Grand Prix (1966)
Grand Prix is a very long movie, and only for those who absolutely love car racing. If you’re just watching it for Yves Montand, or if your boyfriend insists it’s the film that changed his life, try and get out of it. You will be bored to tears unless you love cars as much as Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, or the movie’s star, James Garner. There’s a funny bit of trivia attached to this movie, which McQueen originally wanted. When Jimmy got the part instead, it caused a rift in their friendship for four years until Steve made his own racecar movie, Le Mans.
Jimmy’s character in the film plays a hotshot driver with a bad boy reputation; you can easily imagine Steve filling those shoes. While in a race, there’s a terrible accident and one of the drivers, Scott Stoddard, nearly dies. Jimmy feels horrible guilt and doesn’t know if either he or Scott will ever recover emotionally. Yves Montand is another contestant in the Formula One races. He’s older than the rest and his best years have passed him by, and even though he’s already won the world title twice, he’s determined to compete in one last race. Each driver has emotional hurdles, problems in their love lives, and existential questions (because no European movie would be complete without those) that give the non-racing scenes almost as much to appreciate – but not quite.
Director John Frankenheimer completely outdid himself filming the racing scenes. I have no interest in car racing, but I kept up with this three-hour sports drama because I was so enthralled with his directing. Each race was captured in real time from multiple angles: some from helicopters and some from cameras strapped inside the cars so we could see that the actors were really driving. I still don’t know how he filmed the accident scenes without doing any damage. Experimental, dangerous, effective, and immersive, the Hot Toasty Rags were proud to bestow Frankenheimer the Best Director award of 1966.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie will not be your friend. During the race sequences, there are multiple cameras from different POVs running at the same time on the screen. Also, there is a spin-out crash that the camera captures while tumbling upside down and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Welcome to the Movies and Television" for posting!
More James Garner movies here!
Jimmy’s character in the film plays a hotshot driver with a bad boy reputation; you can easily imagine Steve filling those shoes. While in a race, there’s a terrible accident and one of the drivers, Scott Stoddard, nearly dies. Jimmy feels horrible guilt and doesn’t know if either he or Scott will ever recover emotionally. Yves Montand is another contestant in the Formula One races. He’s older than the rest and his best years have passed him by, and even though he’s already won the world title twice, he’s determined to compete in one last race. Each driver has emotional hurdles, problems in their love lives, and existential questions (because no European movie would be complete without those) that give the non-racing scenes almost as much to appreciate – but not quite.
Director John Frankenheimer completely outdid himself filming the racing scenes. I have no interest in car racing, but I kept up with this three-hour sports drama because I was so enthralled with his directing. Each race was captured in real time from multiple angles: some from helicopters and some from cameras strapped inside the cars so we could see that the actors were really driving. I still don’t know how he filmed the accident scenes without doing any damage. Experimental, dangerous, effective, and immersive, the Hot Toasty Rags were proud to bestow Frankenheimer the Best Director award of 1966.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie will not be your friend. During the race sequences, there are multiple cameras from different POVs running at the same time on the screen. Also, there is a spin-out crash that the camera captures while tumbling upside down and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Welcome to the Movies and Television" for posting!
More James Garner movies here!