– Jedi Knight and heroin addict Ewan McGregor is 50 today. Here’s an old photo of him as an aspiring actor living in Primrose Hill in the early nineties. His first bike for hoofing around the Big Smoke was a T3 Moto Guzzi dressed up to look like a Le Mans.
Bike Cop
– 1973 film The Limit was written, directed and starred Yaphet Kotto, who died yesterday. Known as the bad guy in Live & Let Die and chief engineer on the Nostromo in Alien.
IMDB: In Los Angeles, black motorcycle police officer Mark Johnson patrols gang-infested neighborhoods with his white partner and best friend, Jeff McMillan. One afternoon, Mark has a run-in with a gang known as The Virgins, whose leader, Big Donnie, is taken aback by the policeman’s understanding, dignified demeanor despite the gang’s constant derision. When Mark advises Donnie not to continue to allow his heavily pregnant girl friend, Judy, to ride a motorbike, the gang leader agrees. Later, after Donnie actively seeks Mark out for advice, the Virgins’ second-in-command, Kenny, reacts with outrage.
– Grand Prix racing was an adventurous spectacle when I was younger, no small part due to the excitement imbued by the high pitched commentary of Murray Walker. His father was a noted TT motorcycle road racer, which Murray took up briefly, before going into TV work and advertising. His races that were a shared experience with the couth color of James Hunt are legendary.
– Classic 70’s sitcom On The Buses sees one time ‘clippie’ Olive Rudge and her aloof husband George take a fully loaded combination to some seaside destination. George was the center of much derision from main ne’er do well characters, Stan and Jack, due to the decrepit appearance on the BSA.
BSA W35-8 Bluestar (1935)
– an unusual toy from the seventies popped up on the intraweb today. A repurposed 70’s Japanese model with olive drab loosely uniformed Hawkeye Piece figure is a fun toy from M*A*S*H. The lunatic existence of an army surgical unit in the Korean War.
– with a soft sonorous voice, actor John Le Mesurier played all rolls in a carefree effortless manner. His most noted part was that of Sgt. Arthur Wilson in the 70’s BBC comedy Dad’s Army. The ideal foil against Arthur Lowe’s pompous and blustering Captain Mainwaring.
Here’s a photo of him as a vicar on a BSA in the ‘78 drama “Flint”.
– we watched a six part crime drama on Amazon Prime last week. Based on a John Le Carré book of the same name The Night Manager has actor Tom Hiddleston become an undercover spy to a wealthy philanthropist arms dealer played by Hugh Laurie. One scene sees our protagonist ride a Triumph Thruxton around the rugged Atlantic coastal landscape of Devon. Good series superbly executed in the classical style of the genre.
– Launched 40 years ago today the brushed stainless steel paneled car with the full-wing doors was an eye-catcher from day one. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro it earned worldwide fame in Back to the Future as Doc Browns 1.21 gigawatt powered time machine.
– more likely to see him riding a scooter through the Chelsea district of London; actor Jude Law, seen here modeling a Post Office Red Norton Commando, is 48 today.
– as Frank Costanza would celebrate, with a seasonal gathering around an aluminum pole, allowing family and friends the annual opportunity to air grievances. A classic Triumph is surely a better focus than a pipe. “Serenity Now!”
– I just caught the tail end of this 1973 Clint Eastwood film and saw that the “Death Squad” cops were riding ‘67 Triumph T100R Daytona 500cc bikes. Earlier in the movie they rode Moto Guzzi’s Eldorado’s, also in police livery, however the stunt riders preferred the nimble characteristics of the smaller Triumph for haring across the decks of the decrepit aircraft carriers for a final showdown.
– trench coat, Homburg cap and lip-clenched pipe. Oui c’est Jacques Tati. Here the gauche and somewhat inept character on his trusty Solex motorscooter with nephew perched over the rear pannier rack. Today is Tati’s birthday. “Joyeux Anniversaire Jacques!”
– From Rudyard Kipling’s well loved stories The Jungle Book a main antagonist is the bengal tiger who is lord over the animals of the tropical forests. The Disney version has the most feline character in a near Hobbes quality.
– Dame Diana Rigg (1938-2020) played the original action girl opposite Patrick MacNee’s John Steed in the early sixties British TV show. Other notable characters include Countess Teresa di Vicenzo who became 007 James Bond’s wife; and Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones. But for everyone she’ll always be the catsuited Emma Peel.
– everyone’s favorite Balkan, Goran Višnjić, celebrates his 47th birthday today. Lookin’ smart on a big adventure Beemer.
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