T-Bird Gang

Saw for the first time on a public domain youtube channel. Low budget, but worth watching for those interested in Roger Corman's Hollywood. Needed more characterization and background stories. to be a true classic, but interesting nevertheless.

The T-Bird Gang, a Fifties masterpiece, is one of my all-time guilty pleasure classics. I watch it at least once a month and have never stopped discovering new aspects of its scope and grandeur. Vic Tayback is outstanding in a minor role.

This flick is cool, daddio. I agree with another reviewer that the Shelley Manne bebop score alone makes it worth watching, but there's a lot more. The acting ranges from fascinatingly bad to surprisingly good (well maybe good is an exaggeration; maybe "convincing"?). Good-looking cast. The screenplay isn't half bad. It moves along at a nice pace. Has a noirish quality. The moll's makeup job! The gang leader's "understated alpha male" shtick: he's a total control freak--renames one gang member "boy", god forbid you should make a peep while he's listening to classical music. Also affects a James Cagney-like style of speaking. So much more to savor.

John Brinkley & Tony Miller wrote & star in this tale of a high school student that goes undercover to bust a gang of twisted youths.

Watching these kids rob houses, even the rooms occupied with sleeping occupants, is simply delightful. These guys are slick! Big belly laughs at the similarities between some of these "sneaking" scenes and the dance in "Beat It".

Worth watching a couple of times. This film has recently been re-released on DVD & VHS.

This is without a doubt one of the finest movies I've seen, a real period classic. It's obscure, but well worth the time it would take to find a copy. Vic Tayback is especially good -- in a small role, admittedly, but displaying early hints of the greatness he achieved in later roles.