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Crime Cult Classic

Stock car burnout, biker gang paydays, and a Florida crime ride fueled by desperation.

THE WILD REBELS

They're the wildest of the wild ones!

1967 · 01:30:00 · R · Crime / Drama · IMDB TMDB

After one crash too many, race car driver Rod throws in the towel only to be recruited by a motorcycle gang to be a getaway driver for their next bank robbery.

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What is The Wild Rebels about?

The Wild Rebels is a 1967 American crime drama film directed by William Grefé about a stock car driver who, after quitting racing, is recruited by a motorcycle gang to serve as their getaway driver in a bank robbery.

Synopsis

Rod Tillman (Alaimo) is a stock car driver who, after crashing his latest car in a race, is out of money and decides to quit the stock car racing scene. After selling his trailer, Rod heads to a bar, Swinger's Paradise, where he meets a group of bikers—Banjo (Willie Pastrano), Fats (Jeff Gillen), their leader Jeeter (John Vella), and their girl Linda (Bobbie Byers)—who call themselves "Satan's Angels." Banjo had recognized Rod as a stock car driver, and the group invites Rod out to their shack to discuss a business proposal. At the shack, Jeeter informs Rod that the gang is from California and they are unfamiliar with the "southern countryside" of Florida. Jeeter makes him a proposal to be their getaway driver in an upcoming robbery. Rod declines and Banjo holds him at knife-point before Jeeter allows him to leave (after Rod leaves Jeeter tells the other that he is certain Rod will reconsider "when he gets hungry").

On his way back to town, Rod is stopped in the forest by a group of police officers led by Lieutenant Dorn (Walter Philbin). After speaking to Rod, Dorn determines that they need someone skilled at driving a car as it would be easy to spot motorcycles in front of a business prior to a robbery. Since the gang's next target is unknown, Dorn recruits Rod as an uncover agent to discover their plans. In order to make sure the gang believes that Rod is genuinely interested in joining their gang, the police set Rod up in auto race in which another undercover officer runs him off the track forcing him to crash his car. Rod meets up with the gang (who had showed up at the race after seeing an article in the paper) and is allowed to join them as their future getaway driver. Rod is forced to live with the group in order to ensure he will not divulge their plans to anyone else, forcing Rod to bury handwritten messages outside and signal the nearby surveilling police with a lighter.

The gang robs a local gun store, during which the proprietor is shot, and acquires a large arsenal of weapons. Back at the hideout, Rod is made to wait outside while the details of the robbery are being discussed, and Linda is sent outside to watch him. After singing her a song - "I Like What I Know About You" - Linda reveals that she doesn't commit these crimes for financial gain, but for the thrill of the action: "kicks" as she calls it. Rod and Linda briefly kiss, but they are interrupted by Banjo and a fight breaks out from which Rod emerges victorious.

The next day, the gang reveals their target to Rod on the drive there: the Citrusville Bank. Feeling that they are being watched by police, the gang takes an offroad path to Citrusville next to the railroad tracks, losing the tailing officers in the process. The gang reaches Citrusville and the robbery commences. Waiting outside in the getaway car, Rod signals a passing police car by flashing his headlights and informs them that the bank is being robbed. Banjo, witnessing this from the bank window, kills both police officers with a shotgun and informs Jeeter than Rod had signaled them. The gang piles into the car forcing Rod to drive at gunpoint.

After a lengthy chase during which several police are shot, the getaway car's gas tank is struck by a bullet, forcing the gang to abandon the vehicle and take shelter in an abandoned lighthouse. After a protracted firefight with police, Banjo is killed when he unsuccessfully tries to escape on a police motorcycle. Fats heads up the spiral staircase to the top of the lighthouse in order to snipe police, but is shot and killed as well. Upon seeing this, Rod rushes up the staircase trying to get Fats' gun with Jeeter in pursuit. Rod is hit in the arm by a bullet, and a laughing Jeeter points his shotgun at Rod's face telling him "see you, later." Just then, a shot rings out striking Jeeter in the back. A remorseful Linda behind him is the one who fired. Jeeter falls over the staircase railing to his death, with Linda lamenting to Rod about how it was "all for kicks." Linda is subsequently arrested, and Rod and Lieutenant Dorn walk off together. 
Details & Specs
Director
William Grefé
Writer
William Grefé
Release
1967
Runtime
1h 30m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Crime, Drama

Why Cult

Bikersploitation, Florida Style

This isn’t your West Coast gang—Satan’s Angels bring their outlaw antics to the southern countryside of Florida, shaking up the usual biker formula.

Stock Car Getaway Driver

From the racetrack to the wrong side of the law, Rod’s driving skills are put to the test when a gang enlists him for a high-stakes bank heist.

Grefé Exploitation Energy

William Grefé both writes and directs, infusing the film with his signature regional grit and a no-frills, hard-boiled crime vibe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Wild Rebels about? +

The Wild Rebels follows Rod, a stock car driver who, after quitting racing, is recruited by a motorcycle gang to be their getaway driver for a bank robbery.

When was The Wild Rebels released? +

The Wild Rebels was released in 1967.

Who directed The Wild Rebels? +

The Wild Rebels was directed by William Grefé.

How long is The Wild Rebels? +

The Wild Rebels has a runtime of 90 minutes.

What genre is The Wild Rebels? +

The Wild Rebels is a crime drama.