SILVER DREAM RACER

UK, 1980, 101 minutes, colour.

David Essex , Beau Bridges, Christina Raines, Clarke Peters, Harry H. Corbett, Diane Keane, Lee Montague, T.P. McKenna.

Directed by David Wickes.

Silver Dream Racer is a star vehicle for popular singer of the period, David Essex. He contributes to the score and to the central song which was very popular.

Direction is by David Wickes who had specialised in television more than films for cinema, directing the series The Sweeney as well as the film version. In the 90s he continued in television with some touches of horror with Jack the Ripper, Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde.

The story is fairly conventional, an older brother expert with bikes, his death, the younger brother stepping into his place, the family background and relationships, rivalry with an American rider played by Beau Bridges. There is a strong British supporting cast.

However, the main focus of the film is on the racing, footage taken at the Grand Prix of 1979 and incorporated into the film.

1. A sports film? Personal interactions film? The conventions, the quality?
2. British production, pro-British, the rivalry with the US? The stars, David Essex, singer, actor? The British supporting cast? American stars?
3. Effective photography, actual footage from the Grand Prix? Special effects and atmosphere?
4. The musical score, David Essex and his reputation, the song?
5. The prologue, Nick, his brother, working on the bike, his death? Skill, challenge, the horror of death?
6. Nick as a character, his family and relationships, training, in honour of his brother, finding the bike? His brother’s work? Speed, skills, the international atmosphere, Cider and his work, the support team?
7. The background, garages, designing, finance, deals, racing, challenge?
8. David Essex as Nick, Beau Bridges as Bruce, the rivalry, the clash, the contrasts, the women, relationships? The race, the techniques, the manoeuvres, the ending?
9. The family background, Nick at home, Carol, going out, encounters with Bruce, anti-American stances, emotional relationships?
10. The main focus on characters, on the race, rivalries – and the drama of the actual racing footage?