Post by Nightfly on Aug 29, 2021 12:01:43 GMT
Riding High - Starring Eddie Kidd, Linda Bellingham, Irene Handl
I recently decided to revisit this obscure British film made in 1980/81 as a vehicle for stunt biker Eddie Kidd who always seemed to be in the news back then.
Eddie plays a motorcycle courier who has a shot at the big time by challenging an Evil Knievel type to make a stunt jump across an estuary. There's a mixed bag of actors ranging from Irene Handl as Eddie's gran to the nervy middle aged biker "The Halifax Hellcat" played by Bradford actor Ken Kitson (the Policeman in Last of the Summer Wine). Daniel Peacock and Zoot Money deliver decent supporting roles.
The Evil Knievel character, called Judas S. Chariot (!) is played by Bill Mitchell, better known as the deep voice behind the 70s Carlsberg and Denim aftershave ads. Bill was interviewed at the time when the working title was "Heavy Metal" and he commented that it was "very heavy and tested my metal....and Knievel is threatening to sue me for portraying him as an alcoholic".
Eddie's performance is quite good and it's a kind of low budget Silver Dream Racer without the downbeat ending. Worth a watch when the dark nights and bad weather kick in.
I recently decided to revisit this obscure British film made in 1980/81 as a vehicle for stunt biker Eddie Kidd who always seemed to be in the news back then.
Eddie plays a motorcycle courier who has a shot at the big time by challenging an Evil Knievel type to make a stunt jump across an estuary. There's a mixed bag of actors ranging from Irene Handl as Eddie's gran to the nervy middle aged biker "The Halifax Hellcat" played by Bradford actor Ken Kitson (the Policeman in Last of the Summer Wine). Daniel Peacock and Zoot Money deliver decent supporting roles.
The Evil Knievel character, called Judas S. Chariot (!) is played by Bill Mitchell, better known as the deep voice behind the 70s Carlsberg and Denim aftershave ads. Bill was interviewed at the time when the working title was "Heavy Metal" and he commented that it was "very heavy and tested my metal....and Knievel is threatening to sue me for portraying him as an alcoholic".
Eddie's performance is quite good and it's a kind of low budget Silver Dream Racer without the downbeat ending. Worth a watch when the dark nights and bad weather kick in.
