Les bicyclettes de Belsize

No-one,that I know,has seen or heard of this beautiful film.It has been in my all-time favourites since I first saw it.I have only seen it once,on TV,but I have never forgotten it.A short film,yes,but a stunning evocation of late sixties attitude,love and London.Whoever has the rights to this film,please show it somewhere,anywhere!or even better bring it out on DVD.

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 .

It is very gratifying to know that I am not the only person familiar with this film. Now, to the matter in hand. I did record it off TV the last time it was ever broadcast. Then I moved house. A box of odds and ends that included all my home recorded videos never made it to the new address. By the time I noticed several month had passed and the removal company could not help (obviously). SO, has anyone got the facility to copy their video onto another? I would of course pay for the blank tape to record on, postage and something for your time. Alternatively, does anyone have a copy and not want it any more? If someone out there can help it will mean the end of a 3 year search on the internet and a very happy birthday for my mother who is soon 80 and misses the film terribly. THANK YOU.

Saw this film a the British Film institute recently and was entranced by it. I live in Belsize Park, and recognise so many of the little streets and lanes such as New End Road and Pilgrims Lane.

I can't make them all out though...does anyone know if a 'Byclettes De Belsize' walking or cycling route exists? I want to follow his exact journey through modern day hampstead to see what's changed. It's quite haunting..all these years later I was walking down a path behind the Holly Bush and suddenly realised I was walking where he first bumped into the little girl! If anybody knows where it all starts and finishes though that would be great!

For those interested in this film, I felt it worth mentioning that it is now available via Optimum Classic/Studio Canal (optd1142) on the same release that features Norman Cohen's utterly wonderful 'The London Nobody Knows'. As you might expect, the DVD is lovingly assembled and the print quality of both films is superb.

Juxtaposing both on the same disc carries some editorial weight: Cohen's London is genuinely (and properly) post-apocalyptic, still reeling from the human and economic tragedies of the Second World War, whereas Hickox describes a shimmering fantasy which, for the fortunate few, was not a million miles from the truth.