The Girl on a Motorcycle

The Girl on a Motorcycle () is a 1968 erotic romantic drama helmed by director Jack Cardiff, featuring performances by Alain Delon and Marianne Faithfull. The movie is an adaptation of the 1963 novel La Motocyclette authored by André Pieyre de Mandiargues. Released under the title Naked Under Leather, it holds the distinction of being the first film to receive an X rating in the United States, before Warner Brothers edited it to secure an "R" rating. It was also chosen for the 1968 Cannes Film Festival, which was ultimately cancelled due to the May 1968 events in France.

The film notably impacted motorcycle fashion by transforming the traditional leather jacket into a catsuit, designed by John Sutcliffe (designer), worn by Faithfull.

Plot

Taking place in France and Germany, the narrative follows Rebecca, a newlywed who leaves her husband Raymond’s side to embark on a journey on her cherished motorcycle, a symbol of her independence. She rides toward Heidelberg to visit her lover Daniel, experiencing surreal and erotic daydreams that expose her evolving feelings toward both men. Flashbacks reveal how Rebecca met Daniel at her father’s bookstore prior to marrying Raymond, a schoolteacher. Daniel teaches her how to ride a Norton Atlas motorcycle, and they begin an affair. When Rebecca proposes marriage to Daniel, he declines but promises her a wedding gift: a Harley Davidson Electra Glide motorcycle. Despite objections from her father, Rebecca seeks Raymond’s counsel, who supports her pursuit of happiness. She then rides the Harley from France to Germany to meet Daniel. After drinking kirsch at a village bar, she rides recklessly without wearing a helmet and suffers a crash after colliding with a truck that suddenly cuts in front of her.

Cast

• Alain Delon as Daniel
• Marianne Faithfull as Rebecca
• Roger Mutton as Raymond
• Marius Goring as Rebecca's father
• Catherine Jourdan as Catherine
• Jean Leduc as Jean
• Jacques Marin as pump attendant
• André Maranne as French superintendent
• Bari Jonson as 1st French customs officer
• Arnold Diamond as 2nd French customs officer
• John G. Heller as German customs officer
• Marika Rivera as German waitress
• Richard Blake as 1st student
• Chris Williams as 2nd student
• Colin West as 3rd student

Production

Filming locations spanned across France (including Haguenau), Germany (Neulauterburg), Switzerland (Geneva), and Belgium, with bookstore scenes specifically filmed in Geneva. Numerous high-speed motorcycle sequences featuring Marianne Faithfull were shot using a stationary Harley Davidson Electra Glide mounted on a platform towed by another vehicle. Many scenes were filmed twice to produce both English and French versions. Assistance from Cardiff police enabled road closures that allowed shots featuring only the motorcycle in motion. The climactic crash scene was filmed on an unused airstrip in England. The psychedelic color effects seen throughout were achieved through solarization during post-production.

For medium and long-distance shots involving motorcycle riding, Faithfull’s stunt double was British Grand Prix motorcycle champion Bill Ivy.

Box office

The Girl on a Motorcycle achieved the position of sixth most popular film in general release across Britain during 1968.

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin recognized the movie’s attraction for enthusiasts of women's magazine erotica, drawing attention to Alain Delon's intense portrayal and Jack Cardiff's rich cinematography, which showcased foggy scenery and suggestive visuals. The script, particularly the personification of the motorcycle, was praised as distinctive and unforgettable.

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film a rating of three stars out of five, highlighting Marianne Faithfull's memorable presence and acknowledging the movie as a fashionable 1960s curiosity, despite its relatively weak storyline.

Home media releases

The Girl on a Motorcycle first became available on VHS in 1998 and then on DVD in 1999 through Starz/Anchor Bay. In 2012, Jezebel issued a remastered version on both DVD and Blu-ray, including director Jack Cardiff’s commentary track and the original theatrical trailer. The initial release runs approximately 91 minutes, whereas the remastered edition is around 88 minutes long due to variations in playback speed. A 4K restored Blu-ray edition was made available on 13 December 2022 by Kino Lorber.