LeMans- The Movie

Was there ever a better car movie? 40 years ago, no CGI, just fantastic camera skills, great audio, I got chills watching this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zhDKFhfEgg&list=LPSQyQ-PQ-KJg&index=1&feature=plcp

Odd title, great book: Michael Keyser's "A French Kiss with Death". Short bio of Steve, history of marques involved in the '70 race, history of the race, and (finally!) history of the production of the film. Lots of photos from the location shooting.

http://www.bentleypublishers.com/automotive-reference/engineering-and-motorsports/a-french-kiss-with-death-paperback.html

BTW: Keyser is an ex-racer, and also the guy who made "The Speed Merchants" back in the '70s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s14Vx2v3UDk

I discovered when I bought a copy on DVD (direct from Micheal's website) that the reason it looks like 16mm film is because it was shot in 16mm.

In reply to cwh:

Thanks, cwh!

Your link is the first a two-parter for racing-only scenes. The good thing is that when it ended, it immediately linked to and started playing a full-length, sub-titled version.

I added it to my favorites list with the thought of downloading and then recording to dvd.

One of these days, I have to buy a copy of that movie. Anybody have one to sell?

LeMans and Grand Prix are the best racing movies ever made.

I'm still amazed at some of the footage from Grand Prix. Funny how they can't seem to do better now, even with all the wiz-bang technology.

Friedgreencorrado, I did some work for Michael a couple of years ago, and he sent me that book, along with copies of his other books and the movies he'd directed. Last summer Scott Maxwell, Toronto racer and 2000 Le Mans winner, who now owns a racing memorabilia business, hosted a showing of "The Speed Merchants" and we convinced Keyser to come and say a few words. He's quite a character, it was a great evening of story telling. I really enjoyed his book on the making of "Le Mans". I got into it primarily out of interest in Steve McQueen, only to discover what a giant clusterfuk the movie was, and to get sucked in by the fascinating racing stories and the background on the cars, and famous drivers participating in the movie.

I like Le Mans for the visual, and aural stimulation, but it's a terrible movie. That said, Grand Prix actually has a good plot.

Yeah, they were half way through shooting and still didn't have a script. It's mostly really cool footage, cobbled together in a piss-poor semblance of a story. But still a fantastic visual for anyone who loves that era of racing.

In reply to Lesley:

Fantastic! It wasn't until long after I'd seen SM (oddly enough, on a local TV station in Atlanta where it was the 'Afternoon Movie' one day in the mid 1980s) that I discovered he'd actually been driving for the Toad Hall team during those days.

http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/photo/Michael-Keyser-USA.html

cwh wrote: Was there ever a better car movie? 40 years ago, no CGI, just fantastic camera skills, great audio, I got chills watching this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zhDKFhfEgg&list=LPSQyQ-PQ-KJg&index=1&feature=plcp

Yeah, it was pretty much perfect.

Captured the golden age of endurance racing beautifully.

Ex got up in the middle of the night and found me watching my DVD of that movie while wearing my helmet and race suit. She looked at me, shook her head, and went back to bed.

Wow, I haven't watched this in years. It's amazing how far the technology and safety have come.

Joe Gearin wrote: LeMans and Grand Prix are the best racing movies ever made. I'm still amazed at some of the footage from Grand Prix. Funny how they can't seem to do better now, even with all the wiz-bang technology.

I think they try to tart it up too much now. If you want a perfect demonstration of what an idiot sound engineer can do, watch any Fast and Furious movie. Then as contrast, watch Gumball Rally.

Basil Exposition wrote: Ex got up in the middle of the night and found me watching my DVD of that movie while wearing my helmet and race suit. She looked at me, shook her head, and went back to bed.

Do you ever wonder why she is the "Ex"

Basil Exposition wrote: Ex got up in the middle of the night and found me watching my DVD of that movie while wearing my helmet and race suit. She looked at me, shook her head, and went back to bed.

I see nothing wrong here.

Appleseed wrote:

Basil Exposition wrote: Ex got up in the middle of the night and found me watching my DVD of that movie while wearing my helmet and race suit. She looked at me, shook her head, and went back to bed.

I see nothing wrong here.

Well, except that there wasn't a pan simmering Castrol R on the stove.

friedgreencorrado wrote:

Appleseed wrote:

Basil Exposition wrote: Ex got up in the middle of the night and found me watching my DVD of that movie while wearing my helmet and race suit. She looked at me, shook her head, and went back to bed.

I see nothing wrong here.

Well, except that there wasn't a pan simmering Castrol R on the stove.

Except that would have only awakened the annoying ex's ass sooner. Did a LOT better picking wife number 2. She put on her race suit and watched it with me.

Chills. Agreed.

There's far too many movies with big 'story' where the racing becomes only a backdrop. While many of those are worth watching, Le Mans does it backwards: the story is a backdrop to the racing. That alone makes it stand out, and that it was the brainchild of a guy who really and truly understood racing makes it all the more memorable. It also nearly bankrupted him, and though the movie eventually made money McQueen didn't.

http://www.mcqueenonline.com/lemanshv.htm

McQueen had bankrolled and starred in 'On Any Sunday' which is still one of the best, if not the best, motorcycle movie ever made. A certain Japanese motorcycle company dropped a cool $1 million banking on his name and reputation from OAS to introduce a machine which was to forever change the face of American dirt biking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXyVp7iw10Q

They even named the new bike after one of the most famous OAS scenes. And that's how McQueen emerged from the Le Mans bankruptcy.

I almost see Le Mans more as a documentary. I know it's not real, but basically it's an opportunity to watch some awesome footage of some awesome cars.

Lesley wrote: Yeah, they were half way through shooting and still didn't have a script. It's mostly really cool footage, cobbled together in a piss-poor semblance of a story. But still a fantastic visual for anyone who loves that era of racing.

Yup that pretty much sums up my feelings on the movie.

No plot, no story, just great vintage racing porn.