A freaky little treasure which I actually paid American money to see in a "theater", "The American Way" (also released as "Riders on the Storm") is anarchic counterculture science fiction from the Reagan 1980s.
And you know it's anarchic 1980s counterculture science fiction because there's Dennis Hopper right in the middle of the mayhem, starring as "The Captain"; leader of a rag-tag bunch (is there any other kind) of Vietnam vets who roam the skies in their rattle-trap, held-together-with-duct-tape-and-bong-resin B-29 -- "Uncle Slam" -- blasting their pirate teevee show at the over a Conservative, conformist nation below.
Initially the plan is to pressure the major media companies into a broadcast contract, but when the team learns that a manifestly dangerous nut is being groomed for the White House, the plan changes...
Directed in "why-be-subtle?" style by Maurice Phillips, and shot with wild, run-run-run energy by John Metcalfe "The American Way" has a rocking score featuring Jimi Hendrix, Derek and the Dominoes, the Kinks, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Gene Pitney, and Alice Cooper.
It also features Dennis Hopper being Dennis Hopper.
Enjoy!
