Hell's Belles

Hells Belles started off pretty adequately, and as it went along it turned out to be one of the better biker pictures I've seen from AIP. It probably wont be remembered much years from now, and one reviewer who said it's much more like a B-western than anything else was correct (though I've yet to see Winchester 73), but it's a couple of notches above other fare that was offered during the period. It helps that the producer/director, Maury Dexter, was a professional at making this kind of picture, and is actually a pretty decent storyteller given the elements. That he boils everything down to mostly essentials makes the picture work, and while I wouldn't say his work rises the script above its more predictable territory, he does find what he needs to have it not go off the rails.

First of all, this is not some mindless film where the plot is buried under lots of scenes of partying and inane music. If anything, the kind of stubbornness on the part of the two main male characters- played perfectly to type by Jeremy Slate as the cowboy Dan and Adam Rourke as the lead biker Tampa- helps push the film along in a good direction, and rarely does the story flap around in the breeze. The soundtrack is also above average for this kind of ultra low-budget B-movie, where the repetition is neat and well played, with some good beats and rhythms put to the action scenes.

Granted, the viewer will know how this will boil down, in a Western-style show-down between two hard-pressed men wanting each by some kind of pre-destined movie-fate. But there are moments that come up that are unexpected too, little pieces of dialog that are not written poorly or to some low-common denominator. It's not that it's very realistic, either, but little passages are more believable than other AIP movies I've seen. One little moment I liked is right before said showdown, where Rourke has some last words with a fallen biker bitten by a rattlesnake. Or the typical but charming interplay between Slate and leading lady (less than great) Jocelyn Lake.

Hell's Belles, in the end, is really not totally the typical biker movie- there's not a lot of drugs, not much of the bikers hassling the locals (minus the gas station scene, one of the funniest in the film), no cops, and lots of open Arizona desert adding to the enclosed/open atmosphere. It doesn't really aim for much, but then the filmmakers and the cast now that well enough for it to be a good show, and a very respectable B-side to the Midnight double-feature DVD release (the A-side being the Wild Angels). Lots of bikes, cool fights, simple supporting cast, not bad at all.

Hell's Belles is nothing more than a story about one biker stealing a motorcycle from another, who in turn gets it stolen by a biker gang, who is turn is chased down by the biker who got his bike stolen in the first place! Sounds exciting right? Not really. grade-school fight scenes, a biker gang that doesn't smoke, drink, or even wear leather jackets! Biker-film pin-up boys Jeremy Slate and Adam Roarke are the leads, but their acting is cheesy and wooden. However, the bright spot of Hell's Belles is the beautiful Jocelyn Lane. Hubba! Hubba! Miss Lane runs, screams, cries, rides a motorcycle, falls off a motorcycle, wearing a mini-skirt and boots. Blonde, tan, and built! The biggest farce of this film is how both Slate and Roarke are more in love with a prize bike, then the shapely Lane. How unreal can you get. I'd rate this stinker a 2, but I'd rate Miss Lane a 10. Hell's Belles!

If you're a guy, you watch this for Jocelyn Lane's "Cathy".

All of the biker guys treat her like garbage. They're too concerned with their dumb motorcycles. If just one of them showed some genuine kindness towards Cathy, she would've been been very affectionate & devoted to them.

How dumb do you have to be to care more for a machine than an insanely sexy woman?

Is it any wonder she has such an attitude towards the men?

The story & acting aren't that bad.

This could've been much better ...or worse. Depending upon your point of view.

The humor is okay at times.

Jocelyn Lane looks like she had the potential to be a huge star, if not for acting, then as a magazine cover girl.

Yes, she is THAT beautiful.

Quasi-comedy biker flick with western-genre elements has motocross champ Jeremy Slate (as the one decent character, and convincingly so) plotting his vengeance on the Arizona biker gang who stole his prized cycle. He catches up to them but is beaten badly, and for compensation the scurrilous pack leaves him scowling chopper chick Jocelyn Lane (an attractive cross between Nancy Sinatra and a post-teenage Hayley Mills, but a bit too refined for this kind of movie). "Hell's Belles" isn't much, nor does it strive to be, but the desert locales are interesting, Les Baxter's score is campy, and the performances aren't bad. Adam Roarke, a fine actor who made more than his share of groaners, plays the leader with admirable finesse, and the growing relationship between Slate and Lane is intriguing. The final showdown is well done, as is the closing scene. American International Pictures, having had huge success with "The Wild Angels" in 1966, had a tough time getting out of the biker rut, and by 1970 it was all starting to look like rehashed goods, but this entry has some modest surprises up its sleeve, and leaves you with more than just a quick biker fix. ** from ****

A 1969 B remake of Winchester '73. Jeremy Slate wins a race and receives a new bike as the prize. He wants to sell it for cash but of course, it's stolen. His personal quest to "get my bike back so I can buy a ranch" is the plot.

3 reasons to watch this curio:

1) If you're into bikes.

2) Filming locations all in Arizona 3) Jocelyn Lane!

After Tickle Me with Elvis, I feel for Jocelyn having to put up with low grade projects. She's the best part of this film.

Film has its moments with some nice Arizona desert locations shots. Have I mentioned Jocelyn Lane though? My goodness she's easy on the eyes.