Le Mans (1971)

Director:

Lee H. Katzin

Writer:

Harry Kleiner

Release Date:

23 June 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sport

Tagline:

Steve McQueen takes you for a drive in the country. The country is France. The drive is at 200 MPH!

Plot:

Almost in breadth and depth of a documentary, this movie depicts an auto race during the 70s on the...

Plot Keywords:

Driver | Driving | Car | Accident | Le Mans

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Steve McQueen	...	Michael Delaney
Siegfried Rauch	...	Erich Stahler
Elga Andersen	...	Lisa Belgetti
Ronald Leigh-Hunt	...	David Townsend
Fred Haltiner	...	Johann Ritter
Luc Merenda	...	Claude Aurac
Christopher Waite	...	Larry Wilson
Louise Edlind	...	Mrs. Anna Ritter
Angelo Infanti	...	Lugo Abratte
Jean-Claude Bercq	...	Paul-Jacques Dion
Michele Scalera	...	Vito Scaliso
Gino Cassani	...	Loretto Fuselli
Alfred Bell	...	Tommy Hopkins
Carlo Cecchi	...	Paolo Scadenza
Richard Rüdiger	...	Bruno Frohm
Hal Hamilton	...	Chris Barnett
Jonathan Williams	...	Jonathan Burton
Peter Parten	...	Peter Wiese
Conrad Pringle	...	Tony Elkins
Erich Glavitza	...	Josef Hauser
Peter Huber	...	Max Kummel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jocelyne Jeanssen	...	(uncredited)
Karine Lafabrie	...	Second Reporter (uncredited)
Jacques Mayar	...	Third Reporter (uncredited)
Alan Rossett	...	First Reporter (uncredited)
Nathalie Vernier	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Lee H. Katzin

Writing credits
Harry Kleiner

Produced by
Alan Levine	....	associate producer
Jack N. Reddish	....	producer
Robert E. Relyea	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Michel Legrand

Cinematography by
René Guissart Jr.
Robert B. Hauser

Film Editing by
Ghislaine Desjonquères
Donald W. Ernst
John Woodcock		(as John M. Woodcock)
Catherine Kelber		(uncredited)
Ferris Webster		(chief editor) (uncredited)

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
Phil Abramson

Costume Design by
Phil Abramson
Ray Summers

Makeup Department
Emile LaVigne	....	makeup supervisor
Marie-France Seyrat	....	hair stylist
Christiane Sauvage	....	makeup assistant (uncredited)

Production Management
Hubert Fröhlich	....	production manager (as Hubert Foehlich)
Robert L. Rosen	....	executive in charge of production
Peter Samuelson	....	assistant production manager
René Noel	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gus Agosti	....	first assistant director
Louis Pitzele	....	first assistant director: second unit
Jack N. Reddish	....	second unit director
Les Sheldon	....	assistant director
Michel Cheyko	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Christian Fuin	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Mark Kasdan	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Peter Samuelson	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Nikita Knatz	....	visual designer
Donald B. Nunley	....	property master (as Don Nunley)
Pierre Barbet	....	leadman (uncredited)
Pierre Barbet	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Henri Berger	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Henri Berger	....	swing man (uncredited)
Raymond Cormier	....	production buyer (uncredited)
Enrico Corti	....	props (uncredited)
Leo Dal Paos	....	constructor (uncredited)
Gerard Davy	....	constructor (uncredited)
Giuseppe Del Paos	....	head constructor (uncredited)
Max Delor	....	local help set dresser (uncredited)
Victor Feuz	....	constructor (uncredited)
Tom Jung	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Tom Jung	....	poster designer (uncredited)
Francois Langevin	....	local help set dresser (uncredited)
Yves Lequenne	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
Jac Stulberg	....	apprentice (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Dockendorf	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jack A. Finlay	....	supervising sound editor (as Jack)
John W. Mitchell	....	sound mixer
Jim Bullock	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Michel Desrois	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Michel Maiofis	....	sound assistant (uncredited)
Harrik Maury	....	sound maintenance (uncredited)
Richard Oswald	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Keith Pamplin	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Michèle Robert-Lauliac	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Sass Bedig	....	special effects
Jacques Beranger	....	special effects (uncredited)
Roland Gautherin	....	special effects (uncredited)
Georges Iaconelli	....	special effects (uncredited)
Malcolm King	....	remote control operator (uncredited)
Alfred Staeger	....	special effects (uncredited)
Willy Trampenau	....	special effects (uncredited)
Daniel Tuffery	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
René Astarie	....	key grip
Alex Barbey	....	camera operator
Michel Bouyer	....	camera operator
Christian de Cortanze	....	camera operator
André Marc Delourmel	....	still photographer
Elie Fontanille	....	gaffer
Claude Mousset	....	camera operator
Gaylin P. Schultz	....	camera mounts (as Gaylin Schultz)
Mel Traxel	....	still photographer
François About	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Pierre Abraham	....	electrician (uncredited)
Yves Agostini	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Pierre Brard	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Maurice Brivady	....	grip (uncredited)
Serge Cry	....	electrician (uncredited)
Heinz Feldhaus	....	camera engineer (uncredited)
Marc Fontanilles	....	electrician (uncredited)
Christian Gallegos	....	camp electrician (uncredited)
Lothar Hohlfeld	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Leon Letteron	....	grip (uncredited)
André Marquette	....	camera loader (uncredited)
Marcel Moncel	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Georg Ostler	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Roger Parlebas	....	electrician (uncredited)
Ronnie Fox Rogers	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Jean Strasser	....	grip (uncredited)
Michel Thiphaine	....	electrician (uncredited)
Roger Wingel	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Andree Astarie	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Henry Hoogsteyns	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)
Shelly Levine	....	costumer: men (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Pauline Leroy	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Gene Feldman	....	supervising music editor
Michel Legrand	....	musical director (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Han Akersloot	....	driver: racing cars
Richard Attwood	....	driver: racing cars
Claude Ballot-Lena	....	driver: racing cars
Christian Baron	....	driver: racing cars
Jurgen Barth	....	driver: racing cars
Derek Bell	....	driver: racing cars
Edgar Berney	....	driver: racing cars
Paul Blancpain	....	driver: racing cars
Arthur Blank	....	driver: racing cars
Jean Pierre Bordin	....	driver: racing cars
Guy Chasseuil	....	driver: racing cars
Andre de Cortanze	....	driver: racing cars
Hugues de Fierlant	....	driver: racing cars
Vic Elford	....	driver: racing cars
Nanni Galli	....	driver: racing cars
Erich Glavitza	....	driver: racing cars
Masten Gregory	....	driver: racing cars
Pierre Greub	....	driver: racing cars
Jean Pierre Hanrioud	....	driver: racing cars
René Herzog	....	driver: racing cars
Toine Hezemans	....	driver: racing cars
Peter Huber	....	driver: racing cars
Jacky Ickx	....	driver: racing cars
Jean Pierre Jabouille	....	driver: racing cars
Helmut Kelleners	....	driver: racing cars
Gerard Larrousse	....	driver: racing cars
Herbert Linge	....	driver: racing cars
Steve McQueen	....	driver: racing cars
John Miles	....	driver: racing cars
Silvio Moser	....	driver: racing cars
Herbert Muller	....	driver: racing cars
Mimmo Neccia	....	driver: racing cars
Robin Ormes	....	driver: racing cars
Michael Parkes	....	driver: racing cars
Aldo Pessina	....	driver: racing cars
Teddy Pilette	....	driver: racing cars
David Piper	....	driver: racing cars
Brian Redman	....	driver: racing cars
Jean Sage	....	driver: racing cars
Jo Siffert	....	driver: racing cars
Rob Slotemaker	....	driver: racing cars
Dieter Spoerry	....	driver: racing cars
Rolf Stommelen	....	driver: racing cars
Jonathan Williams	....	driver: racing cars
Daniel Aumont	....	driver (uncredited)
Bernard Boulay	....	taxi driver (uncredited)
Rene Brouard	....	taxi driver (uncredited)
Albin Eichel	....	head driver (uncredited)
Jacob Holzhofer	....	transportation manager (uncredited)
Pierre Jacquemin	....	driver (uncredited)
Pierre Jardin	....	driver (uncredited)
Phillipe Jorion	....	driver (uncredited)
John Lake	....	driver (uncredited)
Maurice Leroy	....	taxi driver (uncredited)
Alain Lochouarn	....	driver (uncredited)
Raymond Marchand	....	taxi driver (uncredited)
Joel Mozdzer	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Andrew Ferguson	....	head of racing department
John Franco	....	script supervisor
Michael Parkes	....	racing consultant
Vincent Tubbs	....	unit publicist
Haig Alltounian	....	chief mechanic (uncredited)
Hans Arn	....	catering manager (uncredited)
Joan Arnold	....	secretary: Mr. Reddish (uncredited)
Louis Baroux	....	garage night watchman (uncredited)
Jean Batard	....	plane mechanic (uncredited)
Bess Benveniste	....	secretary: Mr. Kleiner (uncredited)
Kerst Bottema	....	projectionist (uncredited)
Marcelle Boudet	....	secretary: Mr. Relyea (uncredited)
Sister Brigitte	....	medical nurse (uncredited)
Claude Brossard	....	mechanic (uncredited)
Magy Brunner	....	coordinator: housing and travel (uncredited)
Ron Butcher	....	communications chief (uncredited)
Helen Carrier	....	secretary to writer (uncredited)
Claude Chaumond	....	apprentice: A.C.O. (uncredited)
Claude Chaumond	....	liaison: A.C.O. (uncredited)
Jacques Chesnel	....	camp workman (uncredited)
Daniel Chiarelli	....	camp workman (uncredited)
Jean-Yves Couant	....	pilot: plane (uncredited)
Gerard Crombac	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Ricardo De Frutos	....	cashier (uncredited)
Louis Deret	....	garage day watchman (uncredited)
Jeanine Dubois	....	camp supervisor (uncredited)
Simone Escoffier	....	secretary: Mr. Rosen (uncredited)
Sidney Ganis	....	publicist (uncredited)
Christian Gatard	....	interpreter (uncredited)
Colette Georges	....	camp cleaning woman (uncredited)
Claude Gilaizeau	....	apprentice (uncredited)
Leon Guillaume	....	camp night watchman (uncredited)
Patricia Knatz	....	secretary: racing department (uncredited)
Philippe Le Franc	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Dominique Lefèvre	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Ralph M. Leo	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Alan Levine	....	assistant: Mr. Reddish (uncredited)
Darryl Levine	....	communications apprentice (uncredited)
Belinda McPherson	....	assistant publicist (uncredited)
Danielle Moreau	....	office assistant (uncredited)
James Morgan	....	apprentice to producer (uncredited)
Liliane Plessix	....	camp cleaning woman (uncredited)
Pierre Reynald	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Christian Riml	....	apprentice to producer (uncredited)
Richard Rivoire	....	interpreter (uncredited)
Odette Rousseau	....	camp cleaning woman (uncredited)
Line Schvartz	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Dennis Sparks	....	sheet metal man (uncredited)
Freddy Zurbrugg	....	chief cook (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cinema Center Films
• Solar Productions

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox (1971) (UK) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1971) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• National General Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1977) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Spirit Level (2010) (worldwide) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Glen Glenn Sound Company  sound

Also Known As:

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:K-8 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | USA:G | West Germany:12 | New Zealand:G | UK:PG (video rating) (2003) | UK:U (original rating) (1971) | France:U

Filming Locations:

Le Mans, Sarthe, France

Company:

Cinema Center Films

Trivia:

David Piper lost his leg because of a deep cut caused during a crash. Brake fluid and other debris got into the the deep cut, which caused an infection and the need to amputate the leg.

Goofs:

Continuity: While the track announcements are given in both French and English at the beginning of the race (and movie), throughout the rest of the movie they are in English only, which would not occur at Le Mans.

Quotes:

Michael Delaney:This isn't just a thousand to one shot. This is a professional bloodsport. And it can happen to you. And then it can happen to you again.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Drained (2006)

The Best Racing Film Ever

I am no great fan of Steve McQueen, but I am a great fan of auto racing. If you are too, this is the best auto racing film you will find (Yes, yes, I know - "Grand Prix". While Frankenheimer is fantastic at capturing the essence of cars in motion - see his "Ronin" in this regard as well - the surrounding movie is soap opera drivel.). If you aren't a hard core racing fan, this film will likely be a giant bore - there is no plot to speak of, and precious little dialog. What there is, is a documentary-like glimpse of sports car racing as it existed in the early 1970s. Watch it for the cars, and the drama inherent in the race, and you won't be disappointed.