LRPA After Dark movie is ‘Evel Knievel’

LACONIA—Join Lakes Region Public Access Television at 10:30 p.m. this Friday and Saturday night, Aug. 4 and 5, for the “LRPA After Dark” presentation of 1971’s “Evel Knievel,” starring George Hamilton.

“Evel Knievel” is a somewhat satiric but good-natured biography of Bobby “Evel” Knievel (Hamilton), famed motorcycle daredevil and self-proclaimed “last American gladiator.” As the film opens, Knievel is at California’s Ontario Motor Speedway, preparing for his next big stunt: jumping his bike over 19 automobiles. Knievel begins to reflect on his life and memories, and so the story is told in flashback. We see Knievel as a young boy, attending his first daredevil show, with tragic results; we see Knievel as a young man, full of ego and wild charm; and we see him in the present day, facing greater stunts and crazy challenges.

“Evel Knievel” is one of several biopics of the late, great stunt rider, but for many of his fans, this one is the very best. Don Druker of The Chicago Reader summed it up by writing, “George Hamilton’s performance as the amiable megalomaniac is an affectionate portrait of a truly crazy man, rounded out with casual, throwaway humor.”

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