That’s right! This Moviedrome Monday entry happens to be another double bill 🙂
Hell’s Angels on Wheels (1967)
I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s Moviedrome introduction to director Richard Rush’s 1967 biker flick Hell’s Angels on Wheels. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 18, 1991 (read here). Not much to really add here and while it is far from a classic, there is no denying that it is highly entertaining – I especially agree with Cox regarding the motorcycle sequences and it’s use of music. Along with Easy Rider from two years later, Hell’s Angels on Wheels is little more than a product of it’s time; nevertheless, both are still worth a watch. My only issue with Cox here is that he credits the late Laszlo Kovacs as cinematographer on Close Encounters of the Third Kind, when it was actually photographed by the now also deceased Vilmos Zsigmond (read here and here).
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Hell’s Angels on Wheels and I would like to personally thank user giulio sacchi74 (a.k.a. Steve) for his valiant efforts in finding and uploading this link 🙂
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
Rumble Fish (1983)
I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 drama Rumble Fish. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was during the early midnight hours of August 19, 1991 (read here). Everything Cox says here about Rumble Fish is 100 percent spot-on and yes, it is far superior to The Outsiders – also directed by Coppola earlier in 83 (both came out the same year) and like this film, it too was adapted from an S.E. Hinton novel. In addition, Rumble Fish feels more personal to Coppola than The Outsiders. For example, it has been reported that the story’s central relationship between two brothers (Matt Dillon and Mickey Rourke) reminded Coppola of the bonding he had with his older brother August, whom the film is dedicated to (read here and here). Along with composer/musician Stewart Copeland’s experimental score (read here and here), Rumble Fish is also notable for Stephen H. Burum’s unique black-and-white cinematography, which resembles what a b&w French New Wave film (read here and here) would look like lit with stylish touches relating to German Expressionism (read here, here and here) and Film Noir (read here). After one combines all of this together, Rumble Fish finishes up visually as an authentic piece of avant-garde cinematic art. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Francis Ford Coppola films (read here).
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Rumble Fish. Once again, I would like to personally thank user giulio sacchi74 (a.k.a. Steve) for his valiant efforts in finding and uploading this link 🙂
Also, here is a youtube video link to another version of the intro uploaded by Steve, in case any of you readers wanted a slightly higher quality version of it. Personally, I love the first version that Steve uploaded, but this one is every bit as great and is always welcome 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mspYMzue9k
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
cinematiccoffee 
You think the quality of those two videos is lousy? I am the uploader of both those videos and I believe that the rarity and content of those two videos compensates for any shortcomings in quality they have. These Moviedrome intros are as rare as rare can be. They aren’t availible anywhere else so it’s this or nothing until someone else uploads better quality versions.
I don’t think the audio is lousy. You can hear it loud and clearly so isn’t that all that matters? When I filmed these intros I wasn’t intending to upload to youtube at that point. I just filmed these for myself as I thought they might disappear from youtube and they did soon after and they haven’t been back since. I uploaded these two intros as I was fed up of the lack of Moviedrome intros being uploaded to youtube and how only about half of the Alex Cox intros are currently on the site. I set up this channel solely to put the three ultra rare intros I have on youtube. There are currently 63 Alex intros that are lost and unavailible so I thought these two would be a welcome addition on youtube despite any imperfections in the video quality.
You’re ‘deep’ and ‘sincerely’ sorry about the lousy quality of the videos yet you still linked both here. That kind of proves my point that the ultra rarity of these videos compensates for any quality imperfections they have. I recommend removing the links from here if you think they’re so bad then. If I hadn’t uploaded this they’d just be two more Alex Cox Moviedrome intros lost to oblivion.
I’d also add that I did enjoy this blog and i thought my two rare videos would be welcomed here. I’m also not entirely happy with the quality of the videos and I wish I could’ve filmed both better but I do believe that the rarity compensates.
Love Love Love Rumble Fish…Matt Dillon for me, was one of the best underappreciated actors..same for Robert Redford in my book. Their looks got in the way of the fact they were/are both supremely talented at what they did and never got the acclaim I think they should have! Just my 2 cents. ha!
I have only seen Rumble Fish from these two, and recall being very impressed. But it was a long time ago. I always thought Dillon was underrated, and loved him in ‘Drugstore Cowboy’.
Best wishes, Pete.
I’m quite interested in watching Hell’s Angels on Wheels, it would make a good double feature with Electra Glide in Blue. Looking at my Moviedrome guide after reading your post I notice Rumblefish isn’t included, so thanks for the link to the transcript.
Oh no I did not mean it that way Steve and I was happy to post your two links here. I am deeply sorry If my words incited you to remove the videos. I was not criticizing you – in fact, I am happy that those two videos were available regardless of condition. I also highly applaud your efforts to preserve whatever Moviedrome videos were available. I do not know If you could re-upload these two again, but please accept my apology for any criticisms of the video. I also welcome any Moviedrome videos regardless of quality here. Once again, I never meant to hurt your feelings in the slightest.
I have also written a longer sincere apology for you Steve. Here is the link below
https://cinematiccoffee.com/2020/08/24/an-apology-to-steve/
You are right Peggy that Matt Dillon does seem under appreciated in retrospect. I too love Rumble Fish and I thought the style of the film was unique. I also loved the brother bonding between Dillon and Mickey Rourke in the film. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
P.S. Hey Peggy, I do not usually ask somebody to read a blog entry, but can you read this one, because I think it may have played a role in the uploader of those two intro videos to delete them. Here is the link below
https://cinematiccoffee.com/2020/08/24/an-apology-to-steve/
Same here Pete 🙂 I loved this and Drugstore Cowboy. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
P.S. I do not usually ask this, but can you read this recent blog entry I wrote? Here is the link below
https://cinematiccoffee.com/2020/08/24/an-apology-to-steve/
You are quite welcome Paul 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
P.S. I do not usually ask this, but can you read this recent blog entry of mine that I wrote? Here is the link below:
https://cinematiccoffee.com/2020/08/24/an-apology-to-steve/
Left a comment.
I’ve never seen the first movie, but Rumble Fish is a favorite. Matt Dillon did become a subtle actor who’s been unappreciated for decades. He was discovered in the street, I believe, ditching school or something. I guess he’s a natural actor. Always loved Mickey R. I wish he hadn’t run away from Hollywood. Or, actually, run away and then come crawling back later. Dude, if you’re gonna give the middle finger to The Biz, have a spine! Don’t come back later, lol !!
I was heavily influenced by S.E. Hinton while growing up and inspired that she was published so young. When I tried to have my book published as S.E. Bryan, in honor of Hinton, the publisher refused because they thought readers wouldn’t know I was a woman and my book was a paranormal comedy that was kinda chick-lity.
The funny part is Hinton used her initials exactly for the “gender problem” reason: so people wouldn’t know she was a woman and males wouldn’t dismiss her books. That was in the ’60s, though. It’s kinda amazing that this kind of thing is still a concern today!
Thanks for the post. And I’m glad you got things settled with Steve. 🙂
Yeah, I too read that about Matt Dillon and yes, he is a highly underrated actor. His brother Kevin Dillon is best known for co-starring on the HBO series Entourage. I too love Mickey Rourke as well 🙂 I think he came back to star in some Hollywood stuff mainly for money cause do not forget, The Wrestler was actually an independent film. According to close friends of his, Rourke takes his Catholic faith pretty seriously – I think Tom Sizemore said that in an interview. You can read about that on wikipedia’s entry for Rourke.
Ah you too loved the books of S.E. Hinton 🙂 Awesome to hear cause so did I 🙂 I wonder If her books were also popular outside the midwest? 🙂 I too do not understand why they would not let you use the S.E. for your first name in publishing a book. After all, CNN and HLN feature a female commentator by the name of S.E. Cupp so one would think that their first reaction would be “why not?” 🙂
Yeah, me and Steve made peace with each other. It was never my intent to demean his videos. I mean I used the word “lousy” to describe the audio and quality initially (I have since deleted that description), but I did not mean it in an extreme way. I think If I am guilty of anything with that, it was using the wrong word. I am thankful for whatever Moviedrome video I can link to on youtube and Steve’s is every bit as great as the others. Nevertheless, I do hope I get an opportunity to link to one of Steve’s youtube videos in the future to offset our initially disastrous introduction to each other. Personally, I have a feeling me and him will and he has decided to re-upload the links so that is good 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
🙂