The Great Race (1965)
A spectacular land race from New York to Paris in the early 20th century is planned, the two main competitors being the handsome, dashing hero in white, The Great Leslie (Tony Curtis), and the dastardly, black-suited Professor Fate (Jack Lemmon). While Fate’s sidekick, Max (Peter Falk), attempts to sabotage Leslie and the other racers, Leslie finds an unlikely ally in Maggie DuBois (Natalie Wood), a suffragette and journalist-turned-racer whose car breaks down halfway through the event.
By far one of the most ambitious comedies ever filmed. The Great Race was re-released in France in 1996. However, after the race starts, all scenes involving people from the newspaper in New York had been cut. French authorities took them as mockery of the French suffragette’s, feminist’s and women’s lib movements.
This film was the inspiration for the Saturday morning cartoon show Wacky Races (1968): Dick Dastardly and his sidekick Muttley were based on Professor Fate and Max, Penelope Pitstop was based on Maggie DuBois and Peter Perfect was based on Leslie.
The cast include Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmon, Peter Falk, Keenan Wynn, and Arthur O’connell. Directed by the legendary Blake Edwards (The Pink Panther, Skin Deep, Victor/Victoria). Enjoy!
Updated May 12,2022 10:46 PM