Hells Angels on Wheels

A 1967 American crime action film directed by Richard Rush and written by R. Wright Campbell, it follows a young gas station attendant nicknamed Poet (Jack Nicholson) who, after being fired for fighting with a customer, encounters the biker gang "Hells Angels." When one of the bikers accidentally damages Poet's motorcycle, he demands compensation, leading to a confrontation defused by the gang's leader, Buddy (Adam Roarke). Buddy invites Poet to ride with them, and he becomes a "prospect"—a candidate for gang membership. Poet gradually becomes immersed in a world of violence and anarchy: the bikers engage in fights, seek revenge—including the killing of a sailor—and clash with the police. Poet falls in love with Shill (Sabrina Scharf), Buddy's girlfriend, creating tension within the gang. When Shill reveals she's pregnant by Buddy, Poet proposes they start a new life, but Buddy sees this as betrayal. In the final confrontation between Poet and Buddy, Buddy dies, and Poet leaves the gang, realizing the destructiveness of their lifestyle. Filmed in California, the movie features expressive cinematography by László Kovács and is considered one of the most authentic biker films of its time, despite its exploitation nature.