The Great Race (1965)

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Passed
2h 40min
Action, Adventure
14 Oct 1965 (UK)
Movie

7.3 (15,590)

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In the early 20th century, two rivals, the heroic Leslie and the despicable Professor Fate, engage in an epic automobile race from New York to Paris.

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writers:

Arthur A. Ross, Blake Edwards, Arthur A. Ross

Stars:

Awards:

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 14 nominations.
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Reviews:

Photos and Videos

Trailer for this comedy starring Jack Lemon

Still of Natalie Wood (I) in The Great Race (1965)

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158 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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	Jack Lemmon	...	Professor Fate / Crown Prince Frederick Hoepnick
	Tony Curtis	...	The Great Leslie
	Natalie Wood	...	Maggie Dubois
	Peter Falk	...	Maximilian Meen
	Keenan Wynn	...	Hezekiah Sturdy
	Arthur O'Connell	...	Henry Goodbody
	Vivian Vance	...	Hester Goodbody
	Dorothy Provine	...	Lily Olay
	Larry Storch	...	Texas Jack
	Ross Martin	...	Baron Rolfe Von Stuppe
	George Macready	...	General Kuhster
	Marvin Kaplan	...	Frisbee
	Hal Smith	...	Mayor of Boracho
	Denver Pyle	...	Sheriff of Boracho
	William Bryant	...	Baron's Guard (as Bill Bryant)
	Ken Wales	...	Baron's Guard
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Victor Adamson	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Richard Alexander	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Leon Alton	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Walter Bacon	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Brandon Beach	...	Man in Hallway at Sentinel (uncredited)
	Herman Belmonte	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Bill Borzage	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Paul Bryar	...	Policeman (uncredited)
	Robert Carson	...	Vice Chairman (uncredited)
	Bill Catching	...	Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
	Noble 'Kid' Chissell	...	Auto Worker (uncredited)
	Joseph Crehan	...	Observer at Start (uncredited)
	Blake Edwards	...	Guy with Moustache (uncredited)
	Frank Ellis	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Joe Ferrante	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Bob Folkerson	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Fritz Ford	...	Cowboy (uncredited)
	George Ford	...	Man in Hallway at Sentinel (uncredited)
	Charles Fredericks	...	Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
	Jack Gordon	...	Observer at Start (uncredited)
	Sol Gorss	...	Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
	Silver Harr	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Sam Harris	...	Man in Hallway at Sentinel (uncredited)
	Harry Harvey	...	Executive Board Member (uncredited)
	Al Haskell	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Chester Hayes	...	Man in Bear Suit (uncredited)
	Chuck Hayward	...	Soldier (uncredited)
	Bob Herron	...	Palace Guard (uncredited)
	Chuck Hicks	...	Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
	Charles Horvath	...	Texas Jack's Henchman / Baker in Pie Fight (uncredited)
	Clegg Hoyt	...	Man in Saloon (uncredited)
	Roy Jenson	...	Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
	Kenner G. Kemp	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Patricia King	...	Woman in West (uncredited)
	Frank Kreig	...	Starter (uncredited)
	Mike Lally	...	Bettor (uncredited)
	King Lockwood	...	Executive Board Member (uncredited)
	Carey Loftin	...	Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
	Mathew McCue	...	Observer at Start (uncredited)
	Philo McCullough	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Francis McDonald	...	Russian (uncredited)
	Rod McGaughy	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	J. Edward McKinley	...	Chairman (uncredited)
	King Mojave	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Boyd 'Red' Morgan	...	Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
	Richard Mosier	...	Boy Eating Popcorn (uncredited)
	Hal Needham	...	Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
	Joyce Nizzari	...	The Crown Prince's dance partner (uncredited)
	Daniel Nunez	...	Observer at Start (uncredited)
	Owen Orr	...	Soldier (uncredited)
	Joe Palma	...	Conductor (uncredited)
	Harvey Parry	...	Cowboy Shooting Gun in Saloon (uncredited)
	Gil Perkins	...	Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
	Jack Perkins	...	Texas Jack Henchman (uncredited)
	Charles Perry	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Fred Rapport	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Raoul Retzer	...	Mayor-Domo (uncredited)
	John Rice	...	Observer at Start (uncredited)
	Hal Riddle	...	Baker (uncredited)
	Christopher Riordan	...	Cowboy / Dancer (uncredited)
	Robert Robinson	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Clark Ross	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Danny Sands	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Maria Schroeder	...	Woman in Tobelsk (uncredited)
	Jerry Schumacher	...	Auto Worker (uncredited)
	Charles Seel	...	Freight Agent (uncredited)
	Sarah Selby	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
	Alex Sharp	...	Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
	Johnny Silver	...	Baker (uncredited)
	Carl Sklover	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Paul Smith	...	First Employee (uncredited)
	Tom Smith	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Cap Somers	...	Observer at Start (uncredited)
	Tom Steele	...	Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
	Robert R. Stephenson	...	Bishop at Coronation (uncredited)
	Norman Stevans	...	Observer at Start (uncredited)
	Bert Stevens	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Art Stewart	...	(uncredited)
	Frank D. Strong	...	Trombonist in Marching Band (uncredited)
	Charles Sullivan	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Arthur Tovey	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	George Tracy	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	John Truax	...	Prison Guard (uncredited)
	Dale Van Sickel	...	Driver-Contestant in Green Car, #3 (uncredited)
	Max Wagner	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Jesse Wayne	...	Barfly (uncredited)
	Harry Wilson	...	Townsman (uncredited)

Directed by

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Blake Edwards

Written by

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Arthur A. Ross	...	(screenplay) (as Arthur Ross)

Blake Edwards	...	(original story) &
Arthur A. Ross	...	(original story) (as Arthur Ross)

Produced by

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Dick Crockett	...	associate producer (as Richard Crockett)
Martin Jurow	...	producer

Music by

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Henry Mancini

Cinematography by

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Russell Harlan

...

director of photography

Film Editing by

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Ralph E. Winters

Editorial Department

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John F. Burnett

...

additional editor (uncredited)

Production Design by

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Fernando Carrere

Art Direction by

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Fernando Carrere

...

(uncredited)

Set Decoration by

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George James Hopkins

Costume Design by

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Donfeld

...

(as Don Feld)

Makeup Department

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Gordon Bau	...	makeup supervisor
Sydney Guilaroff	...	hair styles creator: Miss Wood
Jean Burt Reilly	...	supervising hair stylist

Production Management

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Clem Beauchamp	...	unit production manager
Chuck Hansen	...	unit production manager (as Charles Hansen)
Jack McEdward	...	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Jack Cunningham	...	assistant director
Richard Landry	...	assistant director (as Dick Landry)
Mickey McCardle	...	assistant director

Art Department

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Reg Allen	...	decorative consultant
Jack Stevens	...	decorative consultant
Bill Gold	...	poster designer (uncredited)
Mentor Huebner	...	conceptual artist (uncredited)
Tyrus Wong	...	art department (uncredited)

Sound Department

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M.A. Merrick	...	sound
Robert J. Miller	...	sound recordist
Treg Brown	...	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Johnny Borgese	...	special effects (uncredited)
George Brown	...	special effects (uncredited)
Danny Lee	...	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

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Linwood G. Dunn	...	photographic effects (as Linwood Dunn)
James B. Gordon	...	photographic effects (as James Gordon)
Albert Simpson	...	matte artist (uncredited)

Stunts

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Odile Astie	...	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Baxley	...	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Canutt	...	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Catching	...	stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Catron	...	stunts (uncredited)
Philip Crawford	...	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Crockett	...	stunt coordinator (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited)
Howard Curtis	...	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Dial	...	stunts (uncredited)
Stephanie Epper	...	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth	...	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Geary	...	stunts (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	stunts (uncredited)
Duke Green	...	stunts (uncredited)
Johnny Hagner	...	stunts (uncredited)
Donna Hall	...	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	...	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron	...	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Hickman	...	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hicks	...	stunts (uncredited)
Charles Horvath	...	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Hoy	...	stunt double: Tony Curtis in pie fight (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins	...	stunts (uncredited)
Roy Jenson	...	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	...	stunts (uncredited)
Sharon Lucas	...	stunts (uncredited)
Troy Melton	...	stunts (uncredited)
John Moio	...	stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	...	stunts (uncredited)
Hal Needham	...	stunts (uncredited)
Harvey Parry	...	stunts (uncredited)
Regis Parton	...	stunts (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	...	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Perkins	...	stunts (uncredited)
George Robotham	...	stunts (uncredited)
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	...	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Rose	...	stunts (uncredited)
Wally Rose	...	stunts (uncredited)
Alex Sharp	...	stunts (uncredited)
David Sharpe	...	dive into moat (uncredited) / stunt double: Tony Curtis/Ross Martin (uncredited)
Dean Smith	...	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Stader	...	stunts (uncredited)
Mary Statler	...	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Steele	...	stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Summers	...	stunts (uncredited)
Helen Thurston	...	stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Verbois	...	stunts (uncredited)
Al Wyatt Sr.	...	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Yrigoyen	...	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Harold E. Wellman	...	photographer: second unit (as Harold Wellman)
Richard Doran	...	assistant camera (uncredited)
Bobby Greene	...	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Michael A. Jones	...	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Frank Stanley	...	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby	...	special still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Edith Head

...

clothes: Miss Wood

Music Department

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Richard Nash	...	musician: trombone soloist
Robert Bain	...	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Wilfred Burns	...	composer: stock music (uncredited) / orchestrator (uncredited)
Leonard A. Engel	...	music editor (uncredited)
Carl Fortina	...	musician: accordion soloist (uncredited)
Kenneth Hall	...	music editor (uncredited)
Harry V. Lojewski	...	music supervisor (uncredited)
Henry Mancini	...	conductor (uncredited) / musician: piano (uncredited) / orchestrator (uncredited)
Arthur Morton	...	orchestrator (uncredited)
Emil Richards	...	musician: percussion (uncredited)
William Saracino	...	assistant music editor (uncredited)
Ray Sherman	...	musician: piano (uncredited)
Vinton Vernon	...	score mixer (uncredited)
Dan Wallin	...	score mixer (uncredited)
Jackie Ward	...	singing voice: Natalie Wood (uncredited)
John Williams	...	musician: piano (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Betty A. Griffin

...

script supervisor (as Betty Abbott)

Other crew

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Hermes Pan	...	choreographer
Ken Wales	...	dialogue supervisor
Dean Jeffries	...	car designer (uncredited)
Ken Mundie	...	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks

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Oliver Hardy	...	dedicatee (as Mr. Hardy)
Stan Laurel	...	dedicatee (as Mr. Laurel)

Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Warner Bros. (1965) (United States) (theatrical)
Warner Bros. Pictures (1965) (Argentina) (theatrical)
Warner Bros. (1965) (Canada) (theatrical)
Warner Bros. (1965) (West Germany) (theatrical)
Warner-Pathé Distributors (1965) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
Warner-Tonefilm (1965) (Sweden) (theatrical)
Warner Bros. (1966) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
Warner Bros. (1966) (Norway) (theatrical)
CBS (1970) (United States) (tv) (pan/scan)
Warner-Columbia Film (1974) (Sweden) (theatrical) (re-release)
Warner Home Video (1984) (United States) (VHS)
Warner Home Video (1991) (United States) (VHS) (pan/scan)
Warner Home Video (1991) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
Warner Home Video (1996) (United States) (VHS)
Warner Home Video (2002) (United States) (DVD)
Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
Warner Home Video (2006) (United States) (DVD)
Impulso Records (2009) (Spain) (DVD)
Warner Archive Collection (2014) (United States) (Blu-ray)
Warner Home Video (2014) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
Filmayer (1966) (Spain) (theatrical)
Warner Española S.A. (1977) (Spain) (theatrical)
Omroep MAX (2017) (Netherlands) (tv) (NPO1) (rerun)
Pioneer Entertainment (United States) (video) (laserdisc)

Special Effects

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Film Effects of Hollywood (photographic effects)

Other Companies

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DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (DFE) (titles)

Storyline

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Plot Summary	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. Written by Jeanne Baker Plot Summary Plot Synopsis
Plot Keywords	woman-smokes-a-cigar laundry-drying-on-a-clothesline race car newspaper See All (99) »
Taglines	THE GREAT LAUGH SHOW OF ALL TIME! See more »
Genres	Action Adventure Comedy Family Romance Sport Western
Parents Guide	View content advisory »
Certification	Argentina:Atp Australia:G Brazil:Livre Canada:G Canada:PG (Ontario) Finland:K-8 France:Tous publics Germany:12 (DVD rating) Japan:G Netherlands:6 (re- rating) Netherlands:AL Norway:A (recommended rating) Norway:7 (cinema rating) South Korea:All Spain:T Sweden:Btl United Kingdom:U United States:Passed (National Board of Review) United States:Approved United States:TV-PG (TV rating) West Germany:12

Additional Details

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Also Known As	Blake Edwards' The Great Race (United States) Blake Edwards' The Great Race (United Kingdom) La grande course autour du monde (France) Das große Rennen rund um die Welt (Germany) La carrera del siglo (Spain) See more »
Runtime	160 min
Country	United States
Language	English
Color	Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio	2.20 : 1 (70 mm prints) See more »
Sound Mix	Stereo (RCA Sound System) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)
Filming Locations	Anif Castle, Anif, Salzburg, Austria See more »

Box Office

Budget

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia	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. See more »
Goofs	The American flag displayed near the beginning of the race has 48 stars. In 1908, when this movie supposedly takes place, there were only 46 states (New Mexico and Arizona were admitted in 1912, and Alaska and Hawaii were admitted in 1959). See more »
Movie Connections	Edited into Lo schermo a tre punte (1995). See more »
Soundtracks	The Sweetheart Tree See more »
Crazy Credits	Jack Lemmon is only credited as Professor Fate and not for his second role as Crown Prince Hapnik. See more »
Quotes	[On a melting iceberg] Leslie: [measures the base] 37 inches to go. Fate: Oh, 37 inches to go. Huzzah! At the rate we've been melting, that's good for about one more week! Leslie: You'd better keep it to yourself. Fate: Oh, of course I'll keep it to myself. [Leslie walks away] Fate: [muttering] Until the water reaches my lower lip, and then I'm gonna mention it to SOMEBODY! See more »

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