Le Mans (1971)

Almost at the verge of documentary, film depicts a single auto race from the ground up.

Director:

Lee H. Katzin

Writer:

Harry Kleiner

Stars:

Steve McQueen, Siegfried Rauch, Elga Andersen

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Almost in breadth and depth of a documentary, this movie depicts an auto race during the 70s on the world's hardest endurance course: Le Mans in France. The race goes over 24 hours on 13.4 kilometers of cordoned country road. Every few hours the two drivers per car alternate - but it's still a challenge for concentration and material. In the focus is the duel between the German Stahler in Ferrari 512LM and the American Delaney in Gulf Team Porsche 917. Delaney is under extraordinary pressure, because the year before he caused a severe accident, in which his friend Lisa's husband was killed.

---

Plot Keywords:

motor sports | race | driver | team | driving | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sport

---

Did You Know?

Trivia

Steve McQueen became increasingly paranoid as a result of finding out he was on Charles Manson's kill list. It led him to pursue a license to get a gun to protect himself. His marriage to Neile Adams McQueen was falling apart as well. She was having an affair with Maximilian Schell. When he found out, McQueen offered him a part in the film (possibly in the hopes of running him off the road), but Schell wisely refused.

---

Goofs

As Delaney and Stahler duel for position late in the race, their car headlights turn on and off randomly with changes in camera angle, sometimes seemingly in mid-corner.

---

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.

---

Connections

Referenced in O Preço da História: Chords, Swords and Rewards (2014)

---

Soundtracks

Finale
Written and Performed by Michel Legrand Et Son Orchestre

User Reviews

A classic "documentary"!

As the poster says, "Steve McQueen takes you for a ride in the country. The country is France. The drive is at 200MPH!" "Le Mans" is arguably the best film made about the sport of race car driving. What it lacks in story it more than makes up for in exciting race footage. No process shots, no rear screen projection. What you see is absolutely real. And Steve McQueen is, as always, just great. (McQueen drove race cars as a hobby so he knew what he was doing behind the wheel of that Porsche.) If you've never seen "Le Mans", rent it. But don't expect to see a regular movie, instead, expect to see a fine race documentary.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Italian German

Release Date:

23 June 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Las 24 horas de Le Mans

Filming Locations:

Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans, Le Mans, Sarthe, France

Box Office

Budget:

$7,573,797 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinema Center Films, Solar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1