Boy and Bicycle

"Boy and Bicycle" is a short film famed director Ridley Scott made in the early 60's, which was completed in 1965. It offers a very limited narrative about, you guessed it, a boy and his bicycle. A teenage boy rides along the English seaside in search of some solitude with his own thoughts. A lot of teen angst runs through the telling of the story, which is told almost entirely through a difficult to understand voice over track by the star and the director's brother, Tony Scott (who went on to have a film-making career of his own).

There's a nice innocent appeal about it, and the chilly weather comes across particularly well, however there are plenty of the standard student film hindrances as well. Though there are some impressive black and white visuals, the viewer must also contend with a lot of wandering home movie type shots. It's a film that runs long at twenty-seven minutes, and though it might offer a glimmer of what would become a pretty strong director, it's not exactly worth it.

Boy and Bicycle is available on the DVD of Scott's excellent feature debut, The Duellists. It is an abstract, stream-of-consciousness journey into the mind of "The Boy," played by Scott's younger brother Tony. While it may seem like not much happens as we follow Tony through the streets of a smallish English industrial town, the sensation of being inside his head, hearing the sometimes nonsensical interior monologue of a young teenager playing hooky becomes almost hypnotic after a while.

What really stands out about this short film is the early development of Ridley Scott's visual style. His shot composition is amazing for a first effort; Scott is able to use The Boy's surroundings, both natural and man-made, to frame his subject skillfully and direct the viewer's eye to the precise details he wants to emphasize.The black-and-white photography really helps to accent the details of The Boy's surroundings. Scott also is not afraid to experiment with camera angles, using high or low angle shots to capture The Boy from angles that are at once strange but also oddly natural, all the while keeping in mind the fascinating geometry of whatever might be found in the background.

All told, this is a fascinating film that succeeds in transporting the viewer into The Boy's interior world. It is beautifully shot, as one would expect from Ridley Scott. However, it is also in many ways abstract and lacks a conventional narrative structure, which is a bit unexpected and a pleasant surprise from a director who is from time to time unfairly labeled as a maker of big, loud, conventional action pictures.

Not a great short for anyone who didn't have the bits of childhood that Ridley sees in this piece initially, unless you love that gritty film feel.

Lots of little iconic items that used to be in mine and everyones houses. Lovely junk, treale tins, jam jars and old junk. What makes it good for me is I loved starting looking at film this way and also being able to understand how he brought this grittiness to Alien which complete transformed the far end of Cinema.

If you've had a go at using light 8mm or 16mm cameras in your life, you'll get excited about this.

G.

Soundtrack, narration, cinematography and editing all create a beautiful cinematic poem of the very simple. The very simple which also are the deepest sights and sounds that make our everyday life. The introspective nature of the journey gives us the chance to look through the eyes of somebody else. The sensitivity and artistry of the film turn it into a memorable experience of your own not to be forgotten.

A joy to get closer to the raw craft of a young Ridley. Perhaps the entire soundtrack (all of its tracks) is most extraordinary. A must see.

This was Ridley Scott's very first filming attempt.I enjoyed it and can see how Scott was especially talented and suited to go on and have a very successful career. His demonstration of doing various types of shots is evidence that this film was a sample trial of what he was then learning about shooting using, angle, lighting, shadow and various textures of objects indoors and outdoors. His brother was focused and the narration thought provoking. Even if there were no voice over narration, the film positively demonstrates Scott's talents and abilities to go to be a groundbreaking film director. My understanding is Tony, his brother, was also a talent in the industry.

Once Ridley Scott got access to better equipment, we know he excelled at what he does best as evidenced by his long career of film-making. Blade Runner has got to be my favorite, but also enjoyed Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven.