Girl on a Motorcycle, The
Date: 1968
Director: Jack Cardiff
Production Company: Adel Productions, Mid-Atlantic Film (Holdings), Ares Production
Stars: Alain Delon, Marianne Faithfull, Roger Mutton, Marius Goring
Location(s): Alsace, Bas-Rhin (France); Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate (West Germany); Canton de Bern, Canton de Genève, Canton de Vaud (Switzerland); Hampshire, Surrey
Region(s): France, Germany, South East E-L, Switzerland
Storyline:
Reality, recollection and fantasy blur when a girl on a motorcycle crosses borders to travel from her husband to her lover.
Additional Information:
Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson
Also known as ‘Naked Under Leather’ (US Title) and ‘La motocyclette’ (French title)
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Can you help:
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.
- Capture 1
- 'Now' required
Very early on a misty morning, Rebecca wakes from a dream featuring her husband Raymond and her lover Daniel.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
Leaving Raymond asleep and putting on her leathers, Rebecca (Marianne Faithfull) looks back at the house after wheeling her motorcycle from the garage.
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
The Harley Davidson Electra Glide roars into life and the journey from Alsace to Heidelberg begins.
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
Mist lingers in the slowly lightening sky as the sound of the bike breaks the silence. Gare de Haguenau in Haguenau, Bas-Rhin with Pont de Strasbourg in the distance.
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
Panning right across the bridge, the camera follows the sound of the Harley. Facing southward at Gare de Haguenau.
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
The camera finds the bike's headlights in the haze. Looking towards buildings at the corner of Rue de l'Aqueduc in Haguenau.
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
As she rides, Rebecca thinks "What a place you've brought me to Raymond. Nothing but cemeteries and military camps."
- Capture 8
- 'Now' required
"Nearly a million killed here! This place stinks of old wars."
- Capture 9
- 'Now' required
"And what did they die for?"
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
Passing beneath the railway, a corner is taken. Manuel Gurtner explains that Rebecca is now heading in into an S-curve, passing around number 15 Rue du Moulin Neuf located on the western site of Haguenau station. The sidings, which have since been dismantled, can be seen in the background on the left.
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
Rebecca comes to a stand at a service station and rings the bell.
- Capture 12
- 'Now' required
Yawning, the Pump Attendant (Jacques Marin) comes out to attend to his early customer.
- Capture 13
- 'Now' required
With a full tank of fuel and tyre pressures checked, the journey resumes.
- Capture 14
- 'Now' required
Past a water tower. "Aren't I dying? Being married is a little death."
- Capture 15
- 'Now' required
"I'm talking like I've been married for years and it's only two months."
- Capture 16
- 'Now' required
Another town, slow for a junction.
- Capture 17
- 'Now' required
Turn the corner and power away.
- Capture 18
- 'Now' required
A freight train clatters along beneath a bridge. Identified by Manuel Gurtner, the three-arch-bridge carries Rue de l'Industrie over the northern part of the marshalling yard, called Gare de Triage de Hausbergen, situated in the northern outskirts of Strasbourg in Alsace.
- Capture 19
- 'Now' required
"Twist on the throttle and I obliterate this muck. To turn myself on."
- Capture 20
- 'Now' required
Buildings give way to a psychedelic landscape before Rebecca remembers Daniel's warning about wet roads.
- Capture 21
- 'Now' required
"Remember, everything. Every single thing. I fly towards you like those birds. No, like a rocket, zooming towards the sun."
- Capture 22
- 'Now' required
The light improves, a dog barks and runs alongside for a few meters.
- Capture 23
- 'Now' required
Parking the Harley and lying on a bench at the side of the road, Rebecca remembers the first time she passed this way . . . at 130!
- Capture 24
- 'Now' required
Slow down for the border crossing. Looking along Rue du Général Mittelhauser in Lauterbourg, Bas-Rhin towards the Customs Post and Neulauterburg in the municipality of Berg in West Germany's Rhineland-Palatinate beyond.
- Capture 25
- 'Now' required
Wait for the Officials to come out of their office. The Poste de Douane Franco-Allemand at Lauterbourg.
- Capture 26
- 'Now' required
The French Custom's Superintendent (André Maranne) and a Customs Officer (Bari Johnson) walk over to ask for Rebecca's passport. It's a lot less complicated to cross the border at present.
- Capture 27
- 'Now' required
"Anything to declare?" Lauterbourg on the French - West German border.
- Capture 28
- 'Now' required
"Now I'm leaving Raymond's country and entering Daniel's." A German Customs Officer (John G. Heller) salutes before requesting Rebecca's passport and wishing her "Gute reise." Neulauterburg on the West German - French border.
- Capture 29
- 'Now' required
Onward into Germany. The approach to the Maxau Rhine Bridge which opened in December 1966.
- Capture 30
- 'Now' required
The Maxau Rhine Bridge crossing the River Rhine between Wörth in Rhineland-Palatinate and Karlsruhe in Baden-Württemberg.
- Capture 31
- 'Now' required
There's little traffic at a major intersection. Manuel Gurtner explains "Coming from the Vosges Bridge, Rebecca crosses the Entenfang junction in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg and drives in the direction of Rheinstraße. The aerial shot was taken from the roof top of the apartment tower at the eastern corner of the square and shows the Mühlburger Feld, in Karlsruhe's Mühlburg district.
- Capture 32
- 'Now' required
Approaching the middle of a city, weaving in and out of slower vehicles. Facing north on Ettlinger Straße towards the junction of Karl-Friedrich Straße and Kreigsstraße in Karlsruhe located by @VerlagMeyer.
- Capture 33
- 'Now' required
Paying little regard to the road ahead, Rebecca rides through the city.
- Capture 34
- 'Now' required
Approaching a corner.
- Capture 35
- 'Now' required
No need to lean into the turn as, apparently, the bike is on a low trailer being hauled along the street.
- Capture 36
- 'Now' required
Success, without the need to generate centripetal force around the bike's centre of gravity.
- Capture 37
- 'Now' required
A junction is crossed before a sign is passed reading Stadt Heidelberg.
- Capture 38
- 'Now' required
A bit of dodgy continuity sees Rebecca again crossing the Rhine . . . or is this the current journey rather than the one remembered!! The Maxau Rhine pontoon rail and road bridges dating from 1947, about to be dismantled after the opening of the adjacent structure.
- Capture 39
- 'Now' required
Either way, Rebecca again reaches Heidelberg in Baden-Württemberg as the clock strikes 8. Here we're looking down on Karl Theodor Bridge, known as Alte Brücke, the Old Bridge, crossing the River Neckar in Heidelberg.
- Capture 40
- 'Now' required
Turn off the bridge onto Neuenheimer Landstraße.
- Capture 41
- 'Now' required
Quieter streets are found.
- Capture 42
- 'Now' required
The camera pans with the Harley.
- Capture 43
- 'Now' required
Facing west on Albert-Ueberle-Straße, Heidelberg.
- Capture 44
- 'Now' required
Albert-Ueberle-Straße with number 30 to the left.
- Capture 45
- 'Now' required
The corner where Albert-Ueberle-Straße meets Philosophenweg in Heidelberg.
- Capture 46
- 'Now' required
Rebecca pulls over and parks her machine. Looking east on Philosophenweg with number 18 to the right.
- Capture 47
- 'Now' required
Filled with anticipation, the young woman runs towards Daniel's house. The footpath leading to number 20 Philosophenweg, Heidelberg.
- Capture 48
- 'Now' required
At the rear of the property, the university lecturer sits in the sun house. The sun house stands in the garden of number 20 Philosophenweg.
- Capture 49
- 'Now' required
Having finished breakfast, Daniel Colonier (Alain Delon) draws on his pipe as he reads before Rebecca appears. Looking out over the Neckar with the Church of the Holy Spirit in the centre distance.
- Capture 50
- 'Now' required
After being woken up by the sound of half track vehicles and the calls of Soldiers, Rebecca gets off the bench to continue her journey.
- Capture 51
- 'Now' required
Bells ring and barriers lower, the annoyance of a level crossing.
- Capture 52
- 'Now' required
Daydreaming while she waits, Rebecca recalls a "Funny little red mountain train chugging away." @VerlagMeyer identifies this as the Nyon–St. Cergue–Morez railway railway above Nyon in the canton of Vaud between Geneva and Lausanne in Switzerland. Manuel Gurtner adds "More specifically, the metre gauged NStCM motor car of ABDe 4/4 type can be seen west of Saint Cergue on its way over the Givrine Pass. Incidentally, the French section between La Cure and Morez was already closed at this point and had switched to being a bus service."
- Capture 53
- 'Now' required
With their friends Jean and Catherine, Raymond and Rebecca travel to a ski resort for the weekend.
- Capture 54
- 'Now' required
The two couples enjoy themselves in a simpler time before Daniel spots Rebecca in the bar après-ski. Le Chamossaire ski area at Villars-sur-Ollon in the canton of Vaud identified by @VerlagMeyer.
- Capture 55
- 'Now' required
As she sets off from the level crossing wondering why she married Raymond, another memory has Daniel offering to take her for a ride on his Norton Atlas after he makes an enquiry about an order at her Father's bookshop. Rue de Soliel-Levant in Geneva with the steps to the Old Arsenal to the right.
- Capture 56
- 'Now' required
Daniel accelerates away with Rebecca riding pillion. Rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre seen from the corner of Rue de Soliel-Levant.
- Capture 57
- 'Now' required
The shot follows the pair as they circle the small market outside the bookshop. L'Ancien Arsenal, the Old Arsenal, at Grand-Rue 39 in Geneva.
- Capture 58
- 'Now' required
One of many back projections sees Rebecca holding Daniel's shoulders on her first bike ride.
- Capture 59
- 'Now' required
The Norton roars across the river as Daniel rides on to a place he knows outside the city. Manuel Gurtner explains that, on the left behind the pedestrian bridge, the trees on Île Rousseau can be seen, situated in the middle at the outflow of Lac Léman in Geneva and connected by the Pont des Bergues to both Rhône embankments.
- Capture 60
- 'Now' required
Returning to the reality of Rebecca's ride to Heidelberg, a French Custom's Officer (Arnold Diamond) approaches her at the border. Rue du Général Mittelhauser in Lauterbourg with buildings on Hagenbacher Straße in Neulauterburg to the left.
- Capture 61
- 'Now' required
"Identity card, papers for the motorbike." Rue du Général Mittelhauser in Lauterbourg with the since closed premises of Fischer & Co. in the background.
- Capture 62
- 'Now' required
The West German border is negotiated. The signs indicate the West German border and the Neulauterburg district of Berg with properties on Kandeler Straße in the background.
- Capture 63
- 'Now' required
Becoming increasingly unhinged, Rebecca ponders about 'free love'. In the distance stands Berner Münster on Münsterplatz in Bern, Switzerland seen from across the River Aare with the spire of Nydeggkirche to the left.
- Capture 64
- 'Now' required
"What's wrong with free love Daniel?"
- Capture 65
- 'Now' required
A pregnant Mother crosses the road with her Children.
- Capture 66
- 'Now' required
Green light, Rebecca accelerates away from traffic signals. "Just like you told me Daniel. German drivers prefer to travel in convoy like soldiers."
- Capture 67
- 'Now' required
"What was it you said? Like lemmings."
- Capture 68
- 'Now' required
"I always thought I had identity. Identified by my parents but no identity. I have no identity."
- Capture 69
- 'Now' required
Rebecca throws back her head as the nonchalant riding through city streets continues.
- Capture 70
- 'Now' required
With little care for her safety, Rebecca drives out of the city.
- Capture 71
- 'Now' required
The shot follows the Harley Davidson into the mist.
- Capture 72
- 'Now' required
Rebecca pulls into a service station "Like a bloody mausoleum" but speeds off when the Attendant approaches.
- Capture 73
- 'Now' required
Needing a drink, Rebecca stops at a gasthaus. Pmu au Châtelet, 40 Route de Strasbourg, Haguenau, France. (SR)
- Capture 74
- 'Now' required
Inside the bar, kirsch is ordered.
- Capture 75
- 'Now' required
Downing the spirit brings back a memory of the hotel where Daniel orders a room and a bottle of kirsch.
- Capture 76
- 'Now' required
Another kirsch at the gasthaus and Daniel teaches Rebecca to ride his Norton, not without incident.
- Capture 77
- 'Now' required
Confidence is gained.
- Capture 78
- 'Now' required
After a few lessons, Rebecca rides solo.
- Capture 79
- 'Now' required
The camera follows the novice rider along the road.
- Capture 80
- 'Now' required
Raymond (Roger Mutton) and her Father (Marius Goring) come out of the bookshop to see Rebecca's wedding gift from Daniel, a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide. The bookshop's façade was created for the film at Les Armures restaurant on Rue de Soliel-Levant in Geneva.
- Capture 81
- 'Now' required
Mounting the motorcycle, Rebecca rides away from Raymond and her Father. Looking south-east along Rue de Soliel-Levant.
- Capture 82
- 'Now' required
The corner of Rue de Soliel-Levant and Rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre in Genève.
- Capture 83
- 'Now' required
Looking through the Old Arsenal in Geneva's Old Town with the corner of Rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre and Grand-Rue to the left.
- Capture 84
- 'Now' required
Light-headed and tearful, Rebecca speeds away from the gasthaus after more drinks.
- Capture 85
- 'Now' required
Riding without her crash helmet, Rebecca has just 10 kilometres to go before reaching Heidelberg. Could this be a pick-up shot at Shepperton Studios in Littleton, Surrey?
- Capture 86
- 'Now' required
Rebecca anticipates her arrival into Heidelberg. Alte Brücke crossing the River Neckar.
- Capture 87
- 'Now' required
The penultimate scene was shot on the north-west perimeter track at Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire.
- Capture 88
- 'Now' required
A bell strikes 8 o'clock but Rebecca doesn't arrive. Alte Brücke passing over the Neckar in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg with the City Gate and the Church of the Holy Spirit on the far side of the river.