The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

The story of New Zealander Burt Munro, who spent years rebuilding a 1920 Indian motorcycle, which helped him set the land speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967.

Director:

Roger Donaldson

Writer:

Roger Donaldson

Stars:

Anthony Hopkins, Diane Ladd, Iain Rea

10 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Hopkins	...	Burt Munro
Iain Rea	...	George
Tessa Mitchell	...	Sarah
Aaron Murphy	...	Tom
Tim Shadbolt	...	Frank
Annie Whittle	...	Fran
Greg Johnson	...	Duncan
Antony Starr	...	Jeff
Kate Sullivan	...	Doris
Craig Hall	...	Antarctic Angel
Jim Bowman	...	Cook
Alison Bruce	...	Doctor
Phoebe Falconer	...	Janice Springfield
Charles Pierard	...	Bank Manager
Barry Ryan	...	Burt's Neighbour

Storyline

For 25 years in Invercargill at the south end of New Zealand, Burt Munro (1899-1978) has been working on increasing the speed of his motorcycle, a 1920 Indian. He dreams of taking it to the Bonneville Salt Flats to see how fast it will go. By the early 1960s, heart disease threatens his life, so he mortgages his house and takes a boat to Los Angeles, buys an old car, builds a makeshift trailer, gets the Indian through customs, and heads for Utah. Along the way, people he meets are charmed by his open, direct friendliness. If he makes it to Bonneville, will they let an old guy on the flats with makeshift tires, no brakes, and no chute? And will the Indian actually respond?

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Plot Keywords:

nitroglycerin | utah | speed | motorcycle | mortgage | 

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Taglines:

The extraordinary true adventure of Burt Munro from Down Under

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief language, drug use and a sexual reference

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

New Zealand Japan USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

The World's Fastest Indian

Filming Locations:

Echo, Utah, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$384,131 (New Zealand), 16 October 2005, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$400,782, 5 February 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$5,128,124, 16 July 2006

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$18,297,690

Company Credits

Production Co:

OLC / Rights Entertainment,Tanlay,New Zealand Film Production Fund

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Roger Donaldson was initially reluctant to cast Anthony Hopkins as the two had clashed constantly when they worked together on The Bounty (1984). However, Donaldson says that it was a totally difference experience and that Hopkins was wonderful throughout the entire shoot.

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Goofs

In the bar on the way to Bonneville, the waitress offers Burt Munro his choice of beers-including Coors. At the time depicted in the movie Coors was not readily available outside of Colorado, if at all.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Burt Munro: [rolling a distance gauge] 93... 94... 95... 96... 97...

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Connections

References Broken Barrier (1952)

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Soundtracks

You Are My Sunshine
(Jimmie Davis / Charles Mitchell)
© Peer International Corp
Used by permission. All rights reserved

User Reviews

Excellent Movie Making And A Wonderful Story

I was lucky enough to see this film on a Qantas flight from LA to Melbourne early in December. My expectation was a low budget, low brow, attempt at making a motorsport film. I was truly blown away by what I saw. Anthony Hopkins deserves an Academy Award for the understated performance of Bert Munro. Always polite, and always focused Bert's dream get embedded in your heart and becomes your dream as well. The journey becomes the story with the characters he meets along the way getting obsessed with his vision as well. The scenes at The Bonneville Salt Flats are stunning and picturesque. I was left with a smile I couldn't get off my face and a tear in my eye. A simple film with a simple premise becomes my "Best Of" pick for 2005.