Plot:
On a California speedway, a biker is on the track. We can hear the cheers without an audience. A line of bikers precede a limo. The chauffer lets out Evel. He is going to
jump 19 cars. We learn about his personal philosophy that nothing is impossible. He doesn’t know fear and starts the bike.
The credits roll to on of the most hideous 70s folk rock songs ever. How Bradford Craig’s “I Do What I Please” isn’t ranked up with Sammy John’s “Chevy Van”?
Evel’s narration begins. He was raised in Butte, Montana. An area riddled with abandoned mines, young Evel is walking along the road when a car passes him. Suddenly,
the road gives way and the car falls down an obviously bottomless pit. Young Evel drops a rock down and waits to hear it hit bottom. This incident apparently greatly
influenced Evel.
At a daredevil, when Evel was 12, the guy blew up. His mother tried to keep him from seeing the aftermath. However, the crowd starts laughing at the guy. This also drew
Evel.
Years later, Evel had to be enterprising. In a bar, he gets everyone interested in something big that will happen soon. It will be big, very big. He leaves the bar with everyone
following him like the Pied Piper of Hamlin.
Walking to the nearby gas station, he climbs on the roof and lets him in an open window. Opens the front door, claiming the place is being robbed. Setting the door alarm
off, the cops arrive. The townsfolk are all carrying sticks. The sheriff calls for the robber to turn themselves in. Evel volunteers to go in if given a gun.
He storms in the station and opens fire and claims the robber got away. Sheriff chases after the non-existent robber. Evel hands the cash out to the townsfolk?
Later, Evel inspects the ramp over the cars. At his first professional jump, Evel talks the rodeo operator, Turquoise Smith, into hiring him. Evel befriends one of the rodeo
stars. After a batch of stock rodeo footage, the rodeo guy dies.
Years, later, his wife is asking about the jump, 19 car jump. Evel still has the jump to make.
Cut back to the first jump, the crowd mocks Charlie, unaware he’s dead. Turquoise claims Charlie will be fine and introduces Evel before the 2 truck jump. Evel comes out
and makes a little speech before.
"I want to sing a little ditty I call Eye of the Tiger..."
He warms up before speeding up the ramp through the air over the trucks. The crowd cheers.
Early footage of Evel Knievel with 70s folk rock ensues.
Evel and Linda are frolicking when his doctor walks in on them. He checks Evel’s leg and is sure Evel will break it. Apparently, 150,000 fans will be watching. Evel has
this fear the fans will trample him to death.
The Caesar’s Palace jump was where he broke most of his bones. Stock footage of the jump and agony of defeat or crashing ensues. An ambulance takes him away.
Evel is taken to the hospital where his doctor inspects the chart.
Surgery fu begins.
In the hospital room, Evel wants to get out soon. A couple of groupies are brought in for a visit. Doctor is sure that Evil will never walk again.
The groupies sneak Evel out and get him on his bike.
Bicycle built for 2 is for wimps, real men have bicycles built for 4..
Evel rides around the parking lot.
Flashback to how Evel met Linda. She knows him from his reputation of being in jail and is considered crazy. He puts the moves on her and convinces her to go for a bike
ride.
Leader of the pack, the one man tougher than the Arthur Fonzerelli...
They get chased by the cops. Evel lets her off and keeps being chased by the cops. Wacky hi-jinks ensue. Evel breaks his arm in the crash after one of his jumps. He is
given a stay in the grey bar hotel.
Linda goes on a date. Evel follows her stealthily. He doesn’t need a girl, got a bike.
Back to the current, Evel is his jumpsuit and readies for his jump. Linda wants them to go somewhere quiet. Evel wants to jump the Grand Canyon. Touching couple talk
ensues.
Flashback to coeds on ice. Linda’s girlfriends can’t stand Evel. He talks her into a drive. Later, steamed windows are seen on the car. It must have been quite a bit of
heated discussion.
Later, Linda tells Evel she’s going to college. Evel will drop in on her sometime.
Present, they mention something about Evel robbing a bank. Flashback, Evel can’t get a loan. He offers to split the tax money in city hall with the loan officer?
Night, a hole is blown in a wall. Unfortunately, it is the wrong wall. No one suspects that Evel was involved. He gets the right wall.
Present day, the spectators are starting to arrive at the speedway. Evel is interviewed.
We get a flashback to how Evel kidnapped Linda from college. The dorm mother won’t let Evel in.
"Hello, yes,my refrigerator is running...I need to catch it? "
He rides his into the house almost like in
Animal House. Linda hops on the bike, and they’re off.
The next day, she calls her parents who have reported her as kidnapped. She tells them she married Evel.
Back to the present, Evel is warming up before the Star-Spangled Banner is played. He will jump 19 cars. It is a good jump and everyone cheers.
In the desert, Evel does another bit of his narration about how celebrities provide meaning to others. He must keep going. They don’t have a choice in life but death. The
camera pans over the Grand Canyon. Evel’s death will be glorious…
