The Great Race (1965) 7.1
Comedy about an early 20th century car race across three continents. Director:Blake Edwards |
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The Great Race (1965) 7.1
Comedy about an early 20th century car race across three continents. Director:Blake Edwards |
|
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
| 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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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>
The best pie fight,bar room brawl,sword fight,comedic love story...wackiest villain...Saddened it's not mentioned as one of the greatest comedies ever or even mentioned as one of Jack Lemons greatest comedic roles.I'm guilty of quoting movie lines when the time is right and often quote from this movie. "Brandy,Brandy...","now you're using sex as a weapon..","RISE AND SHINE?","..now if you were the mens fencing champion...""NOW CAN I GET ME SOME FIGHTN' ROOM!" I can't believe Tony Curtis was a second choice to play "The Great Leslie".His all American do-gooder mentality is nauseatingly funny. Natalie Wood is beautiful and plays the ultimate suffragette. Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk are a fun duo as Leslies villainous rivals and truly set the tempo of the slapstick.Only Blake Edwards could have pulled off such an epic comedy.Who cares if the the drive around the world does'nt make sense.This movie is a true blue farce in every sense,nothing more and nothing less. Perfect casting and screenplay and the writers should be commended.