A Boy, a Girl and a Bike

A Boy, a Girl and a Bike is a 1949 British romantic comedy film directed by Ralph Smart and starring John McCallum, Honor Blackman and Patrick Holt. The film's art direction was by George Provis. The film concerns the romantic escapades and adventures of a Yorkshire cycling club.

Plot

Young couple Sue (Honor Blackman) and Sam (Patrick Holt) are members of a Yorkshire cycling club, the ‘Wakeford Wheelers’. Romantic complications ensue when wealthy David (John McCallum) becomes smitten with Sue, and joins the club to pursue her, much to Sam's dismay.

The film is set in Wakeford and in the Yorkshire Dales. It features cycle sabotage and cycling tactics.

Cast

• John McCallum as David Howarth
• Honor Blackman as Susie Bates
• Patrick Holt as Sam Walters
• Diana Dors as Ada Foster
• Maurice Denham as Bill Martin
• Leslie Dwyer as Steve Hall
• Anthony Newley as Charlie Ritchie
• Megs Jenkins as Nan Ritchie
• John Blythe as Frank Martin
• Hal Osmond as Mr. Bates
• Thora Hird as Mrs. Bates
• Amy Veness as Grandma Bates
• Maggie Hanley as Ginger
• Cyril Chamberlain as Bert Gardner
• Barry Letts as Syd
• Vera Cook as Helen Gardner
• Julien Mitchell as Mr. Howarth
• Alison Leggatt as Mrs. Howarth
• Lyn Evans as Policeman in Cafe
• Margot Bourke as Mary Bates
• Geoffrey Best as Harry
• John Howlett as Alf Pearson
• Patrick Halstead as Willie
• Joan Seton as Beryl Howarth
• Dennis Peck as Norman Bates
• Vera Williams as Jill Bates
• Bernard Hepton as Cyclist
• Gerald Lawson as Dog Seller
• Barbara Murray
• Valerie Pearson as Cyclist
• Charles Saynor as Policeman
• Marianne Stone
• Ben Williams as New Houseowner

Production

The film was based on an original idea by Sydney Box, who was head of production at Gainsborough. Box came up with the idea while out for a Sunday drive, and gave the job of writing the script to Ted Willis, who had worked for Box on the scripts for Holiday Camp and The Huggett's Abroad. Willis had the reputation of someone who could write for working class characters. The film was originally called Wheels within Wheels

Richard Attenborough was meant to play a key role but was held up making The Guinea Pig; Patrick Holt played his part instead.

In March 1948 Smart was scouting locations in Yorkshire and filming took place in September 1948. It happened on location in Yorkshire at places including Wakefield, Hebden Bridge, Skipton and Malham Cove, and at Gainsborough's Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd's Bush, London.

Critical reception

Variety called it "feeble... valueless for the US market."

The Monthly Film Bulletin called it a "simple unpretentious story enlivened by flashes of homely Yorkshire humour."

The Radio Times gave the film two out of five stars, calling it, "A minor, good-natured British comedy romance."

References

Bibliography

• Spicer, Andrew. Sydney Box. Manchester University Press, 2006.

External links

• A Boy, a Girl and a Bike at IMDb
• A Boy a Girl and a Bike at BFI
• A Boy a Girl and a Bike at Letterbox DVD

1. It's a Boy Girl Thing
2. Patrick Holt
3. John McCallum (actor)
4. John Blythe (actor)
5. Barbara Murray
6. Bernard Hepton
7. Diana Dors
8. The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D
9. Maurice Denham
10. Megs Jenkins
11. Thora Hird
12. Alison Leggatt
13. Anthony Newley
14. Leslie Dwyer
15. Marianne Stone
16. Julien Mitchell
17. Hal Osmond
18. Teddy Boys
19. Cyril Chamberlain
20. Honor Blackman