Murray Missile 

I didn't find this posted when I did a search for it, if it's already here somewhere then disregard but I just stumbled across this on YouTube, "A Boy a Girl and a Bike" from 1949. Haven't watched the whole thing but there are some cool old bikes in the scenes I have watched.

clubman 

Damn the Brits made technically near-perfect films. And Honor Blackman? Whew
Fluted cranks, sub 20 lbs, nice cutaways, love it.

'You can always tell breeding in dogs or humans'
Arsepicks.

My first bike film review..

bikemig 

This is what I'm watching tonight,

bikemig 

So the girl in the movie--Susie Bates--is played by Honor Blackman who is more famous for her role as ***** Galore in Goldfinger. Who knew she could could ride a bike as well as fly a plane?


and @clubman gets bonus points for figuring this out first.

georgiaboy

Japanese Classic Late Spring by Director Yasujiro Ozu

gugie 

That Continental cable going into the top tube, that's proper looking.

52telecaster

Great movie until the end. Then its ridiculous. Killer bikes though.

Lemond1985

They had a total bike-based economy back then, their lives practically revolved around them, a lot like when i was a kid. Now I know why the old Raleighs are so nice, Brits really treasured their bikes.

It's funny too how the bike team coach and all the guys on the team are smoking at the meeting. Paid product placement, or did people actually smoke that much back then?

gugie 

Lemond1985

Ah, Team Humboldt. Forgot about them. Spiccoli was their best rider.

rseeker

Honor Blackman? "I must be dreaming."

Murray Missile 

Yeah, but who doesn't love a "surprise" happy ending. I like old movies like that and I really liked this one right up to about the last 2 minutes then I was like "WTH?" There were a few other "Huh?" moments but not as bad as the ending. Not sure what the punishment for desertion was in the British Army in those years but I think it's safe to say that's the last any of them saw of poor old Bert. And what became of the bike shop owner and Ada's boy friend? It's only been 70 years so maybe there's a sequel coming out where all is explained. Hollywood is remaking everything else maybe the could do something with this one since they can't seem to come up with any original scripts anymore. The story definitely had some holes in it but OH those bikes! I kept waiting for the stolen bike to blow up and burst into flames when the kid threw it over the cliff, I thought falling off cliffs made everything with wheels on it blow up LOL. It's a keeper though, I saved it to my hard drive.

Murray Missile 

That is cool! I noticed the camera held on that Coca Cola sign quite awhile. A little "not so subliminal" messaging there?

JohnDThompson 

Britain was in pretty rough shape for years after WWII; rationing of food and raw materials continued well into the 1950s. I remember my aunt and uncle in Falmouth being really excited to finally get their first car (a Citroën) in 1965.

Murray Missile 

I noticed even David's Bentley was a bit of a beater.

gugie 

Anyone else notice that the race and training scenes were ridden all out? Honor Blackman was flying in several scenes.

Murray Missile 

I was too busy staring at her to notice how fast she was going.

T-Mar

In Canada and the UK, Honor Blackman was better known for her earlier role of Cathy Gale, John's Steed's first female partner in The Avengers television series.

Diana Dors who played the 'tart' character, Aida, also became well known in Commonwealth countries. She dyed her hair platinum blonde and developed into the big 1950's UK sex symbol.

It's definitely no Archers or Ealing film but still an enjoyable B-grade movie with a nice glimpse at post-war UK cycling. Thxs for posting. I didn't realize this was available on video.

Chombi1 

Love Setsuko Hara in these old films.
A Japanese actress with just as much beauty, grace and talent as the Grand Dames from Hollywood.
She is considered as Japan's queen of classic movies. I could watch her movies from the 40's and 50's over and over, especially this one with her riding a bike.
Sadly, she died early this year.

uncle uncle

I could use about 50 more of these old British bicycle-centric movies.... and if history is to be believed, and the bicycle was so loved by the Brits around the WWII time frame, one would expect there to be a lot more of these. Sure, there are the Pathe films, enjoyable in the own right, but not a dramatic story like this film. I do love the racing members nappy hats...

Ronsonic 

Usually a menthol cigarette and yes, a couple of puffs and pass it on. Preventative for exercise induced asthma. Many asthma meds are paradoxical, a very small dose of an asthma trigger to provoke a physical response to offset it and offset any other asthma trigger, like exercise.

Yes, it actually worked.

We have better medications now.

bironi

Thanks.
A fun watch.
Byron

52telecaster

I enjoyed it immensely, my gf thinks im crazy when i watch this stuff. Of course she likes Japanese horror so there u go.

ryansu

It was like they cut a scene because we went from Rich kid taking the girl home with the folks after winning the big race to him setting up a rental for the Girl and her original beau and then stepping aside like Sydney Carton,, what? also the fugitive alluded to having a reason for being a deserter but we never got that story. Ok I am nitpiking I loved the old bikes, the race, the cinematography. the rural scenes and Honor Blackman in a sweater

Murray Missile 

Trust me, I'm looking for them! It'll be hard to top this one for me though.