When I was kid, Evel Knievel was about as cool as it got. In retrospect, I'm not quite sure why this daredevil became such a phenomenon, but that's the way it was - they just didn't make 'em any cooler than Knievel. The 1977 film Viva Knievel! perfectly captures the awesomeness of Knievel in all his glory. In Viva Knievel the line between stunt man and superhero is blurred. All within this one film, Knievel helps an orphanage, unites an estranged father (Gene Kelly) with his son, defeats a drug lord (Leslie Nielson), bags a beautiful babe (Lauren Hutton), and of course performs a ton of kick ass stunts. However, Knievel's shining moment in the film is his anti-drug speech. It has to be seen to be believed.I would never lie to you, so believe me when I tell you that I consider this is the most amazing speech in cinematic history. Hell, it may be the most amazing speech period. The combination of a poorly executed monotone delivery and inappropriate "blow all to hell" somehow makes it endearing, hilarious, and cool all at the same time.
Well, I have more to say about the film, but I guess I'll save it for the next post. This speech was a lot to take in, so I'll let you reflect on Knievel's words for another day. Check back tomorrow!
