1980 British film
| Silver Dream Racer |
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| Directed by | David Wickes |
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| Written by | David Wickes |
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| Based on | story by Michael Billington |
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| Produced by | David Wickes |
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| Starring | David Essex |
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| Cinematography | Paul Beeson |
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| Music by | David Essex |
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Production
company | Rank Film Productions |
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| Distributed by | Rank Organisation |
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Release date | 11 April 1980 |
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Running time | 111 minutes (UK)
101 minutes (U.S.) |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
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| Language | English |
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| Budget | $5 million[1] |
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Silver Dream Racer is a 1980 motor-racing film starring British pop star David Essex and Beau Bridges. The film was produced, written and directed by David Wickes. It was the last film to be made by the Rank Organisation.[2][3]
Plot
Nick Freeman (David Essex) is an aspiring motorcycle racer, whose brother has been developing an experimental motorcycle. When his brother dies before being able to test and race the new bike, Nick inherits the responsibility to prove his brother's design. In spite of a series of tough setbacks, including the loss of his girlfriend, Nick goes into the big race at the British Grand Prix with all his energy and concentration bent on winning. However, an underhanded American racer (Beau Bridges) is also among the competitors, and is determined to ruin Nick's chances. Numerous incidents happen before Nick crosses the finish line in first place. Two completely different endings were filmed depicting Nick after he has won the race in the UK and US, and both versions were released.
Production
Director David Wickes had just enjoyed a box office success with the feature film version of The Sweeney and he was approached by Tony Williams of the Rank Organisation asking if Wickes had a film he wanted to make. The director had been sent a script by actor Michael Billington which Wickets said, "needed a re-write, but I liked it because it was about a very human thing — dreaming the impossible dream. Tony Williams liked it too, so I went to see David Essex. I thought he might be interested because he was a keen biker himself."
[4]
Essex agreed to appear in the film and write the music. Wickes, who rewrote the script, said the film nearly was not made because of difficulties sourcing a 500cc racing bike ("all the big manufacturers have their own racing teams and they won't give you the time of day") but they were rescued by "a brilliant Welsh engineering company called Barton Motors" who produced "a great-looking bike that could go respectably fast around a track."[4]
Tuesday Weld had talks about playing the female lead. She eventually took another role, and Cristina Raines, who had been in The Duellists, took the part.[5] Beau Bridges was imported from the USA to co-star.[4]
Some scenes were filmed during the 1979 Grand Prix at Silverstone, Northamptonshire. "I think we still hold the record for using 16 Panavision cameras on a single day," said Wickes.[4] The Silver Dream Racer was a real motorcycle, designed by Barry Hart of the Barton company.[6]
English motorcycle racer Roger Marshall did most of David Essex's riding for the film.[7][8]
Reception
The Guardian said "the story is as boring as hell".[9] The Los Angeles Times called it a "lively genre piece".[10]
According to Wickes, "The picture did pretty well in the UK but a lot better overseas. Most of the reviews were
favourable, and David’s song ‘Silver Dream Machine’ went to number two."[4]
It holds a 33% fresh rating on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.[11]
