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The Great Race (1965) 7.2
When a popular daredevil proposes an automobile race across three continents, his arch rival vows to beat him, while an ambitious female reporter has her own plans for victory. Director:Blake EdwardsWriters:Arthur A. Ross (screenplay) (as Arthur Ross) , Blake Edwards (original story), 1 more credit » |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jack Lemmon | ... |
Professor Fate /
Crown Prince Frederick Hoepnick
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| Tony Curtis | ... | ||
| Natalie Wood | ... | ||
| Peter Falk | ... |
Maximilian Meen
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| Keenan Wynn | ... | ||
| Arthur O'Connell | ... | ||
| Vivian Vance | ... | ||
| Dorothy Provine | ... | ||
| Larry Storch | ... | ||
| Ross Martin | ... | ||
| George Macready | ... | ||
| Marvin Kaplan | ... | ||
| Hal Smith | ... | ||
| Denver Pyle | ... |
Sheriff
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William Bryant | ... |
Baron's Guard
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Professional daredevil and white-suited hero, The Great Leslie, convinces turn-of-the-century auto makers that a race from New York to Paris (westward across America, the Bering Straight and Russia) will help to promote automobile sales. Leslie's arch-rival, the mustached and black-attired Professor Fate vows to beat Leslie to the finish line in a car of Fate's own invention. The Blake Edwards style of slapstick and song originated with this movie. A dedication to Laurel and Hardy appears at the beginning of the film. Edwards' tribute to Stan and Ollie can be seen most clearly in the interaction between Professor Fate and his cohort Max, as well as in the operatic Pottsdorf pie fight. Written by Jeanne Baker <jbaker@erim.org>
Taglines:
THE GREAT LAUGH SHOW OF ALL TIME! See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
1 July 1965 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Blake Edwards' The Great Race See more »Box Office
Budget:
$12,000,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (DVD edition)Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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General: Then you leave us no alternative.
[He draws a gun and points it at him]
Fate: I'll do it!
See more »
Words by Johnny Mercer
Music by Henry Mancini
Performed by Dorothy Provine (uncredited)
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
As the budget for this film ballooned from $3 million to $12 million, Jack L. Warner, the head of Warner Pictures, said Blake Edwards was spending money like water. Edwards, in turn, accused Warner of being "tight". Warner then served Edwards with legal papers to remove him from the picture. Edwards made several concessions to the studio, however, and continued with the project. See more »Goofs
The American flag displayed near the beginning of the race has 48 stars. In 1908, when this movie supposedly takes place, there were only 46 states (New Mexico and Arizona were admitted in 1912, and Alaska and Hawaii were admitted in 1959). See more »Quotes
Fate: I won't do it!General: Then you leave us no alternative.
[He draws a gun and points it at him]
Fate: I'll do it!
See more »
Crazy Credits
The closing credits are three simulated 'magic lantern' slides. The first one reads "Our Cast of Characters", and the following two list the main cast. However, Jack Lemmon is only credited as Professor Fate and not for his second role as Crown Prince Hapnik. See more »Soundtracks
He Shouldn't-A, Hadn't-A, Oughtn't-A Swang on Me!Words by Johnny Mercer
Music by Henry Mancini
Performed by Dorothy Provine (uncredited)
See more »
Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, memorably paired in "Some Like It Hot", tried it again in "The Great Race". Natalie Wood was a reluctant addition, with a new biography of this actress repeating her displeasure with the film and its director. Peter Falk, not yet Columbo, rounded out a globetrotting quartet chasing first prize in the 1908 New York to Paris automobile race.
Much has been made of how the script's "Prisoner of Zenda" subplot slows the action. Yet these scenes shot in Salzburg have contributed several zingers to the stock of movie quotes floating around in general circulation. Someone must have liked the "Potzdorf" episode, as "More brandy!" and "Drat!
I never mix my pies!" remain among Jack Lemmon's most cited lines.
Surviving participants in the real-life 1908 competition did not care for this trashing of their personal history. I loved it on its first release way back when, and it remains a pleasant (if long) watch on cable TV and home video.