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On Any Sunday: The inspiring film of a whole generation
“On Any Sunday”, directed by Bruce Brown and released in 1971, is a legendary documentary that has had a real echo in the world of motorcycling and continues to inspire passionate bikers. This iconic film offers a captivating insight into the motorcycle culture of the 70s and the passion that drives two-wheeled enthusiasts.
The context of the time plays a key role in the popularity of “On Any Sunday”. At the time, motorcycling was booming, becoming a symbol of freedom, adventure and camaraderie. The documentary features striking footage of motorcycles in action, from motocross races to laid-back beach rides and flat-track racing. It also features the stories and experiences of passionate riders such as Steve McQueen, Mert Lawwill and Malcolm Smith.
With a captivating narrative and dynamic soundtrack, “On Any Sunday” offers an immersive dive into the world of motorcycling, and conveys the excitement, passion and friendship that characterize this culture. The film has succeeded in capturing the essence of motorcycling and inspiring a generation of riders.
Age of Glory is a lifestyle clothing brand inspired by motorcycling and vintage style. Its direct inspiration comes from the aesthetics and atmosphere of the 70s, as seen in “On Any Sunday”. The brand draws on the authenticity, adventure and camaraderie that defined this period, incorporating them into its unique creations.
Age of Glory’s creator, Sébastien, was asked a series of questions to find out how the film influenced the creation of his brand.
When did you first see “On Any Sunday”? Did this film contribute to your passion for motorcycling today?
My passion for motorcycling was initially fueled by a great deal of frustration, as my parents were anti-2-wheelers, and so I unfortunately only got into motorcycling late in life. In my teen age, I was more into skateboarding and then snowboarding. But I’d always dreamed of this universe in my youth and watched a lot of MX videos, the SX in Bercy every year…
I have seen this film for the first time, quite a long time ago, because I’d seen Endless Summer first, so I wanted to see this other Bruce Brown film. But to be quite frank, the first time I saw it, I was relatively young, so it didn’t make much of an impression on me. At the time, I wasn’t necessarily keen on vintage, so I must have found the images a little outdated. And then, unfortunately, I wasn’t a motorcyclist yet.
It was when I saw it again later that I loved it. In the meantime, I’d finally been able to get into motorcycling and experience the thrill of 2 wheels. My taste for vintage had also asserted itself. As a result, this second viewing was much more memorable for me. I loved everything about it: the cool spirit of the era, the feeling of freedom, the atmosphere around the rides and races, and also the style of the time, both the clothes and the bikes.
It was also On Any Sunday that led me to discover Flat Track! Seeing Mert and the others riding flat out, sliding down the track, really made me want to try it. And for me, with my past very much linked to sliding (skateboarding and snowboarding in particular), it made sense. To rediscover the feeling of sliding, but on a motorcycle. It also prompted me to set up the Flat Track association “Vintage Racing Spirit” with my mate Domice.
Can you share an anecdote or personal experience where documentary played a direct role in the creation of a product or collection for Age of Glory?
My direct inspiration for this film is my “Legendary” series, for which I work on legendary motorcycles. I started with some of the bikes featured in the film. I also made a poster of the bikes of the 3 riders featured in the film. It was a great success.
But as with all inspiration, there’s probably an element of the unconscious, and this film, as well as all the images I’ve seen of that era, have inevitably inspired me more than I realize.
”I have seen this film for the first time, quite a long time ago, but to be quit frank, the first time I saw it, I was relatively young, and it didn’t make much of an impression on me. At the time, I wasn’t necessarily keen on vintage, so I must have found the images a little outdated. And then, unfortunately, I wasn’t a motorcyclist yet.
It was when I saw it again later that I loved it. I loved everything about it: the cool spirit of the time, the feeling of freedom, the atmosphere around the rides or races and also a lot of the style of the period, both the clothes and the bikes.”
Sebastien, creator of Age of Glory
Looking at photos from your shoots, we can see a similarity between your images and those of the documentary. Is this a deliberate choice on your part, or just a coincidence?
It is indeed funny to see these similarities in the highlighted images. But honestly, no. During the various photo and video shoots, I never specifically asked to recreate a particular image or scene. That was absolutely not the point.
The 70s and On Any Sunday are an inspiration, but it has to remain just an inspiration. It’s not an obsession either. The aim was to tell my own story of passion through Age of Glory, with 70s inspiration but for riders of today.
After all, these scenes are quite common on enduro and flat track bikes… The similarity comes more from the vintage style.
The documentary features iconic motorcycle characters such as Steve McQueen, Mert Lawwill and Malcolm Smith. Which of these three do you think best represents the Age of Glory universe?
It’s difficult because I think they’re all interesting to me, but for very different reasons.
The best known is, of course, Steve. What interests me about him is that, despite his popularity at the time, you could find him at the start of an enduro race almost anonymously. I think he had a real passion for motorcycling and certainly contributed to making it more popular through some of his films and his participation in legendary races. He also had a unique style. Humanly speaking, he was a bit of a complex personality, I think, and despite the fact that he was perceived as the king of cool, I don’t know if he really wore that moniker all the time.
Of course, Mert Lawwill, and my love of flat track, would seem to be the perfect person to represent the brand, but I think Malcolm Smith is a also a very good representation according to me. In fact, I wrote an article about him in reference to a motorcyclistonline.com article (see here). He was an outstanding rider, humble and discreet… And yet I think he had few equals on a motorcycle.
↓ Vintage style inspired by 70s riders. ↓
On Any Sunday: The 1971 Film
If you still haven’t seen it, now’s the time to finally take the time to do so!
On Any Sunday: The Next Chapter
Following the resounding success of “On Any Sunday”, a sequel entitled “On Any Sunday 2” was released in 1981. This film was directed by Bruce Brown’s son, Dana Brown, who followed in his father’s footsteps to further explore motorcycle culture and the adventures that surround it.
On Any Sunday: The Next Chapter continues the spirit of the original film, highlighting different aspects of motorcycling, passionate riders and major events. The documentary offers a captivating look at motocross racing, endurance racing, desert racing and other forms of motorcycle competition that excite fans.
The Endless Summer: Bruce Brown’s other iconic film
Bruce Brown, director of “On Any Sunday”, is a leading figure in documentary filmmaking related to motorcycle and surf culture. His influence doesn’t stop with this film, however, and extends to other landmark works, including “The Endless Summer”.
“The Endless Summer” (1966) is a landmark documentary film that profoundly influenced surf culture. This iconic film follows two surfers, Mike Hynson and Robert August, on their worldwide quest for perfect waves and eternal summer.