The Violent Years

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: William Morgan
Written by: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Cast: Jean Moorhead, Barbara Weeks, Arthur Millan

Year / Country: 1956, USA
Running Time: 57 mins.

The Violent Years is about a gang of four girls that commit violent robberies and take their thrills unashamed! The script was written by none other than the famed Ed Wood. Although he didn’t direct this himself, it has certainly got his signature all over it. Especially, the patronising voice-over is typical of Mr. Wood.

The theme of the movie is juvenile delinquency. Parents should bring up good children as their duty to society. Kids should strive for good citizenship, self restraint, politeness and loyalty. The way in which this message is delivered is laughable though. It reminds of Reefer Madness with the condescending tone that is insulting to the viewer. And then I haven’t even mentioned the terrible acting and clumsy direction.

At the end of the movie, when the leader of the gang Paula is in front of the judge, you realise the true ridiculousness of the film. The speech of the judge goes something like this; ‘The Thrillseeker is much like the drug addict. With his continual increase of dosage until its climax: a murder.’ I had expected more from Wood than a piece of propaganda about juvenile delinquency sold as an exploitation movie. Don’t waste your time on this one folks.

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Biography: William Morgan (1899, London – 1964) worked as an editor from the early thirties till the late fifties. His resume contains films of many different genres, including science fiction movies like Tarantula and the TV-show Lassie. In the forties he directed quite a few features, including a series of westerns starring Gene Autry. His final film as a director was the Ed Wood scripted film The Violent Years.

Filmography: Bowery Boy (1940), Mr. District Attorney (1941), The Gay Vagabond (1941), Sunset in Wyoming (1941), Mercy Island (1941), Sierra Sue (1941), Cowboy Serenade (1942), Heart of the Rio Grande (1942), Home in Wyomin’ (1942), Stardust on the Sage (1942), Bells of Capistrano (1942), Secrets of the Underground (1942), Headin’ for God’s Country (1943), Fun & Fancy Free (1947), The Violent Years (1956)

Jail Bait

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Written by: Alex Gordon, Edward D. Wood Jr.
Cast: Lyle Talbot, Dolores Fuller, Herbert Rawlinson, Steve Reeves

Year / Country: 1954, USA
Running Time: 71 mins.

Marilyn Gregor bails out her brother Don who was caught carrying a gun. It appears that Don is under the influence of the hardened gangster Vic Brady. After Don’s release, he and Vic commit another robbery that ends with the death of an ex-cop. Don is now a murderer. His father, who is a plastic surgeon, wants to help him, but Vic has plans of his own.

Jail Bait is one of the least Ed Woodish films Ed Wood made. It is a crime movie for one thing, rather than a sci-fi / monster flick. There is also no Lugosi, less wooden acting and a whole lot less mistakes, although there are still plenty. One typical Wood element is still there: the message. This time it is ‘Never carry a gun or you will use it.’

The story gets kind of ridiculous as it unfolds, but hardly fails to amuse. The cast holds up well too. Fuller, who appears in many of Wood’s movies, is an enjoyable presence and the ending is really hilarious. Those elements together make this second feature film directed by Wood, one of his finer achievements.

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Biography: Edward D. Wood Jr. (1924, New York – 1978, Hollywood) is widely considered as the world’s worst filmmaker. His low-budget movies, usually mergers of science-fiction and horror, are mostly complete disasters in terms of production values and continuity. In 1994, Edward D. Wood Jr. became the subject of an amazing biopic directed by Tim Burton called Ed Wood.

Filmography: The Sun Was Setting (1951, TV short), Trick Shooting with Kenne Duncan (1953, short), Glen or Glenda (1953), Crossroad Avenger: The Adventures of the Tuscon Kid (1953, TV short), Boots (1953, short), Jail Bait (1954), Bride of the Monster (1955), The Night the Banshee Cried (1957, short), Final Curtain (1957, short), Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959), Night of the Ghouls (1959), The Sinister Urge (1960), Take It Out in Trade (1970), The Young Marrieds (1971), Necromania: A Tale of Weird Love (1971)

Speedracer

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Lana & Andy Wachowski
Written by: Lana & Andy Wachowski, Tatsuo Yoshida
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon

Year / Country: 2008, USA, Australia, Germany
Running Time: 129 mins.

After a five year break following the completion of The Matrix series, the Wachowski’s came up with another eastern inspired visual feast. Based on the Japanese manga and anime Mach GoGoGo from the sixties, which centred on automobile racing, this is the 120 million dollar version of the sunday morning cartoon series.

The Racers are a family obsessed with racing. Pops Racer (John Goodman) is the father who builds the insane racing vehicles and his two sons drive them. The oldest son Rex Racer is the specialist racer, but after he becomes involved in a tragic scandal, his little brother Speed (Emile Hirsch) takes over. Speed learns that racing is nothing but business these days, which goes against his old family values. He takes on the corporate evil of the racing world along with his family and the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox).

Speed Racer was targeted as a family film, but is probably most suitable for parking an ADD / ADHD child in front of. The hallucinogenic colour collages will drive the older generation insane, while the young ones will most likely love it. Also those who enjoy stunning visual eye candy and jaw dropping cinematography will have a great time. The movie lacks enough tension and takes a bit too long, but the enjoyable cast and breathtaking images makes this trip to the candy store still worth your time and attention.

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Biography: Lana & Andy Wachowski (1967/1965, Chicago) are famous film writers, producers and directors. Their best known work is box office smash hit The Matrix and its two sequels. They were born as Laurence ‘Larry’ Wachowski and Andrew ‘Andy’ Wachowski in Chicago. Prior to working in the film industry they wrote comic books for Marvel Comics Razorline. In 1996 they made their feature debut with the stylish thriller Bound. Three years later they made The Matrix which became the most influential science fiction film in recent history. After the release of the final ‘Matrix’ movie Larry Wachowski began appearing as a woman, using the name Lana.

Filmography: Bound (1996), The Matrix (1999), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Speed Racer (2008)

The Driver

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Walter Hill
Written by: Walter Hill
Cast: Ryan O’Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani, Ronee Blakley

Year / Country: 1978, USA / UK
Running Time: 88 mins.

Ryan O’Neal stars as the Driver, a character defined by his cool, controlled demeanor. In the film’s opening, he steals a car to use as a getaway vehicle for a casino heist, instantly establishing his profession. We quickly understand that he takes his job very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that it’s not about the money for him, but about maintaining his professional integrity.

The Driver is smooth, fearless, and intensely focused. His obsessive commitment to professionalism drives the narrative of the film, reminiscent of Le Samouraï, where a similar code of conduct defines the protagonist. The film has an existential quality, with each character simply doing what they do best, without personal attachments or backstories. They aren’t even given names, only titles like ‘The Driver’, ‘The Detective’, and The Connection’.

Bruce Dern delivers an outstanding performance as the relentless cop determined to catch the Driver. His character devises a trap, using minor criminals in a staged bank robbery as bait. What follows is a tense game of cat and mouse. In the first half of the film, director Walter Hill expertly builds momentum through tight pacing and memorable sequences, most notably a standout scene in an underground parking garage where the Driver showcases his remarkable driving skills.

Unfortunately, much of the tension dissipates in the second half, as the film loses some of the momentum it carefully built. However, the final moments provide a satisfying conclusion. The Driver is a solid film and a cult classic in its own right, with Hill already demonstrating his potential as a filmmaker. The casting is spot-on, and while it doesn’t quite reach greatness, it remains a must-see if only for the three impeccably realistic chase sequences.

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Biography: Walter Hill (1942, California) has been an active member of the Hollywood community since 1967 when he became a 2nd assistant director. Ever since, he has produced, written and directed a significant number of movies. He once said in an interview that he considers all the films that he directed as westerns. If you look closely, you can see western touches, such as revolvers, Winchester rifles and cowboy hats in all of his work. Hill frequently works with character actors James Remar, David Patrick Kelly, Brion James and Ed O’Ross.

Filmography (a selection): Hard Times (1975), The Driver (1978), The Warriors (1979), The Long Riders (1980), Southern Comfort (1981), 48 Hrs. (1982), Streets of Fire (1984), Brewster’s Millions (1985), Crossroads (1986), Extreme Prejudice (1987), Red Heat (1988), Johnny Handsome (1989), Another 48 Hrs. (1990), Tales from the Crypt (1989-91, TV-episodes), Trespass (1992), Geronimo: An American Legend (1993), Wild Bill (1995), Last Man Standing (1995), Deadwood (2004, TV-episode), Broken Trail (2006, TV), Dead for a Dollar (2022)