THE
THE
HARD
RIDE
American International Pictures 1971
Written and directed by Burt Topper
Cast :
Phil Duncan - Robert Fuller
Sheryl - Sherry Bain
Big Red - Tony Russel
Review by Ann Nicol
Although marketed as a biker movie, The Hard Ride has a deeper and more meaningful story line than would normally be expected from movies of this genre.
Phil Duncan accompanies the body of his Marine buddy, Lenny, back from Vietnam, only to find that Lenny has bequeathed him his beloved and very desirable Knucklehead chopper bike, ‘Baby’. Along with the bike comes the plea that Phil should track down Big Red and his biker gang, orphan Lenny’s only friends, and bring them back for his funeral. What at first seems like a few days’ simple task leads to a journey encompassing love, biker-gang war and ultimate sacrifice in order to fulfil Lenny’s request.
After an abortive and painful visit with the local bikers, Phil manages to persuade Lenny’s girlfriend Sheryl to team up with him in the search for Big Red. Seen from the perspective of the politically correct 21st century, it is easy to overlook the significance of the fact that Lenny was black.
Throughout the film Sheryl feels the need to explain and justify their relationship, while Phil is at pains to point out that the colour of Lenny’s skin was irrelevant. This is not the first time that Robert Fuller has played a role stressing racial equality and while the treatment of the subject may seem a little heavy-handed today, at the time it was a statement that needed to be made both loudly and clearly.
The cross-state journey in search of Big Red gives ample opportunity to admire both the bike and the glorious scenery. Incidentally, Robert Fuller really does ride the bike himself at least some of the time, not relying totally on stand-ins and moving-trailer shots. Harley Hatcher’s haunting sound track complements the action perfectly, and fully deserved its separate release.
The cross-state journey in search of Big Red gives ample opportunity to admire both the bike and the glorious scenery. Incidentally, Robert Fuller really does ride the bike himself at least some of the time, not relying totally on stand-ins and moving-trailer shots. Harley Hatcher’s haunting sound track complements the action perfectly, and fully deserved its separate release.
It soon becomes painfully obvious that Lenny’s so-called friends accepted him for his bike rather than for himself, and it is only Red’s desire to possess the bike that will bring him to the funeral.
Despite this realization, Phil is determined to honour his promise to Lenny, though the cost to himself is high as he suffers at the hands of the rival bikers. Fans of Laramie will recognize his inimitable fighting style, but those who only know him in his later role of Dr Brackett of Emergency! may be surprised by the ruthless efficiency of that right elbow!
Robert Fuller plays his hero with his usual tough exterior masking sensitivity and a deeply held morality. He is known to only accept roles he feels he can make believable and his portrayal of Marine Sergeant Duncan is entirely credible. Sherry Bain gives a convincing depiction of a lonely woman searching for tenderness in a world which has previously left her bereft. The relationship between the two characters builds from resentment and suspicion to a gentle passion and growing unity, allowing the shocking climax to the film to highlight even more effectively the waste that is brought about by violence and war.