Backseat - From Where I Sit

Motorcycling Through the Years Hollywood Style

The weather has us all more or less "holed up" until warmer days. So naturally, I turned to the great American past time of watching TV until it is time to live life again by taking to the road. Desperate for any fragments of life relating to the free feeling of being on the road, I tried the next best thing and decided to look through the eyes of the camera into the wonderful world of motorcycling.

I decided to take the historical approach and start with the movie that formed main stream America's first opinion of what it meant to be a biker - the ultimate biker classic, The Wild One. I have to give it to Brando, what an actor! To take that totally lame script and turn it into such a dramatic performance was truly a feat to be admired. Unfortunately, this movie horrified America with the prospect of being overrun by droves of drunken maniac bikers who would destroy their innocent small towns just for fun. The movie could be summed up as Biker = bad, mainstream America = good. Let the stereotyping begin.

It took more than 25 years for Hollywood to respond to this movie with its antithesis, Easy Riders, in 1969. This movie attempted to depict bikers as misunderstood victims trying to find peace and freedom in a restrictive world full of narrow-minded bigots that represented main stream America. The film definitely represented the strong sentiment that existed during decade in which it was made. Now, according to Hollywood: Biker = good, mainstream America = bad. I will probably make a few enemies but I have to say, "Great idea guys" but with the small exception of Jack Nicholson, who was killed off way too early, the acting was really lousy. I kept thinking, "is this Peter Fonda's claim to fame?" Also, not to be picky, but let's be realistic, the bike was beautiful, but as far as a ride cross country, the design left much to be desired. Oh well, obviously I have way too much time on my hands to get this analytical so I will leave off with the notion that it is only a movie so I shouldn't take it so seriously. Besides that, the soundtrack was so awesome, it overshadows any issues I may have with the movie.

I guess it depends on individual tastes as to which of these two movies you consider THE defining biker film. However, I think there are more contemporary video heroes or I should say, heroines, that truly represent the American biker. I am referring to the stars of a television show entitled Two Fat Ladies, a cooking show of all things, that airs on the food channel. I had never heard of these women before, yet, I stood mesmerized as I accidentally came across their television show on the Food Network. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw these two middle-aged, overweight matronly ladies tooling around the English countryside on a Triumph with a sidecar, as if they were grandmas going to market. The local fish monger didn't even cast a sideways glance as he threw a fish in the giant wicker basket on the back of their bike and they barreled off in a cloud of dust to prepare dinner for a bunch of hungry horse jockeys. Unfortunately, I discovered these ladies a bit too late as one of them passed away over a year ago and the show is only seen in reruns.

I submit that it is not the rebellious young Johnny from The Wild One, nor the disenfranchised Captain America from Easy Riders, but it is these two saucy old ladies who defy being identified by any preconceived notions regarding age or gender, who truly represent what it means to be a biker. These two simple women have done more to redefine and "unstereotype" bikers in the television world than any high budget movie. So if you look at it philosophically, we have the good - Easy Riders, the bad the - The Wild One and the ugly (my apologies ladies, you are beautiful to me) in Two Fat Women. Indicating the motorcycling is truly an activity that can be enjoyed by everyone. I really got get out and ride...

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