Shout Factory | 1985 | 690 mins. | Not Rated
Looking back, when it came to television, the eighties, was the decade of the “souped up” machine. Airwolf had Stringfellow Hawke (Jan-Michael Vincent), and his high-tech military helicopter; Knight Rider had David Hasselhoff and KITT, a Pontiac Trans Am controlled by a computer with artificial intelligence. Other shows with similar plot devices, but much less success included: Blue Thunder (based on the film), Automan and The Highwayman.
In January of 1985, ABC premiered Street Hawk, a series that could easily be described as Knight Rider with a motorcycle. Unlike Knight Rider, Street Hawk didn’t find long term success and lasted only thirteen episodes. However, over the years the show has gained a fairly sizable cult following. Now, courtesy of Shout Factory the entire series is available on a surprisingly tricked out 4-DVD set.
In the 70-minute pilot, we meet Jesse Mach (Rex Smith). A motorcycle cop, he’s obsessed with everything bike related. When not patrolling the streets, Jesse makes extra money as a stuntman; injured while tracking down a BMX biker gang run by Christopher Lloyd overlords, Jesse becomes a desk cop by day, spandex-biker hero by night.
Jesse’s police training and motorcycle skills make him the ideal candidate for a secret government mission, to become the test pilot for a new form of patrolling the streets, namely, to be the rider for the new Street Hawk prototype motorcycle. The bike was an all terrain vehicle, capable of speeds in excess of 300 miles per hour. Backing the motorcycle was a computerized command system that allowed its operator to provide the motorcycle’s rider with real-time information from various sources and to autopilot the motorcycle during its high-speed runs after clearing traffic along the intended route. Norman Tuttle (Joe Regalbuto), an engineer employed with the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration of the Department of Justice, was the designer of the motorcycle
Tuttle looks like your stereotypical nerd and spends much of the time monitoring the bike from a high-tech base of operations. Much of the pilot is used to explain how the motorcycle works. We are shown its rocket launchers and airflap breaking system, all which takes us to a showdown between the bike and Christopher Lloyd’s tricked out SUV.
Beyond the pilot, the twelve episodes that follow are fairly predictable. Jesse investigates a gang of car thieves, a jewel thief, mobsters, arson, theft, gunrunning, and murder. All the while, the Street Hawk motorcycle zooms and Hyperthrusts around the city; machine gunning / missile launching bad guys into submission.
There’s no getting around the fact that Street Hawk hasn’t aged well. Fully immersed in the ‘80’s, Jesse Mach is a guy who puts up a Jane Fonda workout poster for inspiration during his training montage. Back then, Street Hawk played like a cheap knockoff of the seemingly cool Knight Rider. Twenty-five years later, with Knight Rider looking seriously outdated, Street Hawk is just a piece of 1980’s nostalgic cheese.
That being said, the series was able to attract a solid list of notable guest stars during its short run. In addition to the aforementioned Christopher Lloyd, supporting one-episode cast members include Sybil Danning, Jere Burns, Daphne Ashbrook, Clu Gulager, Keye Luke, Bianca Jagger, Bibi Besch, and Dennis Franz. And, most significant, in the episode “A Second Self,” we get a very young, future Oscar winner George Clooney as Mach’s old racing buddy who has now gone to the dark side of a car theft ring. Clooney sports poofed-up hair and a medallion. Clooney fans might fine his appearance a reason to pick up the set, as that episode is rather fun.
Check out a clip featuring George Clooney:
Shout Factory presents Street Hawk in its original 4:3 aspect ratio. The series was clearly shot on film, with some specks noticeable throughout. But, given the age of the series, I thought the visual quality was pretty good.
The lone audio tracks on all episodes are English language Dolby Digital 2.0 mono. The score by Tangerine Dream sounds quite vibrant, and dialogue is clear.
All the special features are housed on the fourth and final disc. The centerpiece is Street Hawk: The Making of a Legend (40:39), a contemporary documentary on the program that features series regulars Rex Smith, Joe Regalbuto, and Jeannie Wilson. It’s an in-depth remembrance of the show.
Also included are a rather generous collection of image galleries, divided into the following categories: Publicity Stills, Publicity, Action Shots, Bike Designs, Behind the Scenes, Original Bike Restoration, and Collectables. The last of these is probably the most fun, with images of vintage Street Hawk merchandising.
In addition, text extras provide biographies (both vintage and contemporary) for Rex Smith, Joe Regalbuto, and Jeannie Wilson, as well as a brief series synopsis, an original series concept, and the original press brochure release. Rounding out the special features is the unbroadcasted pilot (1:13:48) which isn’t in great visual shape and has the text “PROP. MCA #3965” at the bottom throughout.
Finally, Shout Factory includes a booklet with episode information and a double-splash page of what I assume to be original early concept art of the Street Hawk motorcycle.
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