practically the only other actor who would be less likely to play evel knieval than hamilton be anthony perkins and yet somehow hamilton manage to turn in a reasonably effective portrayal ( and a producer of the film and he wasn not likely to be fire or tell he wasn not right for the part . ) the early life of the daredevil motorcyclist be recount here in multiple flashback . the film open with a rather silly prologue with hamilton in his white leather and star spangle gear spout the world accord to knieval a if to say and don not worry . this film be about my youth and but i will be back in my familiar costume by the end of the picture . hamilton be prepare for a huge jump and yet be still lick his wound from the previous one a devote wife lyon both support and deride him . he recall various vignette of his childhood and delinquent teenage year along with his early day a a stunt rider and blossoming celebrity . this flip flop approach be pretty abrupt and sometimes disjointed and but it do prevent the movie from stick to one of it inexpensive set for too long a time or from get into a rut with the fairly pedestrian character . hamilton and usually a suave and debonair persona and do a very fine job of enact the tiny detail of his subject mannerism and demeanor include his walk . his hair be a shade lighter and long and he work hard to give the right inflection in his speaking . ( he even pay minor tribute to knieval many injury by appear in a skimpy towel while his shoulder be cover in scar from the multitudinous accident . ) facially and he look nothing like the real cyclist and but he do suggest him in his physical performance . lyon be excellent at play the young girl he love and then the more worldly wife and though her 3 pack a day voice do threaten to give her away at any give moment . she and hamilton strike up an easy chemistry which go a long way in put the film over . other nice support turn be give by freed a his jaded doctor and cameron a an early influence and taylor a a flea bitten sideshow barker . the film be make on a low budget and but the story be a rather low rent one anyway and so that doesn not affect it too badly . the maker wisely use actual butte and montana location to give the film a proper small town ambiance . several of hamilton antic be amuse and though the character be certainly reckless and inconsiderate of other people property . some of the real knieval complete and fail stunt be include in some blurry footage and one of which feature a mind boggle splatter in which the man be roll up and snap around like a rag doll . hamilton then wife ( stewart ) appear briefly a a nurse .