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Grand Prix

2K views 15 replies 11 participants last post by  Merc-MarkO 
#1 ·
Speed TV is airing the classic "Gtrand Prix" right now, and again tonight at 10 pm. Man, those cars still look great after 30 odd years...
 
#3 ·
Re: Grand Prix (scottracer)

Quote, originally posted by scottracer »
Speed TV is airing the classic "Gtrand Prix" right now, and again tonight at 10 pm. Man, those cars still look great after 30 odd years...

Thirty-odd? C'mon, man, round it up to an honest 40.
My favorite part of the movie is when God (known to mere mortals as Juan Manuel Fangio) appears in a scene or two. The least fave part, for me anyway, is Frankenheimer's really annoying "fly's eye" multi-screen distractions. I can't ever figgerout which one to watch!
 
#4 ·
Re: Grand Prix (scottracer)

Quote, originally posted by scottracer »
Speed TV is airing the classic "Gtrand Prix" right now, and again tonight at 10 pm. Man, those cars still look great after 30 odd years...

I just caught the run-up to the flick an hour or so ago. SpeedTV had Bruce Dern interviewing a bunch of the players (Frankenheimer (sp?), Garner, etc..).
Some really interesting inside stuff about which actors couldn't actually drive at all, which could kinda drive, and which ones (like Garner) who were aparently good enough that he could've gone pro if he'd chosen to do so. And, how they had to accomodate the different skill levels.
Garner could (& would) do almost anything they asked by himself. But, one actor was so bad that they built a tow-rig to drag him around the track behind the GT-40 camera car so it looked like he was driving.
Garner also talked about the fact that they would send out 3-4 cars (some w/cameras attached, some without - all with real drivers incl Garner) to do a scene and after the take was over, they would actually 'race' each other back to the pits. Garner - "That's where the real fun was!"
http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
Great period piece.
Great racing pseudo-documentary.
Great film.
http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
 
#6 ·
Re: Grand Prix (vwlarry)

Larry,
I'm sure you're well aware that Grand Prix is now available on DVD (I'm sure it's already in your library!). It was a long time coming but sooooo worth it. Mine is on the way from The Motorsport Collector (my favorite spendy place on all of the internet) and I just can't wait!
I'm holding off from watching it on TeeVee (to qoute someone, I just can't remember who
) until my unassuming cardboard box arrives sometime early next week. Then it'll be Me + Couch + Homebrew + Homebrew + Homebrew + Grand Prix on DVD = BLISS.
 
#7 ·
Re: Grand Prix (geofftii2002)

Quote, originally posted by geofftii2002 »
Larry,
I'm sure you're well aware that Grand Prix is now available on DVD (I'm sure it's already in your library!). It was a long time coming but sooooo worth it. Mine is on the way from The Motorsport Collector (my favorite spendy place on all of the internet) and I just can't wait!
I'm holding off from watching it on TeeVee (to qoute someone, I just can't remember who
) until my unassuming cardboard box arrives sometime early next week. Then it'll be Me + Couch + Homebrew + Homebrew + Homebrew + Grand Prix on DVD = BLISS.

The second dvd has lots of cool features to watch as well.
They have feature on the F1 of that era with commentary from Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Peter Windsor, and others. It's pretty cool with some actual race footage. They also have a feature on the Brands Hatch circuit, where they show actual race footage and give you a corner-by-corner analysis of the track.
Did you know the opening race scene in Monaco was shot on the day of the GP, before the actual race started. And the podium scene was shot AT THE SAME time as the actual race podium ceremonies started. They just filmed the move's podium on another part of the race track. That way they still captured the real excitement of the spectators running on the track, etc..
Pretty neat.
 
#8 ·
Re: Grand Prix (scottracer)

I have been watching it since about 4:00 while in the garage waxing my wheels. Up next is Rebel Without a Cause and then it re-airs again at 10:00 as previously mentioned. I can't help but to think they are broadcasting this in near HD format with the tight aspect ratio I am viewing it in right now it's really amazing http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
 
#11 ·
Re: Grand Prix (mAdD INDIAN)

There is an older movie that almost anyone who enjoys Grand Prix or any vintage motorsports might also enjoy. It's called "The Big Wheel", from 1949, starring Mickey Rooney. It's centered on the Indianapolis 500, and although there is some plot-corniness (although not unbearably so), the authentic footage, the technical astuteness (the producers really knew their racing and racing machinery, which is unusual in Hollywood), etc are especially interesting for enthusiasts watching almost 60 years later. Here's a link to a decent synopsis and info on the movie:
http://allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll
Highly recommended. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
 
#13 ·
Re: Grand Prix (vwlarry)

Quote, originally posted by vwlarry »
There is an older movie that almost anyone who enjoys Grand Prix or any vintage motorsports might also enjoy. It's called "The Big Wheel", from 1949, starring Mickey Rooney. It's centered on the Indianapolis 500, and although there is some plot-corniness (although not unbearably so), the authentic footage, the technical astuteness (the producers really knew their racing and racing machinery, which is unusual in Hollywood), etc are especially interesting for enthusiasts watching almost 60 years later. Here's a link to a decent synopsis and info on the movie:
http://allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll
Highly recommended. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

Geez, larry, the "30 -odd" was supposed to help me forget how old I am!!
I first saw it at Cinerama in San Fran, on the super wide screen. It was awesome!! One of the last movies I saw before going to Vietnam. And thank you, I thought I was the only one old enough to remember The Big Wheel, with Mickey Rooney as Billy Coy, Spring Byington , and Thomas Mitchell. Like "GP", it also cameo'd real drivers, like Bill Holland. And the cars were a real mix, just like the actual cars that ran Indy in those days.
Have you ever seen The Green Helmet? Another "sleeper" racing movie that was actually pretty good.
Btw, the Maestro Fangio looked fit enough to have raced even then! http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif


Modified by scottracer at 8:23 PM 11/25/2006
 
#14 ·
Re: Grand Prix (mAdD INDIAN)

Quote, originally posted by mAdD INDIAN »

Then you must buy the DVD sir.

I can't watch it on the crummy Speed feed any more after watching the DVD a few dozen times.
 
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