''The Sky-Bike'' is a 1967 colour British

children's film A children's film, or family film, is a film genre that contains children or relates to them in the context of home and family. Children's films are made specifically for children and not necessarily for a general audience, while family films are ...

written and directed by

Charles Frend Charles Herbert Frend (21 November 1909, Pulborough, Sussex – 8 January 1977, London) was an English film director and editor, best known for his films produced at Ealing Studios. He began directing in the early 1940s and is known for such ...

. It was Frend's last feature as director.

Plot

Tom Smith is an only child who dreams of flying. He lives in English suburbia. He spends a lot of time at an abandoned airfield and there he meets a man who has invented a flying bicycle but it will not stay in the air. They decide to adapt it for two cyclists, to give greater power. Their aim is to win £5000 in a competition for the first man-powered flight. They have a rival team, also based at the airfield, and both are troubled by the security guard and his two Alsatians. Tom is aided by his friend Porker and his sister Daphne. A novel based on the script was later published.

Cast

Liam Redmond Liam Redmond (27 July 1913 – 28 October 1989) was an Irish character actor known for his stage, film and television roles. Early life Redmond was one of four children born to cabinet-maker Thomas and Eileen Redmond. Educated at the Christi ...

as Mr. Lovejoy (Graves for business) * William Lucas as Mr. Smith *Ellen McIntosh as Mrs. Smith *Spencer Shires as Tom Smith *Ian Ellis as Bill (Porker) *Della Rands as Daphne *John Howard as Jack * Bill Shine as Wingco * David Lodge as Airfield Guard *Guy Standeven as Squadron Leader *Andrew Venn as Bert *

Harold Bennett Harold Frank Bennett (17 November 1898 – 11 September 1981) was an English actor, active in stage, television and film best remembered for being in sitcoms written and produced by David Croft, having played 'Young Mr. Grace' in the 1970s Bri ...

as Old Man (Drophead Charlie) *

Harry Locke Harry Locke (10 December 1913 – 7 September 1987) was an English character actor. He was born and died in London. He married Joan Cowderoy in 1943 and Cordelia Sewell in 1952. He was a good friend of the poet Dylan Thomas. Their friendship in ...

as Cycle Shop Owner

Critical reception

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or t ...

'' called it an "Imaginative children's adventure film...not always believable, but this flaw can easily be overlooked given the high energy of the production."

References

External links

''The Sky-Bike''
at

IMDb IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

''The Sky-Bike''
at Spinning Image 1967 films British children's films Children's Film Foundation 1960s children's films Films directed by Charles Frend 1960s English-language films 1960s British films {{1960s-UK-film-stub