ANGELS' WILD WOMEN (1972)
Director: Al Adamson
Troma

By 1971, the motorcycle genre had just about totally petered out overnight. Originally titled "Screaming Eagles," this film represents Al Adamson's last foray into this once familiar territory (SATAN'S SADISTS, HELL'S BLOODY DEVILS). Producer Sam Sherman tried to promote the film in the vein of Jack Hill's THE BIG DOLL HOUSE, a title which was all the range in the exploitation world at the time.

The film immediately opens up with two degenerates (one of them played by Adamson regular Gary Kent) chasing a black girl through an empty field. The girl is played by Maggie Bembry (who looks like a cross between Diana Ross and Oprah Winfrey), and as the film's hype dictates, "'Cool Chick' a young swinger who's Black, Beautiful and Busty, with a 48" buntline to prove it..." After Cool Chick is raped, her gang of tough girls arrive for revenge, led by blonde and sexy Margo (Regina Carrol). It's scenes like this that were added at a later time, giving a "tough girls" appeal rather than just a standard biker film appeal. That's why Regina's character (in hot pants and frosted lip gloss) is whipping a man one minute, and the next minute she's being docile to horse.

The girls find out that their men are meeting another gang and they don't want the "Mamas" to tag along, so the girls get on their bikes and ride off. They end up at a deserted farm, where they seduce (and rape!) an idiotic farm boy. Much of the rest of the movie is dedicated to footage of the Angels getting into brawls, drinking heavily, and fighting over women. Like SATAN'S SADISTS, this movie was partly filmed on the legendary Spahn Ranch, home of the Manson Family. There's a subplot of a freakish cult lead by a Manson-like character named King (William Bonner) who controls the ranch's owner (Kent Taylor) and makes trouble for the bikers.

Also in the cast is biker film regular Ross Hagen (THE MINI-SKIRT MOB), as the grubby, understated hero; Vicki Volante (BLOOD OF DRACULA'S CASTLE, BRAIN OF BLOOD) as a drugged-out hippie; and Albert Cole and John Bloom (the reunited stars of THE INCREDIBLE TWO-HEADED TRANSPLANT) as Weasel and Big Foot. In one outrageous scene, a sleeping Bloom gets squirted on by one of his fellow bikers who aims right for his mouth! With above average editing and cinematography, and brisk pacing, ANGELS' WILD WOMEN is about as good as any other biker film from this period.

The full frame transfer on the DVD looks pretty good, with nice colors, although sometimes on the dull side. The mono sound is fine. Extras come in the form of a new introduction by Sam Sherman, as well as his interesting audio commentary, behind-the-scenes stills, a trailer, a TV spot, and the "Producing Schlock" mini-documentary on Sherman and Independent International. (George R. Reis)

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