Clip joint: Skating

http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/aug/06/clip-joint-skating

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“It’s great when you skate… yeah” as Black Grape once almost observed. Whether its ice skating , rollerskating or skateboarding, having a character travel around on tiny wheels/blades can add a certain speedy excitement to a film.

Here are a few of our favourite cinematic skaters - but can you think of any others? Let us know in the comment thread below.

1. Back to the Future

“What’s that thing he’s on?” “It’s a board with wheels.” According to BTTF’s slightly revisionist history, Marty McFly invented skateboarding in 1955 when he vandalised a child’s homemade scooter in order to evade some thugs. A few days later he went on to invent rock and roll. It was a busy week for Marty.

2. The Simpsons

This scene combines two of conservative middle America’s favourite bêtes noires - nudity and kids on skateboards – for a masterclass in low-level juvenile delinquency from Bart Simpson.

3. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano served as an unlikely figure of inspiration for Stan, Kyle and Cartman, with the boys celebrating his skating achievements in this rousing musical number.

4. Modern Times

This clip from Charlie Chaplin’s 1936 film packs in more wit, tension and excitement in two minutes than some films manage in 90.

5. Prayer of the Rollerboys

In the late 80s a bunch of film producers got it into their heads that rollerblading was going to be the next big thing – and henceforth Prayer of the Rollerboys was born. Corey Haim plays Griffin, a pizza delivery boy recruited by the cops to infiltrate a band of white-supremacist rollerbladers.