The Great Race (DVD, 2002)

Once upon a time, in the days before talentless actors commanded millions of dollars per film fiasco, they made "big budget pictures" with a "cast of thousands". The Great Race is a classic example.

This movie is a ride on the Hilarity Express, from the opening credits to the closing scene. You laugh so hard, and so long, at every scene that you're actually glad to take a breather during Natalie Wood's love song "The Sweetheart Tree", just so your ribs hzve a chance to stop hurting!

The large ensemble cast is packed with a glorious list of award winning actors well able to carry any movie alone. Together, they produce a potent mix of frivolity and timesless innuendos. These are truly giants of the screen, not only of their time, but arguably of ALL time.

Tony Curtis as "The Great Leslie", all in hero's white, is just the right mix of gentlemanly elegance, knightly chivalry, and the period's chauvanistic disregard of "the weaker sex". He's the perfect foil for Wood's Maggie DuBois, a "modern woman" reporter. She smokes, she cusses, she punches! Leslie is at once facinated, repulsed, and astounded by her. When circumstances throw them together during the race, sparks fly but the heat sizzles. It is plain to see why these two were the box office "hotties" of their day.

Now, no good story can have a glorious hero without a contrastingly evil villian! And Jack Lemmon, as the utterly detestable Professor Fate, is at his comedic pinnacle. ("Max! Maaaaax!") Fate is all baddie and Lemmon joyously takes the role over the top. From the moment we see him, secretly building the earliest urban assault vehicle on record, the amazing Hannibal 8, to every cheating, sabotaging, dastardly stunt he pulls, he is the villian we love to hate! Peter Falk is perfect as poor Max, the Professor's idiot henchman. I swear, the adorable cluelessness of Falk's immortal Columbo was born here, in this role. Unlike Columbo, however, Max never gets it, never ever figures it out. Which makes him all the funnier.

These four people alone would make for a funny film. Now, add to that an around the world tour which includes London, Paris, Rome, the Artic Circle, the largest pie fight ever recorded on film (something like 2500 pies were used!), pub brawls, kidnapped royalty (watch Lemmon here in a dual role as Fate and the besotted kidnapped prince. You will cry with laughter!), smashes, crashes, explosions, escapes, and a blockbuster supporting cast including Arthur O'Connell, Blake Edwards, Marvin Kaplan, Ross Martin, Dorothy Provine, Larry Storch, Vivian Vance, and Keenan Wynn, the question becomes not: Why did you buy this DVD, but why DON'T you buy this DVD!

I don't care if you weren't born when this picture was made (1965). You will never truly know what movie comedy is all about if you go through life without seeing this film! Just buy it because once you see it, there is no way you will not want to own it forever.

You get the widescreen theatre version, a very cool featurette of the making of the film, and director Blake Edwards commentary, which is not at all boring and very informative. This movie is loaded with classic quotes. I guarantee you, after seeing this film, the next time you see a Pug, you will at least THINK, if not say outright: "I HATE YOU! Get off of the bed!" This is a movie that never gets stale, no matter how many times you see it. On DVD, it will last forever, a true example of the magic of Hollywood! By Wynter Ice

Great spoof movie with a stellar cast. Every character in the movie is a funnier version of the silent, classic, adventure movie cast.
There is the hero, complete with white clothing & a dazzling smile (Tony Curtis): the spunky, newpaper reporter, heroine who is feminine yet willing to risk climbing mountains to get the story (Natalie Wood): AND of course the villain (boo, hiss), deliciously played by Jack Lemmon in all-black clothing, car, house, moustache, etc. AND we must not forget the evil villain's hapless sidekick (Peter Falk) who tries very hard to be as evil as his master. Throw in a race around the world in the most modern cars available (1890-ish) and you have the plot for an hysterical movie!

The race is sponsored by a newspaper and is to run from New York to Paris, going west. By the time the race is over, there are very few contestants left due to weather, wars, breakdowns and, of course, dastardly deeds by our evil genius* (*In his own mind.)

The whole makes for an hilarious romp around the world, ca. 1890.

Now we're talking! This is one of my all time favorite movies! It's great for the family. The Great Race is a 1965 slapstick comedy movie directed by Blake Edwards, and one of those rare cinema treats! You won't want to miss any scene. Get the eating out of the way early. Just curly up with your yourself, your lovely and little lovelies and set your heart for joy. I'm not going to spoil the plot. It's silly humor--your funny bone will thank you (ha ha ha).

The cast is comprised of a magnificent combination of talent: Natalie Wood (as Maggie DuBouis), Jack Lemmon (Professor Fate), and Tony Curtis (The Great Leslie); and Peter Falk (Maximillian 'Max' Meen). Mr. Lemmon is delightful as the dastardly deed doer; Mr. Curtis gives added meaning to perfection; Ms. Wood's adds her spin on womanhood; and Peter Falk is the consummate team player!

A must see and great gift for anyone in need of uplifting! Laughter is medicine for the soul.

Plus Points: No profanity, nudity - nothing to shield yourself or the little ones from. There are some romantic references; however, and I must emphasize this: No Emotionally Offensive Material.

This movie was produced in 1965. I was 7 years old when first viewed and I never forgot it. I saw it with my daughter when she was between 6 and 8 and she just laughed at the silly scenes & clueless to many of the comical adult-like antics. And I said adult-like!

They don't make them like this anymore. I'm now 48 and the day I was thinking about this move and discovered it here at Ebay, I was ecstatic! Had to have it on DVD! It is a blessing, in this era to find pure gems for the Soul.

It's so refreshing having pleasant memories and realizing how protected I was at 7, in addition to never so-call out growing it! Seriously, regardless of the audience, great fun for all. Much of today's choices are limited and many have been at a disadvantaged (youths and adults). Particularly the youth!

Enjoy the show! If you're bidding I hope you win! Personally... go-buy-it (hee hee) It's worth it! Now if you really must know the details see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T​he_Great_Race

I've enjoyed sharing with you.

A vastly under-appreciated film directed by the redoubtable Blake Edwards, and dedicated (as it says in the titles) to Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy. So slapstick you'll need oxygen before it's done. As in "Some Like It Hot", Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon are perfect foils for each other. Throw in the beauteous Natalie Wood as a turn-of-the-Century feminist, Peter Falk as Lemmon's henchman, and a veritable host of cameos, and you have the makings of one hell of a breakneck comedy. "Send in 500 more pies for the pie fight." Push the button Max! ROCKadillo {8-{)-

Dedicated from the outset to "Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy", this film pays loving homage to them and to all the other masters of slapstick comedy from the silent-film era. This film could be compared to a "loaded baked potato" - it is jam-packed full of high-quality goodies; elaborate sight gags, witty dialogue, beautifully photographed scenery, rousing music, a perfect cast - in all, the absolute best of the best that Hollywood could offer in 1965.
...and therein is the only negative. In 1965, audiences could (and did) roar with laughter at the sight of a car crazily careening into a grocery store, or a character having a close encounter with a mud puddle, or armed guards in fancy uniforms running around in confusion and colliding with each other like the Keystone Kops, but after 45 years all these elements tend to elicit a profound sense of deja-(yawn)-vu. Filmgoers raised on Mel Brooks and the National Lampoon franchise will find this pretty tame stuff. More like a cartoon that lasts for two and a half hours (plus).
But what of it? Watch the movie. Embrace the cliches. Cheer the good guy, hiss the villain, admire the leading lady (Natalie Wood, one of the three most beautiful actresses ever, IMHO, the other two being Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn), enjoy the ride, and PUSH THE BUTTON, MAX!