Nicola Rutzou
Here are our top picks for great movie scenes with people riding bikes. We’d love to hear from you about your favourites.
The Wizard of Oz
It’s hard to go past the evil Miss Gulch in this classic film. In the early part of the film, there is a scene where the evil Miss Almira Gulch, played by Margaret Hamilton, rides her classic step-through roadster away from the farm with Dorothy’s pet dog, Toto. Thankfully (spoiler alert), Toto escapes her clutches and returns to Dorothy.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
There’s a very memorable and romantic scene in this great movie where Paul Newman’s character Butch Cassidy rides around with co-star Katherine Ross (Etta Place) on the handlebars & top tube of a bicycle to the tune of Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head. We’re not sure why they chose that song because there’s not a raindrop in sight! Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote it for the film.
Both actors show great skill in staying on the bike. Paul Newman reportedly did all his stunts except for falling backward through the fence.
BMX Bandits
Fellow Australian Nicole Kidman made her film debut on a bike. Many people would barely recognise her with her untamed red hair and freckles (where have both of those features gone). Nicole plays a crime-fighting, BMX-riding teenager in this Australian children’s adventure film against the backdrop of her hometown of Sydney.
The Sound of Music
It is another classic movie that features the humble bicycle. Julie Andrews and her charges sing ‘Do-Re-Mi’ while riding classic roadster bikes. The beautiful scenery in Austria also helps the film along. I’m sure it took quite a few takes to get it just right.
Mr Bean’s Holiday
In this 2007 film, Rowan Atkinson embarks on a holiday to France. The scenes of him riding his roadster, catching and passing a bike race (supposedly the Tour de France), and being towed along are hilarious.
Miss Piggy in The Great Muppet Caper
Our final pick is a great scene from The Great Muppet Caper where Miss Piggy and Kermit are riding bikes through a London Park with the song Couldn’t We Ride.
