Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»1970s Movies»Movies 1971
    Movies 1971 Movies E 2 Mins Read

    Evel Knievel (1971)

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    This film biography of motorcycle daredevil and human crash-test dummy Evel Knievel offers plenty of action plus a full-length portrait of a larger-than-life figure.

    We first meet Knievel (George Hamilton) in the empty Ontario Motor Speedway where he is soon to attempt hurdling his motorcycle over 19 cars. As the moment of truth approaches, his life unfolds via flashbacks: We see his rambunctious boyhood in Butte, Montana – among other pranks he once tried to dynamite City Hall – his daredevil debut in a medicine show and his calamitous courting of his pretty wife, Linda (Sue Lyon).

    Knievel emerges as a singularly rugged individualist, very much a product of what’s left of the Old West, a man who is funny largely because he is so humourless about himself. Yet the handsome Knievel is really quite likeable because he is so open and bursting with vitality.

    He is also very conservative: his enemies are outlaw bikers, his heroes are Elvis (whom he identifies with) and John Wayne (whom he worships).

    Hamilton manages to be ingratiating yet cocky and Sue Lyon is quite believable as the adoring but clear-eyed girl he woos and wins. Bert Freed, Ron Cameron, Dub Taylor, Ron Masak, Hal Baylor and silent star Betty Bronson (as Linda’s sorority housemother, astounded by Knievel driving a bike through her dorm) all score in support. Cameron is especially funny and poignant as an ageing bronco buster who dies with his boots on.

    Evel Knievel makes good use of natural locales and some authentic Knievel action footage presented in straightforward newsreel fashion (and thus free of the usual matching problems).

    Evel Knievel
    George Hamilton
    Linda
    Sue Lyon
    Doc Kincaid
    Bert Freed
    Charlie Knesson
    Rod Cameron
    Turquoise Smith
    Dub Taylor
    Pete
    Ron Masak
    Sheriff
    Hal Baylor
    Evel at 12
    John Dale McCutchan
    Bill
    Cliff Medaugh
    Bill Jennings
    Henry Olek
    Marge
    Mary Peters
    Sorority House Mother
    Betty Bronson

    Director
    Marvin Chomsky

    Related Posts

    • Glen and Randa (1971)
      Glen and Randa (1971)
      When we first meet Glen (Steven Curry) and Randa (Shelley Plimpton) they are unselfconsciously naked, wandering through a lush green…
    • Requiem For A Vampire (1971)
      Requiem For A Vampire (1971)
      Blonde Marie (Marie Pierre Castel) and redhead Michelle (Mireille D'Argent) are two pretty teenage virgins who run away from a…
    • Electra Glide In Blue (1973)
      Electra Glide In Blue (1973)
      "He’s a good cop . . . on a big bike . . . on a bad road!" Robert Blake…
    • Werewolves On Wheels (1971)
      Werewolves On Wheels (1971)
      A motorcycle gang, The Devils Advocates, led by Adam (Stephen Oliver) visits a monastery and are turned on to Satanism…
    • Play It Again, Sam (1971)
      Play It Again, Sam (1971)
      "My parents never got divorced. Although I begged them to." Film critic Allan Felix (Woody Allen, who wrote both the…
    • Hospital, The (1971)
      Hospital, The (1971)
      This splendid black comedy stars George C Scott as Dr Bock, the Chief of Medicine in a large New York…
    • Earthquake (1974)
      Earthquake (1974)
      This blockbuster disaster film had a dumb script and lacklustre acting, but great visual and aural effects. There are disasters galore…
    • Electric Dreams (1984)
      Electric Dreams (1984)
      Lenny Von Dohlen plays Miles, a geeky architect who falls hopelessly in love with his neighbour, cellist Madeline (Virginia Madsen),…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleCounting Crows
    Next Article Attack Force Z (1981)

    Comments are closed.

    NC Radio Player
    Search the site

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with running costs and to keep the site running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small. 

    Thank you so much.
    Enjoy your trip in the time machine!

    You may also like

    • Earthquake (1974)
      Earthquake (1974)
      This blockbuster disaster film had a dumb script and lacklustre acting, but great visual and aural effects. There are disasters galore…
    • Ragman's Daughter, The (1971)
      Ragman's Daughter, The (1971)
      Married with two kids, living in a council flat, and recently dismissed for pilfering from his job in a Nottingham…
    • Dusty and Sweets McGee (1971)
      Dusty and Sweets McGee (1971)
      "There was Red Herring, Woo-Woo, the Weird Beard and Tip, an everyday Dope Fiend who knew Nancy Wheeler when she…
    • Hospital, The (1971)
      Hospital, The (1971)
      This splendid black comedy stars George C Scott as Dr Bock, the Chief of Medicine in a large New York…


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.