BootDigest
Such a frustrating disappointment
Pacionsbo
Absolutely Fantastic
Scarlet
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
aimless-46
As producers, Allen Carr and Roger Smith didn't know how to make movies but they did know how to market them. "C.C. and Company" (1970) was one of Smith's attempts to revive the acting and singing career of his wife Ann-Margret, whose American career had pretty much dried up in the mid-60's. So they looked around for a way to package the aging star in a vehicle they could profitably distribute. They decided to capitalize of the huge popularity of the super bowl champion N.Y. Jets quarterback Broadway Joe Namath. If you were not around in 1969 you will have a hard time grasping the extent of Joe's popularity. At its peak he was probably the most popular sports figure of all time and he single-handedly transformed NFL viewing from a men's club to a mixed gender group. In "C.C. and Company" Joe doesn't act so much as just play his relaxed good- natured self in front of the camera. The film begins with its best sequence as Joe, playing an outlaw motorcycle club member named C. C. Ryder, is shown walking around inside a supermarket while casually assembling a sandwich from the various products on the shelves. After he eats the sandwich he helps himself to a Twinkie and a small carton of milk. Then he hits the checkout line with just a package of "Fruit Stripe" gum to pay for and exits the store. This might be film's only attempt at symbolism as the gas tank and rear fender of Joe's chopper are painted a zebra stripe pattern. Baby boomers may recall that "Fruit Stripe" gum commercials featured a zebra. Carr and Smith (Smith also wrote the screenplay) chose to make an independent outlaw motorcycle picture, a sub-genre dominated by American International. While AI's films were normally distributed to drive-ins, Carr and Smith hoped to exploit the recent unexpected success of "Easy Rider"- a motorcycle movie that had played well in mainstream theaters. And this is just what they did with "C.C. and Company", using Avco Embassy to book the film into first-run theaters and into giving it extensive promotion. It would not play to drive-in audiences until 1971. Joe delivers a lot of charm, some credible action sequences, and a scene where he actually exhibits some acting skill (or at least an awareness of the acting craft). This scene occurs early in the film when his club disrupts a moto-cross race. Joe is sitting on his bike watching the fun when he spots Ann looking on in shock. Joe wordlessly conveys a sudden embarrassment over the actions of his associates. The scene works, in part because of good editing, but also because Namath obviously understands the process. The film was not a success for Ann-Margaret even though she gets to ride a mini-bike in one scene and sing a song ("Today" by Lenny Stack). She was a bit too old to keep playing the innocent girl who is also a sex kitten role, up till then her standard character. Without this to fall back on she seems lost trying to appear more sophisticated. In the looks-sexy department she is totally upstaged by biker chick Pom Pom-Jennifer Billingsley who I remember as the Driving Range attendant on an episode of "Ozzie and Harriet". Upstaging everybody is William Smith (who played Texas Ranger Joe on the "Laredo" television show) as "Heads" leader Moon. Flexing his muscles, thanks to a sleeveless denim jacket, Smith pretty much steals the whole film. The seemingly virile Moon is a disappointment in the sack, which sets up a little action between Namath and Billingsley. The big fight between Smith and Namath is nicely staged but is really sold by frequent cut-away shots to the increasingly turned-on Pom Pom. Also notable is Sid Haig who rides a traffic cop trike and wears a Mongol helmet. Lizard, the other trike rider, is "Mary Hartman's" Greg Mullavy, whose machine sports a toilet seat and the title "The Heads Head". Largely forgotten now, at the time of its release "C.C. and Company" was a cultural icon. It was probably the most quoted 1970 film in schools and workplaces. The most immortal line being Moon's convoluted declaration to C.C. that: "We got the club here see and you are way over there". And just about everything that straight-arrow moto-cross racer Eddie Ellis (Don Chastain) said was an instant classic. "That's what gives motorcycling a bad name" and "You talking to me" (he said the line before Robert De Niro!). Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
Poseidon-3
The unusually eclectic cast of this biker flick makes it interesting, though it certainly won't win any awards for acting, writing, direction or pretty much anything else! Namath, in his film debut, plays a motorcycle gang member who stumbles upon fashion designer Margret when her car breaks down in the desert. Later, he sees her again at a motocross rally (where some of her clothes are being photographed) and before long he's restless to sever his ties with the gang, race professionally and shack up with her. Trouble is, gang leader Smith is angry because Namath wouldn't donate all of his cash (won in a dirt bike race) to the group's kitty. So Namath and Smith wind up in a battle to the death as Margret looks on in her floral maxi-skirt. Namath, America's favorite football player at the time, is an unlikely choice to play a biker, though he doesn't back away from some of the seamier elements such as canoodling in the dirt with one of the molls. His introductory scene is hilariously audacious as he meanders through a grocery store and proceeds to tear open package after package in order to make himself a (decidedly slim) ham and cheese sandwich with milk and a Twinkie!! He then purchases a ten cent item and even asks for his S&H Green Stamps! If only the rest of the film was that bizarre and subversive. His performance is amateurish and unseasoned, yet his brand of personal charisma does manage to shine through. His hairy chest makes a brief appearance or two as well. Margret was in the midst of career doldrums at this time and her husband wrote and produced this gem for her. Fortunately for her, "Carnal Knowledge" was just around the corner. She is extremely attractive in her undemanding role, settling mostly for showing off her (occasionally ridiculous) "Ensembles created for Miss Margret by Jon Shannon." Her fans will want to catch this for not only her variety of clothing and hairstyles - including an uproariously awful brunette wig, but also her lengthy love scene with Namath in which she discreetly shows off various body parts. She also warbles a love song in the middle of the movie. The most arresting person in the film is Smith. Though his character is necessarily repellent, he is handsome and possesses a lot of charisma, even when tossing off lines like "Shut yer hole or I'll use you for an ashtray!" Many quirky types make up the balance of the biker gang. Billingsley turns in another one of her detached, damaged goods roles as Smith's main squeeze. Cult figure Glover isn't given anything to do. Bracci plays a highly unique biker chick whose antics range from funny to embarrassingly bad. Stay tuned for Margret's response to her after a particularly long-winded diatribe against herself. There's yet one more in the seemingly endless parade of people who are billed with "Introducing ____ as____" and who are never heard from again. This time it's Battle as a character named Rabbit because "he can go all night long". His primary contribution to the film is a scene in which he flops around a watering hole in biker boots and wet boxers. Co-produced by Alan Carr, it was given that some beefcake would make it's way on screen in addition to all the sleazy ladies. There's nothing profound or deeply meaningful about this film (it was always going to be Drive-In fare), but it can provide some unintentional laughs and a glimpse of a few interesting personalities at this stage of their careers. It also has some nice location scenery and some decent stunt work.
Infofreak
I'm not an American, but I'm well aware of Joe Namath being a sporting legend. However, as an actor he stinks. He's very wooden and lacks charisma, and whoever decided to cast him as a biker was an idiot. Namath plays C.C. Ryder, a nice guy mechanic who runs with a biker gang "The Heads", led by Moon (biker movie legend William Smith). While he is accepted by most of the gang, he has an easy relationship with Moon, and once he becomes involved with a "straight" fashion reporter (Ann-Margaret) tensions mount, leading to a kidnapping. Namath as I said is lousy, and as 90% of the movie focuses on him, it makes it hard to stay interested. But Ann-Margaret is a babe, and even better William Smith is terrific. Smith plays a great bad ass, it's just a pity there wasn't more of him in the movie. As well as Smith watch 'C.C. and Company' to see Sid Haig and Bruce Glover as two of Smith's biker pals. These three talented character actors save the movie from being a complete turkey.
eye3
SPOILER below:The bikes are the stars here. Forget the plot - something about a biker who falls in with a rich "swinging chick," or some such bad cliche. The gang kidnaps her and he wins her back in a chopper race around the local school track. (at least, I remember that's what happens.) That Speedvision hasn't run this late some Saturday night will give you an idea what a snorer this is. If ever they do, keep the remote handy so you can surf back to the highway shots.
