This week’s Moviedrome Monday entry is a double-bill consisting of two motorcycle films.
The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968)
I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to the late legendary British cinematographer/filmmaker Jack Cardiff’s 1968 biker flick The Girl on a Motorcycle. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was July 24, 1994 (read here). Hard to disagree with any of Cox’s points considering how wild and crazy the film is (as Cox so eloquently implies). Overall, the only logical approach viewers could take to this film is just to sit back and enjoy the ride – flaws and all.
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to The Girl on a Motorcycle
Here is another youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to The Girl on a Motorcycle
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
Psychomania (1973)
I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to director Don Sharp’s 1973 cult biker horror flick Psychomania. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was July 25, 1994 (read here). Unlike Cox, I actually prefer this one over The Girl on a Motorcycle. What I admire tremendously about Psychomania lies in the execution of the aforementioned film’s blending of horror with selected elements of the biker movie sub-genre.
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Psychomania
Here is another youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Psychomania
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
cinematiccoffee 
Girl On A Motorcycle is a good and solid film.. Great direction and photography and it has suitably psychedelic scenes. Marianne and Delon are both good. Good locations and it’s cool to have a road move in continental Europe. Good script. It’s a mad film but also a good film which I like. Alex’s intro is great too.
I don’t think Psychomania is as good though. I don’t think it’s such a good film. There are good points to it. It has good motorcycle scenes and good stunts. It has it’s moments. There are some good scenes. It definitely has cult appeal. I like the song from the film. Overall though I think it’s an average and forgettable film. Alex is absolutely right. If Harold Pinter had put more effort into the script then it would’ve been a great film. Alex’s intro is great too.
I saw them both at the cinema on release. Unlike Steve, I preferred Psychomania, applying the rule of ‘It is so bad, it’s good’. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
“Sublime madness” sums up Girl on a Motorcycle perfectly.
You got that right Paul 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
While I do love the European locations of The Girl on a Motorcycle and I am a huge fan of Alain Delon, Marianne Faithful and Jack Cardiff as a cinematographer (he directed this one), it works more on the sum of it’s parts than as a whole. So yeah, Psychomania is the better film. Anyway, thanks for dropping by Pete 🙂
I hear ya Steve 🙂 As I told Pete, The Girl on a Motorcycle works more on the sum of it’s parts than it does as a whole, but I do love the film’s European locations and it’s two leading actors (Alain Delon and Marianne Faithful), not to mention Jack Cardiff’s cinematography (personally, I prefer him as a cinematographer than as a director, but that is just me). Nevertheless, The Girl on a Motorcycle that is far too difficult to dislike properly so yeah I am with you that it is a good film and I also agree with you on Cox’s introduction of it 🙂
While I respectfully disagree with you and Cox on Psychomania, I do see why both of you had problems with it. I do agree though that Cox gives a typically eloquent intro as always 🙂
P.S. I saw the Reelmovies intro on Repo Man and I see you gave Giles Cosgrove (the presenter of that youtube channel) more info on Alex Cox 🙂 Like you, I too am a huge fan of not only Repo Man, but also Walker, which I actually rank as my number one favorite Alex Cox film. Walker is what you get If you take the satire/social comment of certain Richard Lester films and the slow-motion graphic violence of Sam Peckinpah and blended it together into one 🙂