Main Cast: Ed Harris, Gary Lahti, Tom Savini, Amy Ingersoll, Patricia Tallman
Release Year: 1981
Country: US
Run Time: 145 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Knightriders may well be the only cycle flick ever to be played out in suits of armor. A hardcase motorcycle gang led by Ed Harris has found itself a neat money-making gimmick. Dressed as the knights of the round table, the cyclists pick up a few bucks at local "renaissance" fairs, selling handicrafts made by the more talented members of the gang. Harris' great rival is Tom Savini, who has his own band of "black knights." Keep an eye out for a chucklesome unbilled bit by novelist Stephen King. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Its premise -- cyclists who stage motorhead renaissance fairs -- might seem jokey, and certainly the humor of the situation isn't lost on director George Romero, but in this rare departure from the horror genre, Romero has bigger themes to explore. Taking his pseudo-medieval milieu one step further, his motley crew of cycling enthusiasts find themselves re-enacting Arthurian narratives. The film creates such a memorable clash of myth and modernity, of stories of England's past and America's frontier, that its moments of overindulgence don't really register. As the film's Arthur, Ed Harris' commanding presence helps elucidate the seriousness of the themes at work. Like the world of the Dead films in miniature, the society he oversees threatens to disintegrate, and his sorrowful performance makes clear his awareness of his situation's tragic potential. All the while, Romero never loses track of his other duty: to deliver the action. The well-staged fight scenes -- still the best (and only) examples of cycle jousting -- lose their oddness and gain excitement as the film progresses. Little-seen at the time, in retrospect, this film looks like one of the director's most personal, most mature efforts. ~ Keith Phipps, All Movie Guide
Christine Forrest - Angie; Warner Shook - Pippin; Brother Blue - Merlin; Cynthia Adler - Rocky; John Amplas - Whiteface; Ken Hixon - Steve; John Hostetter - Tuck; Albert Amerson - Indian; Judith Barrett - Musician Trio; Amanda Davies - Sheila; David Earle - Bleoboris; Martin Ferrero - Bontempi; Ken Foree - Little John; Harold W. Jones - Bors; Randy Kovitz - Punch; Michael P. Moran - Cook; Bingo O'Malley - Sheriff Rilly; Scott Reiniger - Marhalt; Hugh Rouse - Jess; Stephen King - Hoagie Man; Iva Jean Saraceni - Helen Dean; Tim Dileo - Corncook; John Harrison - Pellinore; Marty Schiff - Ban; Robert Williams - Kay; Don Berry - Bagman
Credit
David E. Vogel - Associate Producer, Pasquale A. Buba - First Assistant Director, George A. Romero - Director, Pasquale A. Buba - Editor, George A. Romero - Editor, Salah M. Hassanein - Executive Producer, Donald A. Rubinstein - Composer (Music Score), Cletus Anderson - Production Designer, Michael Gornick - Cinematographer, Richard P. Rubinstein - Producer, Tom Savini - Special Effects, Gary Lee Davis - Stunts, George A. Romero - Screenwriter
Knightriders (also known as George A. Romero's Knightriders) is a 1981 film written and directed by George A. Romero. It was filmed entirely on location in Pennsylvania, especially in Fawn Township and Natrona.
Billy (Ed Harris) leads a traveling troupe that jousts on motorcycles. "King William", as he styles himself, tries to lead the troupe according to his Arthurian-style ideals. However, the constant pressure of balancing those ideals against the realities and financial pressures of running the organization are beginning to strain the group. Billy is also plagued by a recurring dream of a black bird. Tensions are exacerbated by Billy's constantly pushing himself despite being injured and the arrival of a promoter named Bontempi (Martin Ferrero), who wants to represent the troupe.
After Billy spends a night in jail watching a member of his troupe beaten because Billy has refused a payoff to a corrupt local cop, Billy returns to the fairground where the troupe is next to perform and is shocked that some members want to join with the promoter. His sense of betrayal is heightened when his queen, Linet (Amy Ingersoll) admits that her feelings for him may not be the reason she remains with the troupe. Things come to a head after Morgan (Tom Savini), leader of the dissident faction who believes he should be king, wins the day's tournament and a melee breaks out between the troupe and rowdy members of the crowd. Billy faces an Indian rider (Albert Amerson) with a black eagle crest on his breast plate, the black bird of his dreams. Billy defeats the Indian but aggravates his injury. Morgan and several other riders leave the troupe to follow Bontempi. Billy's loyal supporter Alan (Gary Lahti) also departs with his ladyfriend Julie (Patricia Tallman) and friend Bors (Harold Wayne Jones) to try to sort out his emotions. Billy and the remainder of the troupe settle at the fairground to await the dissidents' return.
Morgan's riders succumb to infighting. Alan finds Morgan and helps him realize that there can only be one king and that he cannot simply leave and establish his own kingdom. Morgan and his riders return to challenge for the crown. In a pitched battle between Morgan's forces and Billy's, led by Alan, Morgan is victorious. Billy crowns him king and Morgan crowns the woman he now realizes he loves, Angie (Christine Forrest), as his queen. Morgan tells the promoter to tear up the contracts. Linet finds succor, with Billy's blessing, with Alan. Billy leaves the troupe, accompanied by the Indian, and returns to thrash the crooked cop as he had earlier vowed. While riding again, Billy, weak and hallucinatory from loss of blood from his injury, is struck and killed by a truck. The troupe gathers to say farewell to its fallen friend and king.
A subplot deals with Pippin (Warner Shook) coming to terms with his homosexuality and finding love with Punch (Randy Kovitz).
Thematically, the story reflects the choice many artists make between a "pure" expression of their vision (whatever it may be), and compromise to achieve commercial success. As an independent director of mostly low-budget films, George Romero is clearly sympathetic to the artist.
George Romero has claimed the medieval hobbyist organization, the Society for Creative Anachronism, to be one inspiration for the film.
The film was initially deemed[who?] too long, resulting in a 145 minute running time being edited to 102 minutes in its German release.
Sequel
A sequel entitled Knightriders 2 has been announced, with a budget of around $1–3 million.[1] The company behind this sequel is Taurus Entertainment, who were also responsible for the critically panned, unofficial Romero in-name-only sequels Day of the Dead 2: Contagium and Creepshow III.
