Werewolves on Wheels (1971)

Director:

Michel Levesque

Writers:

David M. Kaufman (written by) &
Michel Levesque (written by)

Release Date:

19 November 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Action

Tagline:

If you're hairy you belong on a motorbike!

Plot:

A biker gang visits a monastery where they encounter black-robed monks engaged in worshipping Satan...

Plot Keywords:

Biker | Werewolf | Desert | Drugs | Satanism

Cast

Steve Oliver	...	Adam (as Stephen Oliver)
Donna Anders	...	Helen (as D.J. Anderson)
Gene Shane	...	Tarot (as Duece Berry)
Billy Gray	...	Pill (as William Gray)
Gray Johnson	...	Movie
Barry McGuire	...	Scarf
Owen Orr	...	Mouse
Anna Lynn Brown	...	Shirley
Leonard Rogel	...	Gas Station Operator
Severn Darden	...	One
Tex Hall
Dan Kopp
Ingrid Grunewald
Kieth Guthrie
John Hull
Carl Lee
Marilyn Munger
Nick Palmisano		(as N.A. Palmisano)
Bart Smith
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jay W. Jensen	...	Monk (uncredited)

Directed by
Michel Levesque

Writing credits
David M. Kaufman		(written by) &
Michel Levesque		(written by)

Produced by
Stuart Fleming	....	associate producer
Paul Lewis	....	producer
Joe Solomon	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Don Gere

Cinematography by
Isidore Mankofsky		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter Parasheles

Art Direction by
Allan H. Jones		(as Allen Jones)

Art Department
James Dunn	....	props
Gil Valle	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
James Contrares	....	boom operator (as James Contreras)
Le Roy Robbins	....	sound (as Leroy Robbins)
James Nelson	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Charles Bail	....	stunt coordinator
Alan Gibbs	....	fire stunts (uncredited)
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt biker (uncredited)
Nick Palmisano	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Joanne Lee	....	still photographer
Steven Wolper	....	camera assistant

Editorial Department
James Eric	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Stuart Ganong	....	production assistant
Joyce King	....	script
Meryle Selinger	....	production secretary

Production Companies

• South Street Films

Distributors

• Fanfare Corporation, The (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• Astral Films (197?) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Apple Den (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Dark Sky Films (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Electric Video (EVI) (1981) (USA) (VHS)
• Iver Film Services (IFS) (UK) (VHS)
• Trolley Car Video (USA) (VHS)
• Unicorn Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• VPS Video (Germany) (VHS)
• Video Unlimited (1981) (UK) (VHS)
• Video for Pleasure (VFP) (1983) (Belgium) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Edit-Rite  sound effects editing
• Leonetti Cine Rentals  equipment
• Modern Film Effects  opticals and titles
• Producers' Sound Service  sound re-recording (as Producers Sound)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

85 min | Germany:77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted | West Germany:18 (cut) | Italy:VM18

Company:

South Street Films

Trivia:

MUTCD (Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices) 1971: Most of the roads traveled by the bikers in the film still have the pre-1971 MUTCD standards (white center lines). However, you will see the odd road that has been repainted in the yellow center line scheme and looks very fresh and half complete. The film was made when the MUTCD 1971 standards had just been released with most painting done between 1972 and 1974.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Crew visible when the gang first gets to the Satanic temple. The leader of the gang sees a Satanic cross and starts his monologue as he's heading toward it with the group. An individual is clearly seen in the high grass to the right of the screen.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wolfman Chronicles (1991)

Actually, its better than any werewolf-biker movie has any right to be

"Werewolves on Wheels" is a goofy and bizarre little horror oddity about, well, werewolves on wheels. Its probably the finest werewolf-biker film ever made (admittedly a limited subgenre), and is one of the oddest genre crossovers from a decade full of them. To be honest, its much better than it has any right to be. Sure, its complete exploitation trash, but there are a few effective moments and the whole film has a very nice atmosphere. Its also well paced, saving most of the werewolf attacks for the end. Plus, if you're into weird films, well, this one definitely has that factor down. Its even more out there than I expected it to be (the filmmakers go for a dreamlike style, unsuccessfully it should be noted, but still unexpected). Some of the cinematography is decent as well.

Still, for exploitation fans looking for cheap thrills, this more than satisfies. There's plenty of pointless nudity and some amusing moments of gory violence. The satanic rituals are the real selling point, featuring as scene-stealing performance by Severn Darden (a familiar face character actor whose been on seemingly hundreds of TV shows) as the satanic priest. Darden rants and raves about the glories of Lucifer in the most seemingly acid-induced style possible. "Werewolves on Wheels" isn't a great film or even a cult classic, but its definitely an enjoyable film for drive-in movie fans. Its never boring, which is the worst sin a movie can commit. (6/10)