Bike racing - the movie

colh

A mate of mine is a successful film and TV director - he's also done the odd triathlon, so he at least gets the biking thing a bit too. Following on the massive successes of this summer and the rise in popularity of cycling, he's sounded out a few film companies about making a cycle racing feature film and there's definite interest. So now I'm helping him with the hunt for the story...there's some obvious stuff e.g. LeMond v Hinault, Anquetil v. Poulidor, Merckx, Tommy Simpson...but there might be some more obscure stories out there which are even more compelling. I thought the Pro Race forum might be a good source of ideas and inspiration. So over to you - what's the bike racing film that needs to be made?

All ideas welcome - and if it gets made, I'm sure we could sort a Pro Race premiere!

nweststeyn

the 1 clean rider vs. the rest of the 90s peloton?

(thought i'd get in there first).

symo

I thought Nottingham's finest Shane Meadows was looking at a Tommy film with his mate Paddy Considine as the lead?

rick_chasey

Do it about Andrea Carrea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Carrea

LangerDan

Oscar Plattner

Richmond Racer

ANC-Halford's epic Tour of 87. Comedy, tragedy, everything you could want in a film. Fiction couldnt come anywhere near matching the truth.

But who to play Tony Capper?

Yellow Peril

Richmond Racer wrote:

ANC-Halford's epic Tour of 87. Comedy, tragedy, everything you could want in a film. Fiction couldnt come anywhere near matching the truth.

But who to play Tony Capper?

This would be brilliant. Perhaps the usual triumph over adversity stars could be wheeled out. Timothy Spall could play Capper, Julie Walters could be Shane Sutton and Dame Helen Mirren could play Malcolm Elliott (Judi Dench could be Stephen Roche)

alan_a

This was a great play and might make the back bones of a great movie exposing the LA myth.

viewtopic.php?f=30005&t=12722776&p=16401321&hilit=pedal+pushers#p16401321

afx237vi

Basically my motto about films is "the more depressing the better", so a René Pottier bio would be good. Preferably directed by Michael Haneke.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Pottier

RichN95.

afx237vi wrote:

Basically my motto about films is "the more depressing the better", so a René Pottier bio would be good. Preferably directed by Michael Haneke.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Pottier

Henri Pelissier can top him. His first wife shot herself, his second shot him. With the same gun.

Le Commentateur

Go read the Jan Hirt articles by Herbie Sykes and Ben Ingham in various issues of Rouleur: a young wannabe trying to make it as a pro in Italy amongst all the chancers, no-hopers and spivs that infest the sport at that level.

No_Ta_Doctor

Bartali.

Spent the war smuggling fake identity papers to Jews, hidden in his frame.
Epic battles with Coppi.
Career mucked about by the fascists.
Monstrous TdF win that may have helped pull Italy back from the brink of civil war.

Bike racing AND Nazis in a film, definite win-win.

Richmond Racer

No tA Doctor wrote:

Bartali.

Spent the war smuggling fake identity papers to Jews, hidden in his frame.
Epic battles with Coppi.
Career mucked about by the fascists.
Monstrous TdF win that may have helped pull Italy back from the brink of civil war.

Bike racing AND Nazis in a film, definite win-win.

Great. I come up with Carry on Cycling and you come up with Schindlers List.

graeme_s-2

RichN95 wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

Basically my motto about films is "the more depressing the better", so a René Pottier bio would be good. Preferably directed by Michael Haneke.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Pottier

Henri Pelissier can top him. His first wife shot herself, his second shot him. With the same gun.

You'd think after the first incident he might have decided it wasn't something he wanted around the house wouldn't you?

colh

Great ideas...thanks all.

The Halfords Tour of '87 could be hilarious (Cool Runnings meets Withnail and I anyone?), but the interest appears to be in something more romantic and inspiring. Lots to work with and research - and more suggestions of course welcome.

itisaboutthebike

but there might be some more obscure stories out there which are even more compelling.

Me and my mate's battle up the A6 the other Sunday was quite compelling................not sure there's a film in it tho - maybe an advert or trailer.

We've love to be ourselves in the film..........save on actors costs..........all for a can of WD40.

As Phil Leggup once said..........."I knew a mate.............................."

essexeagle

Don't think this ever got a Uk release, pity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CJZRcGLpHo

symo

How about Gonzalo Marín?. Drugs and Terrorism.

Pross

No tA Doctor wrote:

Bartali.

Spent the war smuggling fake identity papers to Jews, hidden in his frame.
Epic battles with Coppi.
Career mucked about by the fascists.
Monstrous TdF win that may have helped pull Italy back from the brink of civil war.

Bike racing AND Nazis in a film, definite win-win.

I'd pay to watch that. I'm happy to make my acting debut in the lead role too

dsoutar

afx237vi wrote:

Basically my motto about films is "the more depressing the better", so a René Pottier bio would be good. Preferably directed by Michael Haneke.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Pottier

Jeez, are you the secret love child of Ingmar Bergman ?

afx237vi

dsoutar wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

Basically my motto about films is "the more depressing the better", so a René Pottier bio would be good. Preferably directed by Michael Haneke.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Pottier

Jeez, are you the secret love child of Ingmar Bergman ?

I prefer Tarkovsky to be honest.