The Great Race (1965)

Director: Blake Edwards; Screenplay: Arthur Ross; Cinematography: Russell Harlan

Cast: Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood

    
    The Great Race is legendary and a true classic, probably one of my all time favorites. I remember seeing it at the tender age of 7 and it was a big influence ... Mostly bad, because I started laughing like Professor Fate and drawing his mustache on my grandfather while he was napping. But enough reminiscing...

    What can I say about The Great Race...Well I absolutely love it. The story is entertaining and quite catchy. A race that starts in New York and ends in Paris is filled with excitement and hilarious situations. It also represents the never-ending battle between Professor Fate and The Great Leslie. They are like little boys trying to beat each other at the same game, showing of the same stunts and flashing the same toys. Professor Fate is the devious and slightly mad inventor, who vows to cross the finish line first, leaving Leslie in the dust. He is like the annoying brother that leaves pins on your chair and then waits for you to sit on them. I liked that crazy quality about him and even though he was the bad guy I was still rooting for him. He laughed like a loony pin escapee and had a ridiculous hairdo...What's not to love.

   The Great Leslie on the other hand was the honorable and 'Goody two-shoes' gentleman...Yeah right! He was a womanizer and a real wolf in sheep's clothing. With his pearly whites and his impeccable manners, he swayed the ladies everywhere and they were falling like dominoes.

    The cast was the best part of The Great Race. Tony Curtis as Leslie made the women melt like butter and the role suited him perfectly. Kudos to Charlton Heston who had other things to do and turned down the role, therefore making room for Tony Curtis. The lady of the movie, Maggie Bubois  who was portrayed by Natalie Wood, really surprised me. She wasn't dull nor was she a damsel in distress. Maggie was a strong woman with her own talents and opinions. Though the constant " Because I am a woman" statement got a little old after hearing it for the twentieth time. We get it...You are a woman!    

    

    But my highest praise will most definitely go to Jack Lemmon. I effing loved him. My dictionary doesn't have enough praising words to describe his portrayal of both Professor Fate and Crown Prince Frederick. Every word that came out of him was pure gold and the facial expressions alone amazed me. He took acting to another level and created a one of a kind character which in my opinion is virtually impossible to reenact.

   

  The cars ain't exactly KITT and I have no idea how Maggie Bubois managed to change so many outfits during the entire race...But I don't actually give a shiz, because it makes up for it by being funny and amusing. The Great Race will never get old as it is timeless and I can only hope that future generations will appreciate its brilliancy. Unlike my brother, who thinks that it's Cars prequel and that Professor Fate's car is Lightning McQueen's great grandfather.

Written by Frank

links: IMDb