Five the Hard Way (1969)

Motorcycle racer Rommel seeks vengeance against JC, a madman who murdered the sidehacker's fiancee.

Director:

Gus Trikonis

Writers:

Larry Billman (story), Tony Huston

Stars:

Ross Hagen, Diane McBain, Michael Pataki

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ross Hagen	...	Vince Rommel
Diane McBain	...	Rita
Michael Pataki	...	J.C.
Dick Merrifield	...	Luke
Claire Polan	...	Paisley
Edward Parrish	...	Nero
Michael Graham	...	Cooch
Hoke Howell	...	Crapout
Diane Tessier	...	Debbie
Erik Cord	...	Dirty John (as Eric Cord)
Eric Lidberg	...	Tork
Ivy Ross	...	Mechanic
Joey Tessier	...	Billy
Robert Tessier	...	Jake
Tony Lorea	...	Announcer

Storyline

Motorcycle racer Rommel and his fiancée Rita become friendly with a biker gang led by the unstable J.C. When Rita is raped and murdered by J.C. in a jealous rage, Rommel gathers some biker pals and goes on a hunt for vengeance.

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Plot Keywords:

biker | death of girlfriend | rape | dead woman with eyes open | death of protagonist | 

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Taglines:

HARD RIDERS! Mounted on Burning Steel! ... with only their leathers between THEM and HELL!

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Genres:

Action | Sport

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Certificate:

M

Details

Official Sites:

Crown International Pictures

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Side Hackers

Filming Locations:

Perris, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Crown Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Ryder Sound Services)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gus Trikonis' wife at the time Goldie Hawn appears as an uncredited extra spectator at the end of the race in the beginning of the film. She had auditioned earlier for the role of Paisely.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Catalina Caper (1990)

User Reviews

Completely terrible

Is there any purpose to this wretched film? The long drown-out sidehacking scenes? When Rommel visits the artist? When Rommel hits Big Jake?

If Ross Hagen was attempting some profound message, he's completely lost me. Bad acting, bad ending. But beyond bad is the acting we get from three guys: Big Jake, Crap out, and Cooch/Gooch. I don't know where Ross Hagen found these guys and I don't WANT to know.

Is there any significance to J.C.'s name (Jesus Christ)? Perhaps I'm giving Mr. Hagen a bit too much credit. Extra demerits for an overly brutal rape scene.

"Number 9!"