C.C. & Company

Released in 1970, "C.C. & Company" is a low-budget biker flick starring none other than Joe Namath as C.C. Ryder, a quasi-member of The Heads motorcycle gang. When C.C. hooks up with a pretty fashion designer, played by Ann Margret, it causes friction with the other gang members, particularly Moon, played by William Smith. It all comes down to C.C. and Moon squaring off in a bike race at a high school football field track.

This is a fun biker flick and not as dead serious as 1966's "The Wild Angels" – the first and best biker flick – or 1969's popular "Easy Rider," which was just as good in its own way. "C.C. & Company" also seems to have a lower budget. For instance, there's some noticeably bad acting by Smith and Teda Bracci, the latter who plays biker chick Pig, but – then again – maybe they were intentionally shooting for camp (ya think!). The obvious draw here is Namath's larger-than-life charisma and cutie Margret; it's inexplicable that Namath didn't develop a lasting acting career (maybe that infamous pantyhose commercial did him in, lol). The rockin' late 60's soundtrack is also a treat. The whole cast obviously had fun making the film and it comes off on the screen.

Besides Margret, the movie features a couple other standout women, like Jennifer Billingsley as Pom Pom and Jacquie Rohr as Zit Zit. Billingsley is rather tall with model-like beauty, albeit hidden behind her wild biker chick garb, while Rohr is petite and curvy. The latter could've easily stolen the show if she had more screen time.

While worthwhile just for the two stars and amusing as light biker fare, "C.C. & Company" is unable to overcome its limitations, which explains my mediocre rating. Nevertheless, if you appreciate the biker genre that ran from 1966-1974 "C.C. & Company" is mandatory viewing, sort of.

The film runs 83 minutes and was shot in Tucson, Arizona, and Las Vegas.

GRADE: C

Luscious Ann Margaret,her husband Roger Smith, an almost schoolboy-like "Broadway Joe", assorted character actors known for playing these kinds of roles, and a script that motorcycle enthusiasts either laugh like loons, or groan, at...or both.

Features some of the most priceless dialog this side of an Elvis epic. Some examples: "Those are the kind of people who give motorcycling a BAD name!", "Are you boys gonna help out a damsel in distress, or just make like Marlon Brando?", and more! Chicks and dudes - you will dig this! This love story/musical/60s stoner drive-in delight highlights incredibly stupid acts of riding AND crime (PLEASE don't try these anywhere!). All this, and Wayne Cochran (aka "The King of Blue-eyed Soul"), too. Makes a great double bill with either "Roustabout", "Easy Rider", "On Any Sunday", or NFL highlights of the Jets when Joe was their star QB. Good thing he stuck to sports after this mostly-intentionally forgotten effort. At least the bikes are cool, and the locations are stunning in that vivid color they used back then. Oh, and A-M gets a song in there, too...I think.

This is one of the best Biker-Movies ever. It has it all: heavy bikers, great action, good music, humor and a lot of sexy girls. Ann Margret and Jennifer Billingsley look really wonderful in their outfits. I think this was Joe Namaths film debut but the brilliant William Smith as Gangleader Moon steals everybody in the show. If you are a fan of those kind of movies, don't miss it!

While Joe Namath was likeable in his role, William Smith, who made a living mostly playing "bad guys" in many B pictures, gave the best performance in this movie. Smith looked like a biker, unlike Namath. He was nasty, grizzled, and mean. Just what you would expect from a "Hells Angel." With an R rating it would have been nice to see a little more skin (especially on a young Ann Margret) but the movie is worth seeing anyway.

C.C. Ryder (Joe Namath), a motorcycle mechanic, is a somewhat reluctant member of an outlaw biker gang known as The Head. By accident, he meets a fashion photographer, Ann McCalley (Ann-Margret), and saves her from the other members of his gang. C.C. falls for Ann, but realizes he'll have to leave the gang if he is to win her over. C.C. enters and wins a dirt bike race, giving him the funds he needs to strike out on his own and pursue Ann. But gang leader Moon (William Smith) doesn't see it that way. He wants C.C.'s money for his own and goes after Ann to prove his point. C.C. will have to defeat Moon if he is to be free of The Head.

Given its relatively poor online reputation, I'm as shocked as anyone by how much I enjoyed C.C. and Company. The movie just clicked with me and worked quite nicely. Director Seymour Robbie may have been mainly a television director, but I felt he handled this transition to film very professionally. C.C. and Company is well-paced with plenty of sight gags and fight scenes that work as intended. For example, the scene where C.C. steals the dirt bike is really cleverly handled. The shot of him towing the dirt bike behind his chopper was a real kick. As for fight scenes, the fight between C.C. and Moon in the creek is really well choreographed and filmed. It's a solid action piece. Robbie also manages to throw in some menacing set-pieces, none more so than the kidnap of Ann. Again, nicely done.

The acting in C.C. and Company is also a highlight. I wasn't expecting much from Namath, but he gives a reasonably competent performance. In a lot of scenes he's not asked to do much more than sit on his bike and smile, but when challenged, he's more than capable. Ann-Margret is Ann-Margret and gives the performance you expect. The chemistry she had with Namath seemed natural and easy. The real star for me, however, is William Smith. He plays Moon as a hulking, menacing presence capable of snapping at a moment's notice. He's always struck me as a wonderful actor and, here, he really gets a chance to shine.

As I said near the start of this, I enjoyed C.C. and Company more than most. I was entertained throughout and that's all I ask of a film. A solid 7/10 from me.