The Loveless *** (1981, Willem Dafoe, Robert Gordon, Marin Kanter, Danny Rosen, J Don Ferguson) – Classic Movie Review 11,845

Writer-directors Kathryn Bigelow and Monty Montgomery’s 1981 American outlaw biker drama film The Loveless stars Willem Dafoe in his first starring role, Robert Gordon, Marin Kanter, Danny Rosen and J Don Ferguson. It is Bigelow’s feature-length directorial debut, following a 20-minute short, The Set-Up. Neo-rockabilly singer Robert Gordon also composed the music.

Vance (Willem Dafoe) leads a bunch of bikers who drift into a small US Southern town on their way to the motorcycle races at Daytona. The motorcycle gang get into trouble when they mix with the local lovelies and do battle with the resident rednecks.

Bigelow and Montgomery direct a self-conscious, deadpan homage to Marlon Brando’s 1953 biker pic The Wild One: plot and dialogue are hardly central, the stunning visual style recalling Edward Hopper paintings, and focusing on the signs and symbols of the Fifties being everything.

Dafoe does well, though acting is not emphasised above the imagery.

The Loveless was originally titled U.S 17, then Breakdown.

Filming began on 22 September 1980 for 22 days, using the resources of MoMA’s Film Study Center to create the aesthetic.

It premiered on 7 August 1981 at the Locarno Film Festival.

It stars Willem Dafoe as Vance, Robert Gordon as Davis, Marin Kanter as Telena, Danny Rosen as Ricky, J Don Ferguson as Tarver.

Also in the cast are Tina L’Hotsky, Liz Grans, Lawrence Matarese, Phillip Kimbrough, Ken Call, Jane Berman, Bob Hannah, John Ling and Margaret Jo Lee.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,845

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