Penton: The John Penton Story 2014
Distributed by Passion River Films, 154 Mt. Bethel Rd., Warren, NJ 07059; 732-321-0711
Produced by Todd Huffman and Don Hoffman
Directed by Todd Huffman
DVD , color, 2 hrs. 33 min.
General Adult
Biography, Business, Engineering, Sports, Sociology, Popular Culture
Date Entered: 09/15/2015
Reviewed by Andrew Koval, MSLSPenton: The John Penton Story is a biography of the life and career of motorcyclist John Penton. Interviews with Penton’s family and motorcycle racing legends such as Billy Uhl give first-hand accounts of the motorcycle racing culture that evolved due in large part to the works of John Penton. The opening and conclusion of this film are of special note given the detailed nostalgic mood presented in the cinematography and auditory elements. This establishes the tone which elicits a certain level of respect for the sport even for an audience unfamiliar with off-road motorcycling. File photos are generously used to pace the film evenhandedly.
This piece is overly comprehensive and would have benefited from additional editing. Because the filmmaker emphasizes the specifics of the life and career of Penton the viewer may lose focus on the broader overarching impact Penton had on motorcycle racing. The subject matter is of interest to a particular subculture and may have limited appeal outside of motorcycle enthusiasts. A companion piece is the documentary On Any Sunday (1971). Public libraries and automotive research libraries are best suited for including this documentary in their collections. This piece will work well in courses discovering the history of a particular subculture.
Awards
- Motorcycle Film Festival 2014 Winner