2011-11-14 HBFS Film Show

The Hackney Bicycle Film Society's November show will be Bicycle Corps

(2000, 57 min.)
In the 1890s, the United States Army thought it could replace the horse with the newly developed and highlypopular 'safety bicycle.' Testing this theory, the army sent 20 African-American soldiers on a ride from Fort Missoula,Montana, to St. Louis, Missouri -- 2,000 miles away. This documentary traces the group's route across the American West through the eyes of two of its riders: the enthusiasticwhite officer and a black first sergeant whose experience guided and motivated the enlisted men.

The film will be proceeded by a 30 min. talk on how the Bicycle won the Vietnam War
As always films start at 7:30 and are shown at the Calthorpe Arms, Grays Inn Road.
Any queries e-mail hbdf2011-at-gmail.com

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More details

The Hackney Bicycle Film Society's November show will feature a talk and documentary firstly,
The role of the Bicycle in the Vietnam War
In August 1945 following their final surrender in World War 2 the Japanese left Vietnam and the Nationalist Vietnamese, the Viet Minh having been supported by the Americans and Nationalist Chinese during the War declared independence’ thinking their time had come. The French had other ideas reoccupying their former colony with massive military support from the Americans and British and initiating a war which was to last 30 years and cost 2.2 million lives. Hear Adam Thompson talk about the war and how the bicycle was critical to the final victory of the Viet Minh both against the French at Dien Bien Phu and the American via the Ho Chi Minh trail.

Adam’s talk will be followed by our film for November Bicycle Corps
At the end of the 19th century, many military experts believed that the bicycle could replace the horse as a means of transporting troops. The 25th Infantry made famous by Bob Marley as the Buffalo Soldiers was chosen to test that theory. On June 14 1897 a small group of African-American soldiers, led by white officers and accompanied by a local newspaper reporter, departed Fort Missoula, Montana. Forty-one days and over 1,900 miles later, they reached their destination--St. Louis, Missouri--after travelling not on made roads but over every possible type of rugged terrain and enduring every kind of bad weather.

This documentary film looks at how the Bicycle Corps came into being, and details the progress and hardships of their amazing journey.

All the best

Adam

Unless otherwise stated all events occur at
Calthorpe Arms,
252 Grays Inn Road
London WC1x 8JR and start
Prompt at 7:30
facebook.com/hackney.bicyclefilmsociety

Hi! Would I need to be a member of HBFS to attend?

Not for this show. I only publicise our public shows here

Just done a leaflet for the night can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/funny_cyclist/6316767976

It was very interesting in all sorts of ways.

Thanks glad you enjoyed it