This is not a great movie, and it never was. But today, the period foolishness in telling the story of poor, misunderstood counterculture bikers is a hoot! The bikers flaunt their bad-boys image and behavior, but then bemoan the harsh treatment they get from the "citizens" they despise. They--and this film--want it both ways. If this was a new film, I would be more critical of it, but as it is, it's a wonderful time capsule of '60s film-making and ideology. The acting and dialog continually swing from wooden and contrived to endearing and dramatically believable. Cassavetes was truly a talented actor, and this otherwise low-grade movie proves it. I am much more fond his gang leader character than the script or production warrant.
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pzilliox15 September 2005
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Quinoa198427 July 2006Devil's Angels is a little AIP biker flick I wouldn't really recommend to anyone- unless already big into biker/exploitation pictures, really into the 60s or die-hard of John Cassavetes- but I do admire it, sort of. It's not particularly well-made by usually TV director Daniel Haller, and what little imagination with the camera on this crowd is in bits but pretty limited. And sometimes this 'imagination' in the 60s biker movie sense means using the actual distorted POV shots as if they were through a fun-house mirror, and of course lots of tracking shots for anamorphic widescreen. But what's up on the screen is really a kind of bare-bones biker movie, with nothing but a large, riled up, un-stable gang who just want to go somewhere in 'peace'. This leads to their fun being crashing various things. It leads them soon to a town where the Skulls contend with a bunch of good-old small town boys who want them right out of town. Compromises get broken, and then it all leads up to one of the most gargantuan sized climaxes in any biker flick.
So, of course, much of the pleasure that comes out of Devil's Angels is in the purest sense of guilt. This is such a black and white world where bikers see the "man" as being completely oppressive, the townspeople fighting to keep the law and proper justice in line, and Cassavetes's Cody is almost stuck in the middle. His performance is one sometimes of nearing bemusement. This is not the usual kind of part I would think Cassavetes would do (probably though as something to fund one of his own movies as writer/director), but he fills the role well up enough in a very professional yet at the same time laid back manner. And as the one real voice of reason in keeping together his gang, the struggle really does near the tedious. We know what will happen, so there isn't much surprise. This is compensated by some funnier, more creative bits here and there, like when the bikers stop in on a beauty pageant, or some specific shots during their carnival shenanigans.
Sometimes, too, the frustration in watching a film such as this is in seeing some of the potential that is all now locked up in a time capsule going back almost 40 years. It's only real enjoyment comes out of taking much logic out of reality to showcase a broad party animals and jokesters and other vagabond types as well as the stiff-upper-lip townspeople. While the film is not without a pretty cool, satisfying ending, particularly for Cody's character, there seems to be some excess waste in the story until about an hour into the picture. It's respectable enough trash, with a couple of good performances (aside from the assured star), and obscure enough to really appease the B-movie and exploitation flick fans. -
sportster_163011 June 2006The best thing about Devil's Angels is the humor. This is a movie that makes it's point without taking itself too seriously. The violence is minimal compared to most other of this genre and the emphasis is on characterization. There are some genuinely funny moments in this movie and plenty of memorable lines. The part with the old lady and her shopping list is my favorite. The use of solid veteran actors helps fill in for the script lapses and keeps the viewers interest. Good luck finding this movie though. It is no longer shown anywhere and is not distributed either. After 10 years of searching, I finally found a used VHS tape on Ebay. It cost me $25 but I consider it worth it.
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Wizard-820 June 2015After the 1966 biker movie "The Wild Angels" became a box office smash, American-International Pictures over the next few years made and released a number of other biker movies, "Devil's Angels" being one of the first. While the movie definitely was profitable, the profit was much less so than what "The Wild Angels" grossed. Watching the movie, it's pretty easy to see why drive-in audiences weren't as enthusiastic. There is pretty much no plot or character development in the first half of the movie - it's just one vignette after another. The second half of the movie has a little story and fleshes out its characters slightly, but not too much more. Also disappointing is that the movie is nowhere as sleazy and explicit as some other biker movies of the time (it got a PG rating); it's quite tame even by 1967 standards. The best I can say for the movie is that there is some good widescreen photography and composition.
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......crack open a Coors,spark up some Mexican/Domestic blend,crank up the cheesy west coast surf guitar music - race around and have fun! I saw this flick on Fancast and really dug the bikes and the chicks man,and sexy Suzy really should have won that beauty contest at the Brookville picnic(wazzup wit dat?),..that injustice alone was worth starting a riot! On a serious note,this is one of Roger Corman's finest.The couple who had their truck torched by the Skulls after they knocked over one of their hogs had the best line in the movie:"it's okay honey,next year we'll buy a boat". This movie has humor,hot babes,and mucho violence.What more could red blooded Americans want(?) Billy Jack started his career with a movie involving biker hooligans up to no good.
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mossgrymk23 July 2021Under the theory that the smellier the manure the more bountiful the crop you can file the info that Cassavetes used his salary for this moron fest to complete "Faces". Give it a D.
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gavin694212 December 2012An exiled band of Hell's Angels strike a bargain with the Sheriff of a local town, let them stay and the town is safe. But a local girl strays into their lair and sparks off a full scale Angel war.
Nothing like a good old Arkoff-Nicholson-Corman production featuring bikers who are sick of "the Man" and want to fight, camp under the stars, and get crazy. Not a bad thing, but not really much in the way of originality here, either. I mean, after all, this was cashing in on their previous film, "Wild Angels", which was cashing in on the Hell's Angels' notoriety (and apparently the AIP guys ran into legal trouble for trying to put the Angels name in the movies... but who knows?) Now, besides the three guys mentioned above, we must mention the director: Daniel Haller. Probably not as well known as those guys, but he was the set designer for the AIP Poe films, so he was one of the family.
I guess the film grossed $4 million, which is not bad for a low-budget flick with no big names -- with all due respect to John Cassavetes (who horror fans know from "Rosemary's Baby") and Mimsy Farmer (who worked with Italian horror masters Argento, Fulci and Deodato). -
... as objective as possible. My grandfather (mom's side), the late ROY THIEL, played the deputy in this film. And somewhere in the family archives is a lobby poster for Devil's Angels. Word has it our family packed up the station wagon and watched it at the local (Seattle, WA) drive-in a few years after it's release. Now, years later, the keywords Roger Corman, 1967 biker film, and John Cassavetes shed a new light on the movie I barely knew of while growing up. Unintentionally kitschy, one of those movies you watch for the ambiance of the era rather than scrutinizing the plot line, but all in all, a nice time capsule of B-movie biker films of mid-late '60s. Devil's Angel's comes highly recommended (of course).
PS. My grandfather's name is attributed to (though he acted in commercials and several other non-credited roles) is yet another "Devil" titled-movie of the era: "Devil's Eight." -
Uriah4331 August 2015When things begin to get a little too hot in the city where they live the motorcycle gang known as the Skulls decide to head out on the highway and look for a new place to call their own. This brings them to the small town of Brookville which just happens to be enjoying a carnival on that day. Because they are so rowdy the local lawman, "Sheriff Henderson" (Leo Gordon) tells them to leave town. However when the leader of the Skulls, "Cody" (John Cassavetes) informs him that they have nowhere to go for the night the sheriff makes a deal where they can sleep out on the nearby beach but have to be gone the next day and that they cannot come back into town. Cody agrees and the motorcycle gang camps out on the beach. Unfortunately, a local girl named "Marianne" (Mimsy Farmer) cannot leave well enough alone and goes out to party with them. However, when things get a little too adventurous for her she runs back into town in a dishevelled state which causes several leading citizens in the town to take matters into their own hands. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that although it starts off rather slow it eventually gains momentum and ends up satisfactorily for the most part. In short, it's not a great motorcycle movie but it wasn't that bad either.
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theognis-8082111 July 2021Although following a line of biker movies, stretching back to "The Wild One," "Devil's Angels" feels remarkably contemporary in its tone: anarchists on wheels ride into a town, smashing windows, stealing whatever they want, burning a car, disrespecting legal authority, boasting of their contempt for the bourgeoisie, and vandalizing everything. Their leader, John Cassavetes, is surprisingly reasonable and the beauty of Mimsy Farmer is hereby preserved forever.
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SnoopyStyle11 July 2021It's Roger Corman's follow-up to his successful The Wild Angels. Cody (John Cassavetes) leads what's left of his motorcycle gang called the Skulls. They are continuously on the run from The Man. Cody recounts the story of Butch Cassidy's hideout, the Hole-in-the-Wall, and vows to find their own secret place.
Cassavetes should get a bit more gruffy to be a biker. He's too clean. I know that he never has facial hair but this role needs some. Maybe he could have a few day's growth. I am surprised with the humor and it's somewhat too broad. I like the rough general tone of this gang but the almost-rape scene does get very creepy. I don't mind going negative on the bikers as long as the movie doesn't keep trying to push the discrimination narrative. Despite the problematic rooting interest, I would like going apocalyptic on the town. If only they actually did it. The budget would have a problem burning down a town. -
angelsunchained26 March 2005Roger Corman's Devil's Angels which was made at the height of the movie-biker craze in 1967 has three qualities which make this "B" film a devilish good time.
Starring the late-great John Cassavetes as motorcycle gang leader Cody. Cassavates was one of the best actors of the 1960s, yet never really became popular with the mainstream movie goer. He brings a complexity to his character. Torn between "doing-your-own-thing" or "selling-out". As his sidekick is the beautiful and lovely Beverly Adams. Ms. Adams is best known for playing Dean Martin's sexy secretary in the Matt Helm series, Lovely Kravezit. Looking earthy, but sexy, she excels in one of his best on-screen roles.
A fine supporting cast is lead by Mimsy Farmer and veteran character actor/writer Leo Gordon. Out-dated today, but for the times it must rate as one of the top 5 biker films of the decade.
Interesting side note, the movie poster for Devil's Angels is one of the best there is. -
johnc21415 April 2009In the late 1960's biker movies were abundant,paving the way for the notorious ultimate biker flock;easy rider.devils angels is an entertaining biker flick with the late great John Cassavettes as the leader of the skulls,a motorcycle gang that after a hit and run accident with a motorist,are forced to flee in search of another town. of course the leader is at odds with some members of his own gang.they do terrorize another small town and the townspeople over rule the local sheriff to no avail,all hell breaks loose as the skulls take a violent turn.Roger Corman produced this film during his last days at American international pictures,the next film the trip was his last for American international pictures,after producers Sam Arkoff and James H Nicholson tampered with his ending on that movie,after that Corman branched out on his own with New World Pictures.well devils angels is an interesting biker flick.Cassavettes went on to star in rosemary's baby for directer Roman Polanski.i did enjoy this film,when i know Roger Corman is involved i know it will be an entertaining film,I'm giving the devils angels 7 out of 10.
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planktonrules12 July 2021The skulls.
Trivia is wrong...hopper was in The Glory Stompers but played leader of Black Souls.
In the late 1960s, a ton of biker films came out. Why? Because they were super-cheap to make (they rarely used stars and sometimes they just filmed actual biker from various gangs to save money)! Even if only a few folks came out to see them, the films made money and are almost all very similar. There are a few exceptions, such as "Werewolves on Wheels" (which is insanely weird) and "The Born Losers" (which is surprisingly good), but the rest have a certain sameness about them that make them forgettable. Is this the case with "Devil's Angels"? Well, unlike most it did feature a star (John Cassavetes)...but is it any good?
A member of the Skulls motorcycle gang is driving recklessly and accidentally hits and kills some poor schmuck. The biker runs away and rejoins the gang. Soon the gang runs amok...stealing and making nuisances of themselves. However, instead of arresting the gang, the local sheriff makes a dumb decision...to let the gang 'protect' the city! What's next? See the film...or not!
Like most of the rest of the biker films, this one is certainly no artistic masterpiece. It's mostly like voyeurism...watching jerks act like jerks. But it often is practically plotless...just showing the bikers being jerks and drinking. It is odd, however, that the leader of the jerks was pushing 40 in real life and although Cassavetes was a good actor, he was all wrong for the role. Overall, a dull film, believe it or not....and a poorly made one.
I noticed that the summary mentions the Hell's Angels...well, they are not even mentioned in the film! Also, in the trivia section there is a slight mistake, as it says that the film makes reference to another biker gang, the Glory Stompers, who were in another AIP picture preceding "Devil's Angels". This is true...but Dennis Hopper was NOT the leader of this gang, but some rivals called The Black Souls. Not a huge mistake...but a mistake. -
bikeronlineguide29 January 2016First there are no Hell's Angels as in mentioned in the main summery, the MC is the Skulls for you trivia lovers. As is so often the case in many of these summaries their weakness makes me wonder if they actually watched the movie. The movie does have a common plot for the genre, the beat music and slang of the Sixties fills the movie. The leader, John Cassavetes, is one of the not really bad guys, just a guy trying to find his way. So his performance is above what one often sees in these types of movies. Over another normal 60s biker "gang" stereotypes in plot but without the why so common death ending so in so many of films. At least more of a more positive ending
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mark.waltz11 March 2022Keep biker films other than "Easy Rider" out of time capsules as a representation of American art. Maybe put this one in a time capsule representing cultural fads that didn't work, or documentaries on how society tried to rebel and nearly destroyed it. Or maybe in a capsule involving films that had absolutely no plot and reminders of future filmmakers on how not to make a Salem. This certainly is colorful and filled with action, taking a bunch of bikers around the countryside and various peaceful communities, practically destroying every place that they visit.
John Cassavettes must have needed some fast cash for his independent classic "Faces" to be made, so he did this and possibly "Rosemary's Baby" (a genuine classic as conparred to this), and didn't look back. The general premise concerns itself with the alleged biker gang on the run after one of the members is involved in a hit-and-run accident that killed an innocent bystander, and after getting out of the city end up in a suburban community that wants no part of them. There's an election in progress oh, and one of the candidates doesn't want them there. They badger the local law enforcement to get rid of the biker gang, and this shows how they deal with trying to get them away.
If the filmmakers were trying to show any type of Injustice to these types of gangs, it didn't work because all it shows is how destructive they are and how they don't really belong anywhere in society. Freedom is one thing but the ruckus they create is another, and coming out of nowhere and acting the way they do isn't the same as riding down the highway minding their own business and being shot just for looking different. Beverly Adams will get noticed instantly for her Liza Minnelli hairstyle, even though this is a few years before "Cabaret" and Liza's doo hadn't become her keystyle at this time. You could watch this film and try to find some message in it, but the only message that it gives 50 years later is that some film makers were desperate to get anything on the screen no matter how pointless. -
michaelRokeefe29 August 2011Daniel Haller directs this campy low-budget biker film produced by Roger Corman. The biker gang The Skulls, are on the move after one of the members, Gage(Buck Taylor), accidentally kills a man stopped road side by a traffic cop. The morally conflicted gang leader Cody(John Cassavetes), makes the decision to move an already decimated gang to a newer "home". The rebellious followers are hard to keep in check; always wanting to raise havoc. On the way to a mythical "hole in the wall" hideaway, the riders look for a place to lodge and find a small town having a carnival. When barging in on a beauty contest some of the gang members claim to be insulted and going against Cody's orders decide to terrorize the little community with aid from another gang as payback for the citizens that offended them. Roaring cycles, the shimmy of dancing bottoms in bikinis and the soundtrack of fuzzy, twangy surf guitars...makes for terrific 1960s "drive-in" fare. The cast also features: Mimsy Farmer, Beverly Adams, Marc Cavell, Leo Gordon, Russ Bender, Buck Kartalian and Nai Bonet. There is some humor inside the very bad acting; and it appears Cassavetes took the budget and ran.
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jordondave-2808523 December 2023(1967) Devil's Angels CRIME DRAMA
It has Cody (John Cassavetes) coming back to reunite with his motorcycle gang "The Skulls" and spend time with his girl, Lynn (Beverly Adams) and while chatting when one of his friends had him psyched over a town called "Hole in the Wall". And Cody, the head man of the Skulls, manages to convince the rest of his group to make it to be their next destination. Along the way, they stop by a grocery store stealing beer and other munchies for their journey. Until the couple driving a camper comes by and knocks down one of their bikes, before they would then drive away again. Once they witness this, they would then go after the camper until it hits a trail and drive through it. When the bikers see this, they would then follow it, and by the time they reach the camper, they first see it abandoned before trashing it to the extent of having it burn down down, while the two occupants look on. There next stop is a town called "Brookeville" and the bikers happened to stop by just as soon a carnival festival is happening there, with a young lady name Marianne (Mimsy Farmer) wins the beauty contest. She then mixes herself up with one of the bikers, and because of the fact that the bikers are even there, rubs both the mayor, Royce (Russ Bender) his counselor and the town's top sheriff, Charlie Henderson (Leo Gordon) the wrong way. And Charlie directly speaks to Cody, that he and "The Skulls" are not wanted in their town. The sheriff lets them stay for the night but at a secluded beach, but instructs them to leave on the following morning. Once the sheriff is alone with the mayor, he then gets hounded by him, demanding him to kick the biker gang out immediately as he reminds him about another election coming up. While hanging around the beauty contest winner, Marianne decides to share a joint with some of the bikers around a campfire, and as soon as things become touchy feely, she takes an offense to that, and they let her go after she bellowed. And as soon as he is spotted and brought to the station, she is then questioned and when she tells them nothing happened, both the mayor and the counselor become disappointed, forcing the sheriff to either arrest or hold Cody upon confronting them about it at the beach. Once Cody is let since they do not have anything to hold him with, it is not long as soon as he returns back to his group, Cody is then manipulated to wreck havoc onto the town of Brookeville. As soon as another biker gang called "The Stompers" begin to show up, and that with the combination of both biker gangs can take hold of the entire town itself. Except that the only thing Cody wanted to do was to create his own judge and jury to prove to the mayor and counselor that nothing happened between Marianne and his group. It is during then is when things become chaotic. Is when Cody gave instructions to Billy to keep "The Stompers" gang at ease, and of course, he does exactly the opposite. Part of the irony of this is that Cody then later finds out that the town Hole in the Wall he was convinced was supposed to be so good, was made up.
One the problems I have though not a major one is how did Cody and the gang were able to find out both where the mayor, the counselor and Marianne where they live! Viewers are also oblivious, how the sheriff or others may have contacted other authorities from other jurisdictions when the biker gangs cut the telephone wires! It was not quite revealed how the sheriff was to still be able to do that unless he had a different frequency from a walkie-talkie or something. -
Ever since my Dad began 'blasting' the 'vinyl album' of "The Wild Angels Vol.2" back in the early 1970s when I was a child; and, after I began sneaking that album into my room when he was at work; I began to relate this Rock-N-Roll movie-music I love to this day (POWER-CHORD, ASS-KICKING ROCK-N-ROLL) to what sounded to me as if Keith Richards, Ray Davies, Peter Townshend, got together with Duane Eddy, and, some others, and, created "Magical Movie Kick-Ass Rock-N-Roll" for 'Biker exploitation movies!' HOWEVER...IT WAS "MIKE CURB"...ALL BY HIMSELF! The Greatest Rock-N-Roll Movie-Star Musician whom 'NO ONE' has ever even heard of!?!?
"Easy Rider" is a classic...NO DOUBT, and, it has original music by Rock-N-Roll stars of the day! But, movies like "Devil's Angels;" "The Wild Angels;" "The Glory Stompers;" "Hells Angels On Wheels;" "The Born Losers;" etc...and, even the Clint Eastwood classic "Kelly's Heroes," had music by Mike Curb (at this time, The Mike Curb Congregation)...and, it's all GREAT MUSIC!
These 'biker movies' were an 'institution,' just as the 'beach party' movies with Annette Funicello (BEAUTIFUL LADY) and Frankie Avilon were an institution. These biker movies were GREAT 'Drive-In' movies that kept your attention when you weren't fondling your date. These biker movies represented the time in which they were made; they had GREAT MUSIC (thanks mainly to Mike Curb); and, in many ways, they were fun to watch.
They never intended to become Academy Award Winners, but, they were good and they kept your attention at the Drive-In! :) God...I miss the Drive-In Theaters SO VERY MUCH! :( -
phillindholm19 October 2011A quickly made follow-up to AIP'S ''The Wild Angels'', ''Devil's Angels''nevertheless provides solid entertainment, as well as some good acting from a game cast. John Cassavetes stars as the craggy head of a motorcycle gang who decides to lead his fun-loving bunch to a mythical place he calls ''Hole In The Wall''.This Nirvana is supposedly a hide-out he has heard of, where they won't be bothered by the outside world of ''Squares'' and can happily debauch to their heart's content. This group, however, is nowhere near as savage as ''The Wild Angels'', and their idea of fun is taking apart a little country store, stiffing the owner, and setting fire to the camper of a couple unlucky enough to accidentally knock over one of their ''Hogs''. But the story turns ugly when they stop in a small town and are accused of rape by the local yokels. Cassavetes brings a certain likability (and even a sense of honor) to his part, Leo Gordon is his usual proficient self as the local Sheriff, and, as a nice, but reckless girl who chooses to party with the gang, Mimsy Farmer (in the second of three films she made for AIP) is lovely and persuasive. The gang members are mostly convincing as well, though Beverly Adams, sporting a Vidal Sassoon haircut (courtesy of her future husband)and an enormous pair of false eyelashes, simply looks ridiculous as Cassavetes main squeeze. The widescreen photography is great, as is Mike Curb's music score, with many numbers performed by ''Angels'' alumni,Davie Allan And The Arrows. ''Devil's Angels'' has just been officially released on DVD by ''MGM'S Limited Edition'' label, and it's uncut, in widescreen, and looks fine. Previously available only as a full-screen VHS tape, double billed with a forgettable TV-movie, ''Return Of The Rebels'', this DVD is a welcome addition to any ''Biker Film''collection.
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A good example of 1960's biker films. Nothing too new here, just a basic story of a biker gang forced to flee its home town after a member accidently kills a citizen. Basically, they ride around and cause mayhem for anyone who gets in their way. More funny than violent in places, but a serious enough treatment of the subject matter.
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bkeating-8988429 July 20211967s Devils Angels as one big name critic said cheap and lurid. That means a must see. With what I call three stooges rebellion example breaking balloons at a gas station convenience store.
Love the Davie Arrow score. There's also a cool reference to Of Mice &Men George and Lenny with the biker named Robot. Is available in wide-screen through Warner Archives. I proudly own the Tower OST and original one sheet poster. Just think what was going through John Cassavettes head while making this. Another check towards his own independent films.
Thank you " Number 11"!! For doing this film. -
Michael_Elliott3 August 2012Devil's Angels (1967)
** (out of 4)
AIP biker flick is yet another take on THE WILD ONE. Biker Cody (John Cassavetes) wants to find his gang a "Hole in the Wall" just like Butch Cassidy's gang but soon they run into a Sheriff (Leo Gordon) who they're able to make a deal with but the locals have their own plans. When AIP had a hit with THE WILD ANGELS they quickly threw this film into production and while it's far from a classic there's no doubt that it's at least entertaining and fans of the genre should have a good time with it. It's funny to think that the entire film we're supposed to be rooting for the bikers but when you view this film today, and I'm sure it was the same in 1967, you can't help but look at them as the bad guys. They're rude, loud, obnoxious and I don't see how anyone could agree with the stuff they're doing through the first hour of the movie. So, how did the producers try to make us like them? By throwing in equally dumb and obnoxious locals including a Mayor who decides to best way to teach the bikers is to accuse them of rape, which of course just leads to a whole 'nother battle. As with THE WILD ANGELS, the material is handled a lot more serious than most biker movies from this era. What violence is here is usually in the background and there's not even any nudity, profanity or other things like that. As straight as the movie is, there are a few campy moments including a bit with the boys filling up their gas tanks and then not having the money to pay for it. The final courtroom sequence also doesn't do anything but it's a pretty funny form of justice. Cassavetes is obviously way too talented for material like this but his performance certainly raised the quality of the film. Beverly Adams and Mimsy Farmer are both fun in their roles and Gordon does a nice job with the Sheriff. Non-genre fans might not find this worth sitting through but fans of the genre will want to check it out at least once and especially with dialogue like "When God created woman he made her pretty stupid."