Ridley Scott’s Very First Movie Starred His Director Brother, Tony Scott

Ridley Scott is regarded as one of the infamous greats in the film industry. Many people may know him for directing Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), and Gladiator (1997), which are just a few of the most successful projects under his name. Fans can also see his recent film, Gladiator II, in cinemas starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington. But much like any other filmmaker, Scott had to start somewhere — and his start can be traced back to 1965 when he made his first-ever short film, Boy and Bicycle.

Before Dominating Sci-Fi and Action Genres, Ridley Scott Started With Short Films

If one dives into Scott’s long and impressive filmography, one genre stands out — science fiction. He has long been a force in the sci-fi world, and fans can see just how passionate he is about creating new worlds and shaping characters. In a 2012 interview with FirstShowing.net, Scott mentions how this genre gives filmmakers “a chance to explore the technological elements of filmmaking and push them in a sense.” Before his career took off, the now-award-winning filmmaker started his journey in university. Thanks to this experience, Scott learned many things about the world of film, leading him to make his first short film entitled Boy and Bicycle.

Boy and Bicycle is regarded as Scott’s first film project, where he served as the director, writer, and producer. The project is shot on film in black and white and has a petite running time of less than 30 minutes. The short film was done while Scott was still an undergrad at the Royal College of Art. It’s a lovely history under Scott’s name, and what makes it even more sentimental is that Boy and Bicycle stars Tony Scott, his younger brother, who also happens to be an established filmmaker.

‘Boy and Bicycle’ Follows a Truant Teenager Roaming Around Town

The short film Boy and Bicycle has a simple premise. It follows a teenager, played by Tony Scott, who decides to skip school and just bike around the neighborhood. The first scene is a monologue done through a voice-over by the main character, talking about the complexities of life and the struggles that come with being a teenager. The rest of the film is essentially just the boy biking through several places, from the calm seashore to a candy shop — accompanied by a cheeky score by John Barry, which intentionally contrasts with the boy’s random stream of thoughts. Thoughts that, surely, many people have had cross their mind at least once.

The title of the short film is straight to the point — you’ll definitely only literally see a young boy with his bicycle. But what adds more meaning to the film is the boy’s inner thoughts and how they are so jumbled, unorganized, and utterly authentic. Of course, some of them sound nearly poetic, yet they still possess a flowing and naturalistic nature to them. The boy’s stream of consciousness pairs beautifully with the scenery surrounding him — simple yet intentional, may it be the waves crashing into shore or the dog suddenly chasing after him. It’s also a treat through and through because Tony Scott knows how to time his lines right, perfectly mixing comedy and an air of teenage innocence. Overall, it’s quite different from the projects that we know Ridley Scott from, but watching Boy and Bicycle gives an introduction to the director’s early career and love for experimentation.

Ridley and Tony Scott Both Made Big Strides in the Film Industry

The Scott brothers are more than well-known in the film industry, and their legacy is admired and well-recognized by fans and peers alike. So, to see their collaboration in Boy and Bicycle is such a heartwarming thing, as it speaks of just how much they trusted one another in terms of filmmaking. Tony Scott also boasted a great filmography, with his biggest projects being Top Gun (1986) and Enemy of the State (1998). Though he sadly passed in 2012, his legacy in the film industry is something that will never be forgotten by his fans and family. Luckily, we have Boy and Bicycle to watch, and Ridley Scott still talks fondly about his late brother in interviews.

Boy and Bicycle can be watched on Prime Video in the U.S.

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