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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By James
Format:Hardcover
San Francisco Chronicle
'Hollywood Rides a Bike,' by Steven Rea: review
Mick LaSalle
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Author Steven Rea has two passions, cinema and bicycling, and out of this has come "Hollywood Rides a Bike: Cycling With the Stars" (Angel City Press; 159 pages; $20), a picture book containing scores of photos of Hollywood stars, mostly from the 1930s through the 1950s, riding bicycles. It is a singular and eccentric creation and, like a lot of singular and eccentric things, thoroughly charming. Bicycling enthusiasts will take pleasure identifying the various vintage bicycles - their riders were movie stars, remember, so they weren't riding rusty buckets - and a full index of bikes is given at the back.
For the rest of us, the book is picturesque and has the pleasure of novelty, but there's something more. There is a poignancy about seeing these vivid people from the past in the midst of physical activity and pleasure. There they are, the lucky and the tragic, all doing the same thing: Lauren Bacall, at her most beautiful, at the dawn of her stardom. And in another photo, Susan Peters, lovely and seemingly with the world before her - and yet a few years later, she was dead.
These are perhaps strange ruminations from what is essentially a cheerful book, but sometimes when you put disparate elements together, there are unexpected depths.
'Hollywood Rides a Bike,' by Steven Rea: review
Mick LaSalle
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Author Steven Rea has two passions, cinema and bicycling, and out of this has come "Hollywood Rides a Bike: Cycling With the Stars" (Angel City Press; 159 pages; $20), a picture book containing scores of photos of Hollywood stars, mostly from the 1930s through the 1950s, riding bicycles. It is a singular and eccentric creation and, like a lot of singular and eccentric things, thoroughly charming. Bicycling enthusiasts will take pleasure identifying the various vintage bicycles - their riders were movie stars, remember, so they weren't riding rusty buckets - and a full index of bikes is given at the back.
For the rest of us, the book is picturesque and has the pleasure of novelty, but there's something more. There is a poignancy about seeing these vivid people from the past in the midst of physical activity and pleasure. There they are, the lucky and the tragic, all doing the same thing: Lauren Bacall, at her most beautiful, at the dawn of her stardom. And in another photo, Susan Peters, lovely and seemingly with the world before her - and yet a few years later, she was dead.
These are perhaps strange ruminations from what is essentially a cheerful book, but sometimes when you put disparate elements together, there are unexpected depths.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
These pictures are amazing. They go way back to the original Rin Tin Tin on a bike, to some Tom Hanks on a bike and Jeff Bridges. I love the old ones the best, of course. Especially Clark Gable with a flat. I always order from Amazon, but outta stock so I went direct to the publisher. Got a signed one! This book made me get out my bike and ride...so it's healthful to own it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book captures the full glamor of Hollywood posing with a bicycle. In an industry that made a profession out of looking good it has pictures of ultra-glamorous movie stars striking poses from every era riding bicycles in movies as well as off the set. As you might imagine, some are breathtaking. The early stars make the most striking photographs such as Jean Harlow, Betty Grable & Ava Gardner. There are movie stills of both Muhammad Ali, The Beatles and Elvis as well as stills from Breaking Away, Quicksilver, and The Bicycle Thief, of course. There are the usual number of tandems, penny-farthings and ice-cream tricycles in scenes where the bicycle is used as a movie prop. W.C. Fields strikes a publicity pose on a bicycle fitted with sails. Though the book includes movie scenes showing a Moulton, Masi and Carlton bicycles, the rise of Hollywood came at a time when it was considered humorous to ride a bicycle. A number of bicycles shown are fat-tired single-speed clunkers like the kind used on a Hollywood movie lot or grabbed to complete a scene. If you ever wanted to see a beautiful movie star look so striking and glamorous posing with a bicycle then this is the book for you.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is an outrageously engaging and entertaining volume. It would be pretty impressive even without its thematic weave. Just the old time Hollywood glamor. Eat your heart out, Tom Cruise. Every time you flip through the pages, you come upon a new treasure. My current favorite: Joe E. Lewis ready to tear it up in a velodrome. Great bikes, great book.
By Shelleyeve
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book is the size of my ipad. The photos are smaller. Would not have ordered had I realized size.
By John
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was used as a gift for a person who just about lives on a bike and they thought it was great. They also had thought they would dress up like some of the Hollywood pictures and pose with their friends. Sounds like fun.
By George Hahn
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I wrote a review of this glorious book by Steven Rea for Brooklyn Cruiser, where I am a Contributor-at-Large. An excerpt...
"For lack of a longer word, the book is fun. Also available as an app, the 160-page hardcover, published by Angel City Press, features 125 images of Hollywood movie star bicycle bliss, reminding us that the simple enjoyment of riding a bike does not require logo-splashed lycra and combat head gear. In fact, quite the opposite. The bicycling we see in Steven Rea's delicious coffee table tome reminds us that riding a bike is a pursuit worthy of refined whimsy and a little lighthearted glamour."
Read my full review here: [...]
"For lack of a longer word, the book is fun. Also available as an app, the 160-page hardcover, published by Angel City Press, features 125 images of Hollywood movie star bicycle bliss, reminding us that the simple enjoyment of riding a bike does not require logo-splashed lycra and combat head gear. In fact, quite the opposite. The bicycling we see in Steven Rea's delicious coffee table tome reminds us that riding a bike is a pursuit worthy of refined whimsy and a little lighthearted glamour."
Read my full review here: [...]
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Reader
Format:Hardcover
Hi from Angel City Press, publisher of HOLLYWOOD RIDES A BIKE.
Some glitch in Amazon's process acquiring information about books prevented the cover image from showing up -- a shame, since this is a pictorial book.
You will find the cover at this URL:
[...]
Thanks for your interest!
P.S. It's a terrific book. But of course we think that!
Some glitch in Amazon's process acquiring information about books prevented the cover image from showing up -- a shame, since this is a pictorial book.
You will find the cover at this URL:
[...]
Thanks for your interest!
P.S. It's a terrific book. But of course we think that!
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