I was expecting to see something different when I went to the L.A. Film Festival in 1981 to see George Romero’s Knightriders. For one thing, I didn’t realise Romero was so freakishly tall!. Romero is best known for Night of the Living Dead, Martin and Dawn of the Dead. So there I was, a teenager who loves zombie films, going to see Romero’s latest gore-fest.
But there was no blood! (Well, one trickle.) Instead I was treated to a three-hour long lyrical film about idealism. “King Billy” Ed Harris is the leader of a “renaissance troupe with a twist”. Instead of horses, they joust on motorcycles. Billy is idealistic and wants to live by the code of chivalry. He rejects the crass consumerism of modern life. Good for him, but not so good for the bottom line. Half of the troupe want to sell their hippy wares and make some money, while the other half are really into the whole thing of their lifestyle. Morgan (Tom Savini) just loves the bikes. Billy has been approached by promoters who promise him publicity and money. Morgan argues that the money will allow them to buy new, better, flashier equipment. Billy will have none of this.
Morgan and several others splinter off to live the decadent life of the celebrity. I won’t spoil the rest, because this is a wonderful, overlooked gem. If you post spoilers, please be so kind as to include spoiler boxes.
The bikes are great. Billy rides a Honda CBX, an inline-six that is a collector’s item nowadays. The jousts are exciting. When Morgan & Co. get their new rides, which are supposed to be oh-so-awesome, you can tell that they were difficult to handle.
Steven King makes a cameo as the obnocious “Hoagy Man”. His wife Tabitha appears as his wife. Dawn of the Dead cast members Ken Foree and Scott Reiniger also enjoy roles in this film.
IIRC, Romero cut an hour off of this film – and it was still three hours long. It received some criticism at the time for its length. Personally, I would sit through the extra hour. This is a wonderful, gentle film by the Master of Gore. Worth a look.