Bicyclettes de Belsize, Les

Date: 1969
Director: Douglas Hickox
Production Company: British Lion Film Corporation

Stars: Anthony May, Judy Huxtable, Leslie Goddard, Barny Reisz
Location(s): London

Region(s):

Storyline:

This is a 30 minute short film shot entirely out of doors in Hampstead.

Additional Information:

The now shots were a co-production by Simon James and Adrian Grepnold. Hampstead boy Adrian knew most of the locations and Simon took most of the now shots

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If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.

We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

  • 'Now' required

The long opening pan (lbdb001a-d) is taken from the roof of Heath Mansions, an Edwardian block of flats between The Mount and Hampstead Grove. Most of this is impossible to match from ground level.

  • 'Now' required

Through the clump of old houses that include the Holly Bush Tavern on Holly Mount, seen in 'The Killing of Sister George', towards Hampstead High Street. Gaze's was an old drapers on the corner of the High Street and Oriel Court.

Holly Mount. Also seen in 'The Strangler's Web'.

Now. SJ and AG.

Holly Mount.

Now. SJ and AG.

  • 'Now' required

On the roof of Heath Mansions, showing New End Hospital.

Hampstead Grove from the roof.

Now. SJ and AG.

Hampstead Grove from the roof.

Now. SJ and AG.

A corner of Heath Mansions.

Now. SJ and AG.

New End across Heath Street from The Mount.

Now. SJ and AG.

The Mount.

Now. SJ and AG.

The Mount north towards Heath Street.

Now. SJ and AG.

Heath Street southwards from The Mount this time.

Now. SJ and AG.

Holly Bush Steps from Heath Street.

Now. SJ and AG.

And, er, Heath Street from Holly Bush Steps.

Now. SJ and AG.

A series coming down Hampstead High Street and Rosslyn Hill. The bottom of the High Street.

For these Simon drove and Adrian photographed.

By the Greenhill.

Now. SJ and AG.

Just past the Greenhill.

Now. SJ and AG.

Start of Rosslyn Hill.

Now. SJ and AG.

Rosslyn Hill.

Now. SJ and AG.

Rosslyn Hill.

Now. SJ and AG.

Cut to the bottom of the High Street again. Tris enlarges upon the identification by adding that this is passing the side entrance to 14 Hampstead High Street.

Tris captured the location now now with the entrance to the former Three Tuns public house at right.

More Rosslyn Hill.

Now. SJ and AG.

More Rosslyn Hill.

Now. SJ and AG.

Repetitive I know, but such nostalgia for Adrian.

Now. SJ and AG.

By Lyndhurst Road.

Now. SJ and AG.

Just past Pond Street, at the junction of Rosslyn Hill and Haverstock Hill, pulling level with Roland Hill Street.

Now. SJ and AG.

Back at the bottom of the High Street.

Now. SJ and AG.

The old King of Bohemia pub.

Now. SJ and AG.

Hampstead Heath. A footpath off East Heath Road behind Bell Moor flats on Heath Street.

Now. SJ and AG.

Further down the path, towards the Vale of Health.

It was just about here that Simon heard a voice calling him. It was a friend of his, someone who had collaborated on some photos for this film locations book. Small world.

Looking back up the hill towards Heath Street.

Now. SJ and AG.

The footpath again, towards the Vale of Health at ever-increasing speed. His brakes have failed. The Vale of Health can also be seen in 'Universal Soldier (1971) and 'The Monster of Highgate Ponds'.

Now. SJ and AG.

(The film was sponsored by Raleigh bikes, can they have been pleased?)

Now. SJ and AG.

...to come to a halt at, or rather through, the billboard.

Back in 2009, Simon's friend's daughters are sitting on the house steps.

The poster is torn, but he's fallen in love with the girl on it.

Now. SJ and AG.

Squire's Mount on the south of East Heath Road.

Now. SJ and AG.

Up East Heath Road.

Now. SJ and AG.

East Heath Road.

Now. SJ and AG.

And northwards to the Vale of Health.

Now. SJ and AG.

Mansfield Terrace and New End Hospital buildings.

Now. SJ and AG.

Tris tracked this one down, it's the view west up the steps at the junction of Mansfield Place and Streatley Place, between Back Lane and New Endwill.

Not that much has changed in this comparison from Tris.

We're back on the roof of Heath Mount, looking down at the alley to its north.

Simon doing his best to match the identifying detail from ground level.

Same Alley.

Now. SJ and AG.

And Again.

Now. SJ and AG.

Now we're in Perrin's Court which runs from Fitzjohn's Avenue to the High Street.

Now. SJ and AG.

Perrin's Court at the High Street end.

Now. SJ and AG.

Perrin's Court.

Now. SJ and AG.

Actress Judy Huxtable married Peter Cook shortly after this film and lived with him in Perrin's Lane a few yards south of here.

Now. SJ and AG.

An old-fashioned restaurant called the Spinning Wheel.

It became the Villa Bianca restaurant shortly after the film and it still is.

Spinning Wheel/Villa Bianca.

They've built some more porchy bits on.

Back towards the High Street.

Now. SJ and AG.

Adrian thinks this may be South Hill Park or the road called Parliament Hill and Tris confirms that the view is up Parliament Hill with Hill Court to the right.

Tris provides this close up shot of the distant buildings.

The view up Parliament Hill with Hill Court in the background recognised by Tris.

Again, a closer view of the background by Tris.

  • 'Now' required

Further down. As many clues as we can get for the sleuths.

And this is Parliament Hill the hill, not the road, high up on Hampstead Heath.

Peter reproduces a similar view.

Not a lot to go on here - presumably nearby.

Confirmed as Parliament Hill by Peter.