This one should be a timely one for this week, since it’s about the lies of a female presidential candidate and some pirate TV operators that are dropping the truth over the airwaves from their old B-29 flying overhead.

Riders of the Storm, also known sometimes as “The American Way” was the best science fiction movie of the year in 1986.

———-

TV Guide review:

A farce about Vietnam vets running a pirate-TV station from a B-29. Dennis Hopper. Tesla: Michael J. Pollard. Ace: Eugene Lipinski. Claude: James Aubrey. Westinghouse: Nigel Pegram. Ben: Al Mathews. Also known as “The American Way.” Maurice Phillips directed.

A throwback to some of the more bizarre political satires of the 1960s, RIDERS OF THE STORM follows the wild exploits of a group of wacked-out Vietnam veterans, led by “Captain” (Dennis Hopper), who fly across the US in a B-29 and jam network airwaves with pirate telecasts of their station, S&M TV. Pledged to prevent the government from conning the public into another Vietnam, captain and crew monitor the mainstream media for lies and then periodically invade the airwaves to tell the people the truth. Their latest crusade is against Mrs. Willa Westinghouse, a conservative candidate running for president who advocates rabid anticommunism, a strong military, and a host of other extreme right-wing platforms. Trying too hard to tap into the same absurdist intensity that fueled DR. STRANGELOVE and CATCH-22, RIDERS OF THE STORM is a curious collection of hip images, video art, improvisation, surrealism, and sophomoric comedy. Director Maurice Phillips’ targets are the standard right-wing fare that has entrenched itself in American society during the 1980s. What is refreshing about the film is its wholehearted 1960s sensibility.

ref: https://www.tvguide.com/movies/riders-of-the-storm/review/2030282131/

———-

IMDB page on The American Way (alternate title): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091853/?ref_=tt_mv_desc

———-

The movie music: https://rateyourmusic.com/film/riders-of-the-storm/?__cf_chl_tk=0GfCBof7qjCaCjLRYXmmIpc9AnG7J_V8M8X5JyQLyM4-1725854522-0.0.1.1-4820

———-

The US Government’s actual program to spread propaganda from the air, Stratovision: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratovision

———-

We get together at the Weare Public Library at 6 to set up and have a social hour, then the film starts at 7.

No alcohol allowed, but you can bring other beverages and food – we often order from Dimitri’s Pizza.