This film is English, filmed in black and white in and around the South London. It is filled with a wonderful assortment of old school small English bikes; Norton’s, Triumph’s and BSA’s. Compared to today’s films it is a bit slow moving and at times I felt as if I were watching someone’s home video. What you are actually watching is a snap shot of English life in the nineteen sixties. You had to love the huge bouffant hair styles that never became a mess after a long ride on the bikes. Those English girls never got helmet head! It must have been due to all the hairspray they used back then. The clothes although slightly different from the US styles did hold true and were fun to see.
The English slang and style of speech might throw you off a bit but hang in there it’s worth the look. The boys were all decked out in black leather some sporting names on the backs of their jackets. However that’s where it stopped being the type of film I had expected. The script speaks to the fact that these working class bike riding teens and twenty something’s were outsiders, different from their parents and the generations before them.
The film follows Reggie and Dot and their romance and marriage and over all life together. I found that the film also touched onto a surprisingly taboo subject: homosexuality. It is slight and subtle but it’s there and for a film of its day rather shocking. There are race scenes and love scenes and all around it’s a palatable ride but remember it is nothing like an American biker movie. However if you want to see how the biker culture grew across the pond then this is an interesting depiction.
I give this one four out of six shots!
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