Pam1927

Does anyone remember this little musical film? I loved it... a delightful whimsical piece, starring Anthony May and Judy Huxtable, directed by Douglas Hickox. It was filmed around Hampstead Village in the summer of 1968. If I remember rightly, it did the rounds originally with 'Twisted Nerve' as the main feature.

I think it's Anthony May who is in a car ad running on TV at the moment, playing a business exec type.

It's nice to be nice...

Gibbie

I remember as a kid there was a song of that title by Englebert Humperdink - was that the title song?

Freddy

Hi Gibbie and Pam
yes yes yes yes, this is one of my favourites, it featured twice on channel 4 a couple of years ago and there is some useful info at IMDb, I have it on video though it has been lent to a friend in a far off land so just praying it is ok. I would love to do a walk around there sometime. Also in the bus queue did you notice some familiar faces as well as the chap coming home after nights and missing his wifes lover climbing out of the window.
Judy Huxtable was once married to Peter Cooke, I think Vince Hill sang the song as well. The strange thing is I must have seen it when I was 13/14 and remembered it all that time.
Thankyou
Freddy

Freddy

Pam,
I think I saw this at the Abbey 'cause do you remember one of the adverts for a local removal firm always featured a girl in a pink nightie posing seductively in a wooden crate. In my mind they always seemed to go together.
regards
Freddy

Pam1927

I'm chuffed to death that you remember it too, Freddy! I thought I was the only one who did! I didn't know that Judy Huxtable was married to Peter Cook (wasn't she also in 'Scream and Scream Again'?). I remember seeing it on the Woolton rather than the Abbey! That pink-nightied girl sounds familiar though!

I'm off to have a look at the IMDb listing for it... ta, Freddy, I hadn't thought of looking it up on there!

It's nice to be nice...

Pam1927

I'm bringing this back up to the top of the list just so Rob01 can see our little chat about it of some weeks ago. :)

It's nice to be nice...

Freddy

Mireille Mathieu
THE BICYCLES OF BELSIZE
Barry Mason - Les Reed


Turning and turning the world goes on
We can't change it, my friend
Let us go riding now through the days
Together to the end, till the end

Les bicyclettes de Belsize
Carry us side by side
And hand in hand, we will ride
Over Belsize
Turn you magical eyes
'Round and around
Looking at all we found
Carry us through the skies
Les bicyclettes de Belsize

Spinning and spinning the dreams I know
Rolling on through my head
Let us enjoy them before they go
Come the dawn they all are dead, yes, they're dead

Les bicyclettes de Belsize
Carry us side by side
And hand in hand, we will ride
Over Belsize
Turn you magical eyes
'Round and around
Looking at all we found
Carry us through the skies
Les bicyclettes de Belsize

Also sung by Englebert H. and Connie Francis.
Barry Mason and Les Reed did numbers for Dave Clark Five plus many many more

regards
Freddy

PeterVideo

This was a short British film made in the early 70s - I saw it once and its only claim to fame is that it featured the title song recorded I think by Engelbert Humperdink. Since I lived at the time in Belsize Park (N. London)I was interested but I never found out anything about it - like who made it?, why? how did the music get in there?, why was it in French? Any body know...?

Freddy

Evening again PeterVideo,
Les Bicyclette de Belsize has had two thread very recently on here. Look under general film chat and looking for a video. Also www.imdb.com .
It is a very popular film. Anthony May is still acting but nothing has been heard of Judy Huxtable apart from marrying Peter Cooke.
best wishes
Freddy

hayling2002

Apologies of a very late reply to this thread, as I'm a very new member, but this little masterpiece of its time is also one of my favourite films.
The soundtrack is a much collectable piece of vinyl, reputedly fetching well into three figures, although I've never seen a copy myself.
The film sequence in the park (or is it Hampstead Heath), is featured along with a song by Episode Six, who contained a couple of members of the band which eventually became Deep Purple.
Having watched the film many times, and as i ran a small record company, it was an ambition some time ago, to try and recreate the film just for our own enjoyment, but sadly it never happened.
Still, it is a most charming picture of that period of swinging 60's and if there's ever a more appealing lead actress than Judy Huxtable for that part, I'd be amazed.

Geoffers

Yes, I've never seen the soundtrack but a friend has it (along with Twisted Nerve) and made me a cassette copy years ago.

I taped the film last time it was shown on Channel 4. I will look it out but I'm guessing the quality might be a bit ropey - it was a long time ago!

scl

I am a new member. Hello everybody!

I never realize that the song title Les Bicyclettes De Belsize is also the title of a film. Can anybody tell me the story told in the film as a matter of interest? Where can one buy a copy of the film on video or DVD?

Forgive my ignorance on this: what is the meaning of the word "bicyclettes"? I could'nt find the word in a dictionary.

scl

Steve Crook

Hello scl.

Look in a French/English dictionary. It's French for bicycles.
(The title translates as "The Bicycles of Belsize" - and that's not Belsize Park in London : )

Steve

scl

I see it means bicycle. What is the story in the film? Can one buy such a film anywhere?

scl

Geoffers

Les Reed has apparently regained the rights to the soundtrack and it will be issued sometime in the future on his own label, Chapter One.