Goerge Romero's Knightriders

It gets off to a rusty start, to be sure. We’ve got a good half hour of guys on bikes riding around trying to joust each other. Now, it’s here where you’ll either decide to get into the rhythm of Romero’s snail pace and just accept whatever the movie has to offer, or throw up your hands in frustration. Anyway, amidst the tournament of bikers in armor battling with lances, fake axes, swords and maces, a story begins to emerge.

The man running this show is an idealistic product of ‘70s idealism, akin to the heroes of Easy Rider. Our stalwart King Arthur is named Billy (Ed Harris, in an intense early performance) and he wants his group to stand by their values and not cave in to the pressures of commercialism, money, greed, laziness or consumer culture.

He has his lovely Guenevere, Queen Linet (Amy Ingersoll), who stands by her man no matter what. His most loyal knight is Alan (Gary Lahti), he has wandering minstrels, clowns, troubadours, shopkeepers and comrades at his beck and call, and, of course, his own Merlin (Brother Blue, a Scatman Crothers type decked out in mod tattoos.)

Now, the only problem is Morgan (make-up guru Tom Savini, again playing a biker in a Romero film after his success in Dawn of the Dead). Morgan just wants to be king, and professes to not give a d*mn about the Arthurian code of chivalry. He just digs the bikes, man, and the fame that beckons him. Billy looks at Morgan with soul searching eyes, clearly expecting more from him, but the black knight is ready to cave in when a reporter and publicist come a-courting.

There are numerous subplots, many of which seem plucked from an afterschool special. As I said, it’s hokey and earnest, so you’ll either go with it or you won’t. Announcer and emcee Pippin (Warner Shook, from Creepshow) is debating whether or not he’s gay, and, if so, should he come out of the closet? (Remember, this movie was made in 1981, before our public consciousness became expanded.) Will Morgan stop womanizing and turn his affections to loyal fix-it girl Angie (Christine Forrest, a.k.a. Mrs. George Romero)? Will the mean policemen shut down the festival?

The Spirit of Camelot

Throughout the film, we see Billy and Merlin talk about fighting the good fight. Some would argue that they’re being silly bohemians and not accepting responsibility in the real world, but others would say that they represent the last gasp of ‘70s hope for a society without the man breathing down your neck and getting you in debt. In the late ‘90s, Billy would hang up Excalibur and join the fight club, because we’re too far gone.

Go To Page: 1 2