Les bicyclettes de Belsize

I haven't seen this short 1960s film for at least 10 years now, and yet I retain an intense fondness for it. Perhaps, as a Londoner born and bred (albeit in Fulham, south-west London), I savour it for its portrait of a particularly glamorous part of London (Hampstead and environs), at a particularly fashionable time (the late 1960s). (Whenever I walk around certain parts of London I feel myself to be back in the 1960s, and the Hampstead/Highgate area is one such part.) I recommend that anyone within commuting distance of London book a day (or afternoon) of walking over Hampstead Heath and adjoining area, and that anyone else within remote-control distance of a VCR record this evocative little film at the next opportunity.

Bar the slapstick and the redundant bus stop scene, this poignant love story has stayed with me since I first saw it as a child on ITV then C4 in the 80's. Lucklily my VHS copy is still fine taped from C4 sometime in 1989. The music, magic and romance is much more than most movie musicals ever achieve. Has anyone ever wondered where the two stars are now? Best song in my opinion is the one Julie sings "All I Want is Love?" I could marry her if I was so inclined! I will look out for that soundtrack and am so glad to see others have enjoyed this simple masterpiece. Email me if you love this film too! Wouldn't it be amazing to have a screening in North London at a cinema for all lovers of this. We could all arrive on bikes and wear 60's bohemian gear!

As a student, I was sent home on Wednesday afternoons to study. As I was on a media production course, I felt justified in spending the afternoon watching television - surely that constituted study! Channel 4 threw up this little gem one afternoon and being a lover of musicals, I was instantly transfixed. Luckily it was soon repeated in the same time slot and I was able to set the timer (I was working by then) to tape it.

It is a great 30 minutes of entertainment. Quirky chap sees his ideal woman on a billboard poster and falls in love. Woman is dissatisfied with her life because all she wants is love... so will they get together? I couldn't possibly tell you...

Judy Huxtable is so gorgeous and I love the song 'Julie'. The film was made before I was born but I still appreciate the fashions, cars and lifestyle portrayed on screen. I did write to Channel 4 a year ago to ask if they had any plans to show it again but apparently they no longer own the rights. What a shame. An absolute diamond.

Bogie and Bacall, Fred and Ginger, The Boy and The Girl - undoubtedly three of the great romances of 20th century cinema. Did ever a film hero have to contend with as much as The Boy to win The Girl? I mean, he had to search half of north London for her on a bicycle which was far too small and what about that huge Rolls with three bruisers on board, slamming the door in his face? Les Bicyclettes is a double romance, firstly of The Boy and The Girl, and secondly of beautiful Hampstead. I was in London last September with my bike and I cycled down the High Street (the King of Bohemia is sadly all too modern but happily, Chic is still a clothes shop) and along those other picturesque streets and stairways. Forget Star Wars et al and their hunger for special effects. This delightful Sixties short cinema has a magical, innocent and honest appeal. A simple script, minimal words and haunting music.Above all, it has charm. I think I saw The Boy and The Girl sitting in a cafe on the High Street, both now in their early 60s but still as fashionable and still in love. But why Belsize which is a good half mile down the road?

This lovely little film, a 30 minute short film features a boy in search for the love of his life who he had just crashed through on his bike. She was the model on a advertising poster.

It's all very quaint, that's not a put down but a big compliment featuring a score written by Les Reed and Bart Mason and a wonderful theme song sung by Englerbert Humperdinck (?) On yes I forgot to mention it's a silent movie with what little dialogue sung by the cast, that makes it a musical I guess lol .