*I originally posted this on October 1, 1997. Thought I'd repost it
with the current thread going*
Okay, so I identified myself as a "racing movie officianado" in an
earlier post. I figure I'll get a flame or two over that, but
hey.....If it's a racing film, then it's somewhere in my collection
(*g*)
I figured since I put my head out on the block like that, I might as
well go ahead and put together a list of some of my favorite racing
films, from best down. So, here it is, along with a little
explination why. Remember, this is just my opinion. I could be
wrong.
That being said.....
1. "Grand Prix". As I stated earlier, the size and scope of the film
is incredible. Yeah, the story can be hokey, but the characters are
very good. Yves Montand and James Garner were terrific. The
cinematography is the big winner here, with the incredible on board
shots, and sound (the film won an academy award for both). I'd like
to see a film about NASCAR done along these lines. Bring Garner into
it.......if the film can be done seriously (as this one was), it would
be great.
Incidentally, if you buy a copy of this movie, get the Widescreen
version (letterbox). The film was originally done in "Cinerama",
which is a huge screen format. There are incredible multi-picture
shots, and montages in the film. The regular tv "pan-and-scan"
version does not show these very well, and you lose a hell of alot.
2. "Le Mans". Steve McQueen stars in this 1971 film centered around
the 24 hours of Le Mans. The footage is spectacular, and there's not
alot of story line to hold back the racing (which works when your
doing a film about a 24 hour race!). Racing sequences are very good,
very realistic. Tough to find on video........There's a gentleman
writing a book currently on the filming of the movie.....should be out
in spring of '98.
3. "The Last American Hero". Also released as "Hard Driver". This is
basically the story of NASCAR legend Junior Johnson, based on the
infamouse magazine article written by Tom Wolfe. Film is hands down
the best made about NASCAR. Filmed in 1973, stars Jeff Bridges as
"Junior Jackson". The climax features a classic duel between Richard
Petty and Bobby Allison at Martinsville. Hard to find on video, don't
know if it's still available or not.
4. "Winning" starring Paul Newman. Came out in '69. Lots of great
footage from Indy, Road America, and Riverside. Story is a touch
hokey, but hey, it's Newman at Indy! Other neat parts feature classic
Holman-Moody cars racing in the now defunct USAC stock car division.
I found my copy at Best Buy for $10. Well worth it.
5. "43-The Petty Story" also released as "Smash-Up Alley". Released
in 1974. Pretty good little film, starring Richard Petty as himself,
Daren McGavin as Lee Petty. Film didn't have a big budget, but had
alot of heart. Well worth watching. Look for cameos by several
drivers, including a great scene with Buddy Baker (who was driving for
Petty Enterprises at the time). Features also in the background
Maurice Petty and Lee Petty. Don't know if you can find it still, was
last released by "Screen Gems" around '90-'91. I did see a copy
recently at Media Play for under $7.
6. "Thunder in Carolina", also released as "Hard Driving". Stars Rory
Calhoun, and Alan "The Skipper" Hale. Kind of a dark story, centered
around the 1958 Southern 500. The racing in this film is terrific,
getting to see the real legends of NASCAR fight it out at Darlington.
Calhoun drives a fast ass '57 Chevy. Not an award winner, but worth a
look. You'll just have to look around for this one, I've not seen it
on video in several years. Speedvision has shown it before, though.
7. "Heart Like a Wheel" . Come on, there aren't that many movies out
there for drag racing, and if anybody deserves to have their story
told, it's Shirley Muldowny. Good little film, very well done. You
can find it at Wal-Mart for about $6, with the "new classics" that
Warner Brothers has been putting out in a low price bracket.
8. "Speedway". NO, NO, NO not the Elvis one. This is a silent film
made in 1920 about the Indy 500. If you want to see what Indianapolis
was like in the beginning, go find this film. Look beyond the story
line, and watch the racing. I have no idea if this one is available
on video. I taped it off of Turner Classic Movies one morning.
Here are some of the real stinkers----
1. "Steel Chariots"--Hokeyist of them all. Piece of crap. Only neat
thing was getting to see all the current cars. Made it seem slightly
real. But only slightly.
2. "Days of Thunder"--Crap, crap, crap. The good thing about the
movie was all the things that they based stuff on. The racing on the
beach, the ice cream incident, the "hit the pace car" bit, all
actually happened in real life. Other than that, and Robert Duvall's
performance, it was crappy, and unrealistic.
3. "Red Line 7000"--You could cut the damn melodrama with a knife.
Good racing footage, and an early appearance by George "Mr. Sulu"
Takei can't save this one.
So, there's my list. There are still a few films I'm trying to find,
case in point.....
I'm trying to find a 1970's film called "Stock Car". It was a
documentary of sorts about the the NASCAR Grand National (WC) series
in the early '70's. I've only seen this movie once, over 12 years
ago, on an Atlanta UHF channel. It looked terrific, but I can't find
a copy of it. Can anybody out there assist?
Again, everything listed above is just my opinion. If you've got some
flics that I didn't mention that you think I should have, let me
know!!
See you at the track,
Brandon
Number 6
Every Other Man Productions
Reed Racing & Enginering
http://www.***highway.net/~blreed
"Be king in your dreams."
- Andrew Carnegie
Two that come to mind are "Circuit", a documentry about the "new" Can-Am in the
late 70,s. Great footage of Laguna,Riverside,Las Vegas,Fabi,Rahal(with
hair!),Brabham,Sullivan,PL Newman,Haas,etc. The other is Michael Keyser's film
about sports car racing in the 70's,"The Speed Merchants", one of the truely
Great racing films,IMHO.... Motorbooks International is a great source for
racing films of all sorts.
don
