Movie spotlight
Eddie Kidd
At the age of 18, stunt cyclist Eddie Kidd had already broken world records, been a stunt double for Harrison Ford and released a couple of singles. Yet this profile piece for the COI cinemagazine series “This Week in Britain” offers glimpses that his high life had both its ups and downs. A record-breaking jump of 24 cars was to be the big attraction of a May bank holiday at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu but torrential rain scuppered plans. Kidd returned on the 4th June for a second attempt but with a shoulder injury that you see aggravated here, which prevented a planned second jump and again disappointed audiences. The person tasked with turning all these travails into a light-hearted snippet for overseas audiences was Peter Greenaway, who edited hundreds of stories like this before making arthouse feature hits such as The Draughtman’s Contract (1982).
Insights
Plot Summary
A fearless stuntman, Eddie Kidd, is hired to perform a death-defying motorcycle jump over the River Thames. However, his daring feat becomes entangled in a plot involving industrial espionage and international intrigue. As the stakes rise, Eddie finds himself in a race against time to expose the conspiracy and survive the dangerous game he's been drawn into.
Critical Reception
Riding High was primarily seen as a showcase for Eddie Kidd's stunt abilities rather than a critically acclaimed film. While audiences enjoyed the action sequences, the plot and character development were often considered secondary. It received moderate attention for its stunt work but was not a major critical success.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its thrilling motorcycle stunts and the charisma of Eddie Kidd.
Criticized for a weak and predictable plot that doesn't fully support the action.
Seen as a vehicle to showcase daring real-life stunts rather than a narrative masterpiece.
Google audience: Audience reviews generally highlight the exciting stunt work as the film's main draw. Many viewers appreciated seeing Eddie Kidd perform his signature high-risk maneuvers. However, some found the storyline to be thin and less engaging than the action sequences.
Fun Fact
The film famously features Eddie Kidd performing a jump over the River Thames, a stunt that was a significant spectacle at the time and a key selling point for the movie.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources