BMX BANDITS

Australia, 1983, 89 minutes, Colour.
Nicole Kidman, David Argue, John Ley, Angelo D' Angelo, James Lugton, Bryan Marshall, Brian Sloman.
Directed by Brian Trenchard Smith.

BMX Bandits was very popular in the early 1980s when first released. It has become something of an Australian classic for films for younger audiences.

The film was directed by Brian Trenchard Smith, already an expert in films with stunt work, films like The Man from Hong Kong. Prior to BMX Bandits he made Turkey Shoot. He was go on to a long career in Australia and overseas.

The film also introduced Nicole Kidman, a tall girl, noticed to have talent – and the beginning of an extensive career at home and overseas, including an Oscar for The Hours, portraying Virginia Woolf.

There are character actors in support led by David Argue and British-born Bryan Marshall who migrated to Australia.

The film takes full advantage of Sydney locations, the harbour, Waverley Cemetery, granted, Manly and the range of beaches. There is plenty of BMX riding, chases and stunt work.

1. An entertainment for younger audiences, older audiences? Promoting BMX bikes?

2. The Sydney settings, the harbour, the beaches? The suburbs, supermarkets and malls? The visual environment? Action sequences, chases? Stunt work? Comedy touches? The verve of the musical score? Songs?

3. The main characters as youngsters, boys and girls? In action? The bikes, riding, the thwarting of the robbery? PJ, Goose, friendship with Judy?

4. The opening robbery, setting the tone, the thieves, the pig masks? The boss, his character, strong, planner? Whitey and Moustache, henchmen, less bright? The plans?

5. The BMX experts, Judy and her wanting to get a bike, her age, work in the mall, moving the trolleys, the accident, the Creep? The encounter with the BMX experts?

6. The trip on the harbour, wanting to find cockatoos, selling them to raise money? Finding the walkie-talkies? The gang’s walkie-talkies? Selling them? The police listening in?

7. Whitey and Moustache, the chase in the cemetery?

8. The new bikes, the exhilaration, riding around Sydney, the stunt work? The Manly Water Works? The chases? Judy caught, her escape?

9. The new robbery plan, the youngsters wanting to foil it? The walkie-talkies? Judy as hostage, in the truck, the crash, the arrest of the robbers?

10. The police laying down the BMX tracks, the competitions, the youngsters winning the awards?