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Downhill Racer (1969)

M  -  Drama | Sport  -  2 February 1970 (Sweden)
6.1
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Ratings: 6.1/10 from 1,887 users  
Reviews: 33 user | 28 critic

Quietly cocky Robert Redford joins U.S. ski team as downhill racer and clashes with the team's coach, played by Gene Hackman. Lots of good skiing action leading to an exciting climax.

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Title: Downhill Racer (1969)

Downhill Racer (1969) on IMDb 6.1/10

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Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
David Chappellet
...
Eugene Claire
...
Carole Stahl
Karl Michael Vogler ...
Machet
...
Johnny Creech
Kathleen Crowley ...
American Newspaper Woman
...
Mayo
Kenneth Kirk ...
D. K. Bryan
Oren Stevens ...
Tony Kinsmith
Jerry Dexter ...
Ron Engel
Walter Stroud ...
Mr. Chappellet
Carole Carle ...
Lena
Rip McManus ...
Bruce Devore
Joe Jay Jalbert ...
Tommy Erb
Tom J. Kirk ...
Stiles
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Storyline

David Chappellet is a mean-spirited skier, who profits from another skier's injury to gain a spot on the American Olympic team. His roommate sums up his goals when he observes of David, "He's not for the team, and he never will be"; but precisely who the David is that David is so fiendishly striving for we're never to learn. He develops a short-lived relationship with Carole Stahl, a glamorous European woman even more capricious than himself. Chappellet's identity trouble are exacerbated by the fact that he is an "Event" as well as a personality; and more astute minds than his own have difficulty where the one leaves off and the other takes over. Director Michael Richie's ("The Candidate") feature film debut. Written by alfiehitchie

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

How fast must a man go to get from where he's at?

Genres:

Drama | Sport

Certificate:

M | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

| |

Release Date:

2 February 1970 (Sweden)  »

Also Known As:

Büyük sampiyon  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$1,600,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

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Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie's poster was as #4 of "The 25 Best Movie Posters Ever" by Premiere. See more »

Goofs

During Johnny Creech's (McMullan's) run at Lauberhorn his skis change from black to red. See more »

Connections

Featured in Twilight (1998) See more »

Soundtracks

"Moon River"
Written by Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini
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User Reviews

A good film that could have been great
22 January 2002 | by (Boston, MA) – See all my reviews

After many years of catching brief scenes of this now semi-cult film, I finally watched it in its entirety. It is not a great film, but for film students, and fans of both Gene Hackman and Robert Redford, it's a must. The opening credits are delivered over scenes of a Super G skier flying down the mountain and feature a combination of stop action and over-cranked footage. The film quality is beautiful, and although the techniques now seem dated, they stand for what was cutting-edge editing at the time. Watching the opening, you feel like you're in for a great ride but are sadly let down by a staid script. Having said that, the film can sort of get a way with this (at least to a certain extent) because you've got such great actors playing the main roles of skier (Redford) and coach (Hackman). Both know how to exploit the economy of language and show a lot simply with body language and expression. (They must have realized they had to with this script.) Add to that fact, that the character Redford is playing - a vainglorious Super G racer named David Chappellett, probably wouldn't have much to say.

Ultimately, the film serves as cinematic commentary on how fleeting success is in a sport like skiing, as well as the shallowness shown by both the press that cover the sport, and the women that covet the skiers.


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