Knightriders (1981)
Best known for horror films
like Night of the Living Dead and Creepshow, director George
Romero took a break from slasher flicks in 1981 to make this
offbeat and entertaining film. Knightriders would best be described
as the legend of King Arthur meets Easy Rider (with a bit of
Don Quixote thrown in). The film concerns a traveling Renaissance
Faire, whose centerpiece is a tournament in which armored knights
compete in a joustastride motorcycles.
The Faire is led by Sir William Davis (known to his friends as
Billy), an idealist who lives by the Arthurian codes of chivalry.
Within his troupe, Billy has fashioned his own version of Camelot,
complete with knights, ladies, serfs, and even a Merlin (in the
form of an ex-physician who has rejected the world to follow
Billy's dream).
But like Camelot before it, this kingdom is threatened with pettiness,
greed, and in-fighting. Billy rejects the tawdry commercialism
of a promoter who offers to remodel the troupe and take them
to Las Vegas. But Billy's chief rival, a womanizing biker named
Morgan, scoffs at Billy's archaic morals, and pressures the troupe
to defect to the promoter.
Ed Harris is wonderful in the role of the Quixotic Billy, whose
commitment to chivalric ideals eventually causes even those closest
to him to question his sanity. However the film is never once
patronizing of the Faire culture. Despite Billy's eccentric outlook,
he is an admirable, heroic character, and the film's depiction
of this culture is endearing and affectionate. Knightriders also
offers a glimpse of the less pleasant side of Faire lifenamely
the tawdry, unkempt patrons who care nothing for history or pageantry,
for whom a day at Faire is no different than one at Coney Island.
(There is even a funny cameo by non other than Stephen King,
playing one of these slobs.)
At nearly two and a half hours, the film is perhaps overlong,
and some scenes are a bit confusing and vague. But the stuntwork
is magnificent, and features some of the best jousting ever put
on film (even if it is performed on bikes). The DVD contains
extras, such as behind-the-scenes footage and a commentary track
by Romero, Savini, and others who worked on the film.
Paul Andrew MacLean
Shelton CT 06484 USA
(800) 232-2224 voice
(800) 775-2729 fax
LadyJanet@RenaissanceMagazine.com