LeMans...the greatest racing movie of all time?

[Dueller]

I just watched Lemans on DVD for the first time in several years. Putting aside the melodramatic plot and subplot, the art film background music and the "Days of Thunder-esque" final few on track scenes, it has to be the best commercially released racing film of all time. Certainly McQueens crash in the #20 917 was an unbelievable scene in slow motion with the armco flexing and the car disintergrating.


Even moreso considering how primative the film technology was in 1970....they really did do some great in car/on car/under car shots.

Great shots, though, of vinatage 917's, 911's and even 914's.

You younger Pelicans who've never seen it and you old farts who haven't seen it in a while need to go rent it..or better yet, buy it

[DaveE]

It's a great film for lots of sounds and shots of the 917. I have it on VHS and DVD. "Grand Prix" is another good film for it's scenes of the old Spa circuit in my opinion.

[porschenut]

I agree completely. Best racing footage EVER in a movie.

[Dueller]

I got a chub just watching SM tool around Paris in the opening scenes in thta lil' 911s

[S2GART]

I completely agree about both movies. For Le Mans, I love the beginning with Steve tooling around the French country side in the 911. It's nice a quite except for the music of an air cooled flat six. The camera shots are great and I alwasys point out to my kids there is no computer generated speed shots like in Fast and the Furious. That movie was the real deal and Steve McQueen was really driving that car, really fast. The movie has an almost documentary fell to it because there is very little dialog. I mean think about it, how far into the movie is it before you hear someone actually say a scripted line?

[ghnat]

The sounds the 917 makes is just plain awesome! Love that movie. I like the part right when the race starts.

[Mad Mike]

Significant when I watched it in the theater, now I have a DVD.

Who would of thought the best race car film was made in the early "70's.

Cheers

[911pcars]

OTOH, the worst racing movie of all time, and there are many candidates ..... "Driven" (Sly Stallone, 2001).

This internet movie reviewer was more observant than I:

<
1- Clutch shifts when changing gears on a sequential gear box? Nope.
2- Tube frame chassis on a CART car? Nope.
3 - Inconsistent pictures of the venue. Detroit GP has 2 story grandstands? Oval racing shots on street courses. Wrong pit lanes.
4 - Crashes on road courses result in car flying for 500 feet in the air? Although there have been some crashes at road courses that have caused tumbles and even into catch fences the images shown in the movie are silly.
5 - Methanol fires in lakes?? Thought that is what they use to reduce the chance of fire? And how did ole Sly get to the scene faster than the crews??

>>

Sorry to segue. Lemans is an excellent racing movie, but the non-existent story sucks versus Driven's story, believability and visuals which really sucked.

Sherwood

[trj911]

No doubt about it, a great movie. Watch "the making of LeMans" and you will appreciate it even more!

[DaveE]

The first lap, those 3 1/2 minutes......awesome.

[Grady Clay]

I understand there are 9 miles(!) of film that was shot and not used in the film. There is 4-5 times as much audio on tape. Someone could do a 3-hour remake.

How do we encourage someone to make that happen?

Best,
Grady

[masraum]

So it wasn't that champ car Stalone film??

Yep, Le Mans rocks! Oddly enough some people, even some Pelican's just don't get it.

I can't wait until Grand Prix is on DVD.

[oneblueyedog]

It's the greatest advertisement of all time as well.

[Rot 911]

Just ordered it off Amazon.com for $9.99.

[cashflyer]

It is definately a "must have" for any car or racing enthusiest, imho.

I don't spend much money on owning DVDs because too often you really don't ever go back and watch them again. Le Mans is one that I go back and watch over, and over, and over.......

[derek murray]

... here's a screenshot

[bkreigsr]

agreed, love the slip-sliding in the rain scenes.
bought my copy a few years ago from a Sebring vendor during the 12-hr, while my son was crewing for Saleen with the Acemco team...(even more meaningful)

but if you have not done so, go to amazon and pre-order Grand Prix. the more pre-orders they get, the more pressure they can exert for the production and release of the dvd.

Bill K

[Dueller]

trj911 or anybody else...got a line on the documentary on making of Lemans?

[bfegan]

Also, about a year ago someone posted (here or Rennlist) a copy of an article on Steve McQueen and Lemans which was really good. Does anyone have a copy or recall where the original post was?

Thanks.

[wheatdog]

I loved the intro to Gran Prix when the screen subdivides into several smaller squares showing simulataneous closeups of each car's throttle blipping and then cuts over to each cars exhaust ripping in counterpoint. Great shots! Great sounds! I'm gonna have to go out and buy a copy of both shows.

Mike