Directed by Leigh Jason and produced by Arch Hall Sr., The Choppers is a gritty, low-budget teensploitation crime film that dives into the world of juvenile delinquency and car theft. With a cast led by Arch Hall Jr. in his film debut, it captures the rebellious spirit of early 1960s youth culture—complete with drag races, leather jackets, and a rock ’n’ roll soundtrack.
Plot Summary
A gang of teenage greasers, led by Jack “Cruiser” Bryan (Arch Hall Jr.), terrorizes a small town by stealing cars, stripping them for parts, and selling the loot to a crooked junkyard owner. The police and an insurance investigator work to bring the gang down, but the teens stay one step ahead—until their recklessness catches up with them.
The film mixes crime drama with moral messaging, warning against the dangers of thrill-seeking and peer pressure. It’s part cautionary tale, part drive-in entertainment.
Cast Highlights
- Arch Hall Jr. as Jack “Cruiser” Bryan
- Robert Paget as Torch Lester
- Burr Middleton as Snooper
- Rex Holman, Chuck Barnes, Tom Brown, and Marianne Gaba in supporting roles
- Bruno VeSota as Moose McGill, the shady junkyard owner
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The hot rod Arch Hall Jr. drives was a famous custom car built by Bill Roland, featured on the cover of Hot Rod magazine
- Arch Hall Jr.’s songs “Konga Joe” and “Monkey in My Hatband” were recorded before filming, with top L.A. session musicians
- Though filmed in 1959, the movie wasn’t released until 1961 due to distribution delays. It was later paired with Eegah (1962) as a double feature to secure a deal
- Both Hall Jr. and Burr Middleton had union troubles on set—Hall for moving the car off-camera, Middleton for lending and retrieving his own vehicle
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