The Great Race
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Movie Reviews of The Great Race
Movie Review: Push the button, Max!
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Great Race" remains one of my all time favorite light confections. This crazy comedy has the wonderful Blake Edwards absurdities and screwy jokes that we enjoyed in an age prior to the bitterness and darkness we seem to enjoy wallowing in today.
The stars of the movie are fabulous. Jack Lemon is great as the melodrama-style villain Professor Fate and Peter Falk is eternally memorable has his feckless and long suffering assistant, Max. Tony Curtis gets the staring role as the spotless hero, The Great Leslie. His teeth glisten, his white clothes are dazzling, his hair is in place, and his white car never seems to pick up dirt. Keenan Wynn is his silent, strong, and able assistant, Hezekiah. Of course, the glory of the movie was the beautiful Natalie Wood as the suffragette and reporter, Maggie Dubois. She left us far too soon.
The story is inspired by the real 1908 Great Race from New York to Paris. The Suffragette movement tied in nicely with the rise of women's liberation in 1960s America, so that is in the story, too. Neither the race nor the women's issues is handled all that seriously. They are merely plot points to hang the jokes on and around. The wonderful melodrama of the magnificence of The Great Leslie and the dastardly (is that word used anywhere outside of melodrama?) Professor Fate is the engine that drives the movie. Fate hates Leslie and will stop at nothing (Nothing!) to beat him.
There are jokes about Fate's car (the Hannibal 8) and its secret weapons that never work and Leslie's car, the Leslie Special) that can withstand anything and never even get dirty. One of my favorite sections of the movie takes place on the ice flow.
Max: "We got to do something!"
Fate: "Oh, don't worry. Before this iceberg melts and we drown like rats, we're going to do plenty"
Max: "What?"
Fate: "We're going to starve!"
Then this exchange between Fate and Leslie discussing the rate of the ice flow melting:
Leslie: "You had better keep this to yourself"
Fate: "Of course I will keep it to myself" then after Leslie walks away he says to himself (us):
Fate: "Until the water reaches my lower lip! Then I'm going to mention it to somebody!"
And the movie features the largest pie (and most colorful) pie fight ever filmed. Those are real pies and the crew devoured hundreds of leftovers! The movie also has some wild west fun, sword fights, and a delightfully goofy race through Paris.
A wonderfully silly movie that is still wonderful entertainment.
Enjoy!
Strongly recommended.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
Movie Review: The Great Race -- it's a Winner!
Summary: 5 Stars
This has to be one of the all time classic comedies -- chock full of yocks. The Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood combination is a real treat which stands the test of time and is as fresh today as when it was first released.
Set in the early 20th century, the flick concerns an ongoing competion of two dare-devils who continuously try to top the charts. Tony Curtis is 'The Great Leslie', who always wears white, is superbly competent in every thing he tries, and who's shining white teeth sparkle in the sun.
Jack Lemmon portrays the dastardly 'Professor Fate', who is always trying to top (or undermine) the stunts of the Great Leslie ... and who's efforts usually wind up in a farmer's mud pond with his side kick, Max (Peter Falk). "Well, there's another one the Great Leslie can try on for size! ** collapses **"
Natalie Wood is Maggie DuBois, an attractive cigar smoking suffrogette whose goal in life is to free women of 'the drugery of being either servants or saints'. "Out of the laundry rooms and off the pedestals!"
After a number of short skits where we are introduced to the players (and the hilarious results), the three become contestants in a vintage car race from New York to Paris via Alaska. One situation after another develops leaving us laughing as Professor Fate tries to win the race his way -- by cheating.
Situations develop in the American West, Alaska, the Bering Sea, Russia, Middle Europe and finally Paris -- and the pie fight has to be on of the best I've ever seen. Timing and situation development is perfect here.
The ending comes as a surprise (sort of) so I won't ruin it here -- see the movie.
This film will make a great addition to your growing library and is suitable for viewing (and enjoyable) by all ages. It's not a terribly deep movie, but it is very, very entertaining as a number of plots develop at the same time.
I haven't seen the DVD yet (as it's not yet released) but look forward to owning it. I do have the VHS version and am wearing it out thru use.
Get it. Enjoy it. "Push the button, Max!"
** Highly Recommended **
~P~
Movie Review: Jack Lemon Really Shines In This One!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Great Race is a fantastically funny film. Directed by Blake Edwards (Mr. Julie Andrews and director of movies like The Pink Panther and 10.) this film is the hilarious story of to aristocratic racers racing from New York to Paris. Set in the year 1908 at a time were classic cars were really classic cars the movie has slapstick, special effects, wonderful period costumes and the most important element of all - humor.This movie was made in the in style of not taking itself seriously enough to break the fourth wail. The fourth wall is when a character in a movie looks into the camera and allows the audience to interact with him or her. Either with the eyes or actually speaking to the camera while performing in the scene in real time. There is also a magic charm about the good guy (Tony Curtis) smiles and an animated `sparkle' appears in his teeth.
Jack Lemon is the one who is having the most fun. As you'll read in my other reviews, you'll discover that my favorite actor of all time is Mr. Lemon. He plays the incredible evil Professor Fate. He play is way over the top down to his mustache and evil his walk. The most creative part about Jack was his other character he played as the drunk and obnoxious Prince of Bulvergaria.
Natalie wood plays an overbearing reporter, Ed Wynn plays Tony Curtis' (The Great Leslie) right hand man and mechanic and a stellar performance by Peter Falk as Professor Fates bumbling sidekick. There is also a reoccurring role by Viviane Vance. Also another great villain performance was by Mr. Ross Martin of TV's The Wild Wild West fame. He wields a mean foil and saber!
The DVD extras are great. The original behind the scenes look and some interesting cast and crew notes. The DVD and the movie are great examples of movie making at its best. You'll laugh a lot and even sing-along (with the bouncing dot) with a couple of clever and original songs by Henry Mancini. I loved this movie a lot! You will to!
Movie Review: Why isn't Blake Edwards given more credit..?
Summary: 5 Stars
The DVD version of "The Great Race" is long overdue. It's silly and fun; reunites Lemmon & Curtis; it's an homage to all the great slapstick that EVERYONE loves. What's wrong with having fun? I truly believe that Blake Edwards deserves more consideration that he's been given. Anyone remember "Operation Petticoat" or "The Pink Panther"? We're talking about a career of almost 50 years...and Hollywood doesn't take him seriously. Anyone remember "Victor/Victoria" or "That's Life"? How about "Breakfast at Tiffany's"? These are all films that are respected and admired, but Edwards seems to be on the back-burner when awards are handed out. It's a shame; Edwards has given us no more than pure entertainment, well-presented. His most nominated film is "The Great Race", so purely devoted to period detail, though it received no Oscar nominations for sets or costumes (it was nominated for Cinematography, Sound, Music, Song, Editing, and won for Sound Effects). Indeed, Mancini's score was gorgeous; the song, "The Sweetheart Tree" has become a standard/classic. The Oscar should have gone to Peter Falk. I saw this as a kid in its initial release, and, when I told my friends how much I liked it, my teenage peers told me how shallow I was, that I should see "The Pawnbroker" or "Ship of Fools". Well, for God's sake, I was a kid (and I did see and admire those films) but the pure, grand display of craziness that Blake Edwards presented to me has never been forgotten. I've gotten older, and have been subjected to a whole bunch of stuff in the meantime, and I've waited for the DVD release of "The Great Race". Let's not forget that Blake Edwards also directed "The Days of Wine and Roses" and "Experiment in Terror". He is not frivolous nor is he simple. He does crazy comedy as well as riveting drama. His comedies are wonderful, but none as totally overwhelming and enjoyable as "The Great Race". See and enjoy!!Movie Review: Two Generations of My Family Think This Is The Best Comedy Ever
Summary: 5 Stars
My wife and I, as well as my daughter and son think this is the best comedy ever made. The slapstick, gags and characters are timeless. I was 15 when this movie first hit the theaters. I remember the Saturday matinee when I first saw it. I laughed so much that my face hurt for hours after the show. My daughter who is a Notre Dame graduate in chemical engineering, has a fast track management career with her company, is now a married and very smart sophisticated lady, yet she knows virtually the entire script. This is a wonderful family movie that can be introduced to your kids at pre-teen age and it will live with them for the rest of their lives. It is important that they are old enough to understand the many plays on words to fully appreciate it. Most important, it is good for younger people to be exposed to this type of humor instead of the often cruel personal attack and insult type of humor that is the basis of too many of today's comedies.
It took until 2002 for the DVD to be made from the remaster of the original 1965 film, including audio upgrade to 5.1. I think the DVD is technically very good, but I still am anxious to buy a BluRay version if one is ever made. If anyone knows of any plans to make a BluRay version, please comment hear to let us know. Or if anyone is in a position to contact or influence decision makers, please urge them to move ahead with the project. This is certainly a film that should be kept alive by making sure it remains in the most contemporary formats to facilitate any possible future format improvements.
If your family has not seen this film, I urge you to view it as a family. It makes a wonderful family activity that in sharing the humor may even help bring you a little closer to one another. I know everyone does not have the same sense of humor, but I cannot imagine anyone actually disliking this film.