showgirl and when he returns, Marlene is livid with rage. Setting out into the desert, the Angels and Mother argue about what to do and how to travel through the desert. Marlene opens her mouth and says what everyone in the gang is thinking. Mother gets angry and says that everyone in the gang can have Marlene. There are no takers, as even the gang members cannot go so low, so Mother takes off on his own.
The Angels and finally Mother meet again at the mine hideout with the Hotdoggers. A stick of dynamite brings the Hotdoggers out of the mine for a vicious brawl with tire chains, knives, fists and boots. The Hotdogger leader steals an Angel's bike but Mother rides him down and finishes him off while the Angels look on and cheer.
After taking revenge on all the Hotdoggers, Fingers and Mother fight it out at the end but who will be leader of the Angels?
(eventually to become a member of Frank Zappa
's Mothers of Invention) and Randy Sterling. Originally released in 1969 on Frank Zappa's "Straight Records
" label. It has been reissued on CD and vinyl sometimes in combination with Simmons next album "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up
" from 1970.
1969 in film
The year 1969 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Last year for prize giving at the Venice Film Festival until it is revived in 1980...
outlaw biker film
Outlaw biker film
The outlaw biker film is a film genre that portrays its characters as motorcycle riding rebels. The characters are usually members of an outlaw motorcycle club.-History:...
, directed by Bruce D. Clark. Starring Michael Greene
Michael Greene (actor)
Michael Greene was an actor active from the 1960s through the 1990s.Early in his career, Greene was frequently featured in westerns, and was credited with over 100 television and film appearances, including the 1962 film This is Not a Test , as well as a leading role in the 1973 film The...
as Mother, Jennifer Gan
Jennifer Gan
Jennifer Gan was a sixties pop culture actress who appeared in fourteen movie and television show titles starting in 1964. Prior to this she performed on the stage in musicals such as "Li'l Abner" in 1958, "The Pink Jungle" in 1959 starring Ginger Rogers and Agnes Moorehead and "No Strings" in 1962...
as Marlene and Richard Rust
Richard Rust
Richard Rust was an American actor of stage, television, and film born in Boston, Massachusetts, probably best remembered for his role as a young lawyer in NBC's Sam Benedict series. Rust's mother died when he was five, and his father was an officer in the United States Navy...
as Fingers. Later documentary director Penelope Spheeris
Penelope Spheeris
Penelope Spheeris is an American director, producer and screenwriter. She is best known as a documentary film director whose works include the trilogy titled The Decline of Western Civilization...
is a cast member in her first appearance as an actress. Actor Corey Fischer
Corey Fischer
Corey Fischer , born in 1945 in Los Angeles, received a BA in French and Theatre Arts from UCLA. In the mid-sixties he worked in Los Angeles in improvisational theatre, notably with The Committee, and went on to work in film and television...
also appears in the cast.
The distributor of this film called "Favorite Films" started out in business in 1913 during the era of silent movies. They distributed 160 films in the USA. Naked Angels was the last film distributed by Favorite Films.
Overview
Mad dogs from hell hunting down their prey with a quarter-ton of hot steel between their legs. After being released from the hospital, a motorcycle gang leader sets out to avenge himself on the thugs who put him there in the first place.Get an inside look at the bizarre lifestyles of the outlaw bikers in Naked Angels. Many of the roles are played by actual members of the notorious "Hells Angels" in this classic Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
production.
The story concerns a death feud between two rival biker gangs. The Angels are out to revenge themselves on the Las Vegas Hotdoggers who severely beat their leader, Mother (Michael Greene
Michael Greene (actor)
Michael Greene was an actor active from the 1960s through the 1990s.Early in his career, Greene was frequently featured in westerns, and was credited with over 100 television and film appearances, including the 1962 film This is Not a Test , as well as a leading role in the 1973 film The...
).
As the story opens, Mother is just returning to the Angels and his old lady, Marlene (Jennifer Gan
Jennifer Gan
Jennifer Gan was a sixties pop culture actress who appeared in fourteen movie and television show titles starting in 1964. Prior to this she performed on the stage in musicals such as "Li'l Abner" in 1958, "The Pink Jungle" in 1959 starring Ginger Rogers and Agnes Moorehead and "No Strings" in 1962...
) who had become the property of Fingers (Richard Rust
Richard Rust
Richard Rust was an American actor of stage, television, and film born in Boston, Massachusetts, probably best remembered for his role as a young lawyer in NBC's Sam Benedict series. Rust's mother died when he was five, and his father was an officer in the United States Navy...
) the new head of the clan. When Mother reappears he quickly reassumes leadership of the gang as well as the rights to the strawberry blond, lascivious, foul mouthed Marlene.
The Angels go looking for the Hotdoggers at their hangout, a bar in Vegas. Not finding their rivals, the Angels bust up the bar and terrorize the local citizenry. A lone Hotdogger betrays his gang and tells the Angels of a secret mine hangout in the desert where they can find his gang.
Later that evening, Mother and Marlene are riding his chopper around Vegas, when a showgirl in a car catches his eye. He splits with the showgirl and when he returns, Marlene is livid with rage. Setting out into the desert, the Angels and Mother argue about what to do and how to travel through the desert. Marlene opens her mouth and says what everyone in the gang is thinking. Mother gets angry and says that everyone in the gang can have Marlene. There are no takers, as even the gang members cannot go so low, so Mother takes off on his own.
The Angels and finally Mother meet again at the mine hideout with the Hotdoggers. A stick of dynamite brings the Hotdoggers out of the mine for a vicious brawl with tire chains, knives, fists and boots. The Hotdogger leader steals an Angel's bike but Mother rides him down and finishes him off while the Angels look on and cheer.
After taking revenge on all the Hotdoggers, Fingers and Mother fight it out at the end but who will be leader of the Angels?
Production techniques
The film released in color takes advantage of the neon lighting of Las Vegas as many of the filming sequences occur there. The viewer gets a true historical representation of the state of the city near the end of the 60's. The film has sequences where the footage alternates between moving action and still photography which gives it an "art film" feeling. Along with the electric fuzz guitar soundtrack, there are many "dream" or "hallucination" sequences at different points in the film giving it a surreal atmosphere. The camera locations on the motorcycle riding sequences give the viewer a point of view that is unusual in these type of moving action sequences.Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack was co-written by Jeff SimmonsJeff Simmons (musician)
Jeff Simmons, born May 1949 in Seattle, Washington, is a rock musician and former member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. Simmons provided bass, guitar, and backing vocals for the group between 1970 and 1971. He left The Mothers just prior to the filming of 200 Motels in mid 1971...
(eventually to become a member of Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
's Mothers of Invention) and Randy Sterling. Originally released in 1969 on Frank Zappa's "Straight Records
Straight Records
Straight Records was a record label formed in 1969 to distribute productions and discoveries of Frank Zappa and his business partner/manager Herb Cohen. Straight was formed at the same time as a companion label, Bizarre Records. Straight and Bizarre were manufactured and distributed in the U.S. by...
" label. It has been reissued on CD and vinyl sometimes in combination with Simmons next album "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up
Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up
Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up is a 1970 album by Jeff Simmons, produced by Frank Zappa under the pseudonym La Marr Bruister. DescriptionIts title track was later rerecorded as part of Zappa's 1979 album, Joe's Garage...
" from 1970.
Track listing
- Naked Angels Theme 4:10
- Ride Into Vegas 1:16
- Vegas Boogie 3:05
- Vegas Pickup 4:05
- Cop Out 1:12
- First Desert Ride 1:45
- Rank 2:00
- Boinin' (Third Ride) 3:32
- Scots Breath 1:40
- Rat Grind 2:05
- Bar Dream 3:36
- Camper Scene 2:25
- Toccata for Truck 3:35
- End Theme 1:12