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Product Description: At the turn of the 20th century a host of colorful characters set out on a 20000-mile auto race from New York to Paris and hilarity ensues. (1965)Running Time: 164 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 085391109129 Manufacturer No: 11091Amazon.com: Director Blake Edwards, fresh from the success of the first two Pink Panther movies, indulged his love of classic slapstick comedy with this long free-for-all, which throws in everything but Laurel and Hardy's kitchen sink. The film reunites Some Like It Hot stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, ably aided by a spunky Natalie Wood. The subject is a New-York-to-Paris auto race in the early years of the 20th century, pitting the Great Leslie (Curtis), a goody-goody dressed all in white--even his teeth sparkle--against the malevolent Professor Fate (Lemmon), whose coal-black heart is reflected in his handlebar mustache. He looks like a bill collector from a silent- movie melodrama. Lemmon does double duty, also playing the pampered, drunken king of a small European country, whose laugh sounds like the wail of a cat in heat. The film may be too long for its own good, and you really have to love Jack Lemmon to put up with his over-the-top performance, but it's side-splitting in spots. It's one of those movies, if seen in childhood, that stays in your mind for years afterward. Some of the bigger routines, such as a pie fight of epic proportions, don't work as well as the simple chemistry between the perpetually exasperated Professor Fate and his much-abused assistant, Max (a terrific Peter Falk). Push the button, Max. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews:
- The Great Race: What a great movie. The characters are perfectly cast. Tony Curtis the dashing hero, Natalie Woods the feisty heroine, Jack Lemmon a truely great villian, and Peter Falk the bumbling sidekick Max an excellent "Igor". The film is loaded with walkons by great character actors. It contains the action of a race at the beginning but quickly becomes a mano-to-mano race between The Great Leslie and Professor Fate. Classic saloon brawl, great death defying stunts by both Leslie and Fate, and the greatest pie fight ever filmed. Even my 18 month old grandaughter stops what ever she is doing when it comes on. Jack Lemon should have won an academy award for his performance in multiple rolls.
This is a great sitback and unwind to a very funny film. Everyone regardless of age will enjoy this movie time and time again.
- Best farce movie of this decade: I loved this movie when it was first released and I always have a DVD copy with me in my house. My kids and grandkids love it. The Henry Mancini music is great and the over the top acting is a visual and audible treat. Every movie gag is in this movie and in my family we all know them by heart. More Pies!!
- The Great Race: Fun and exciting, with action and good music. Great 1960s era film with an excellent cast of talented actors. Jack Lemmon plays two totally different characters that are over the top.
- The Great Race is a Classic Comedic Thrill Ride!: This 1965 classic comedy by Blake Edwards is fantastic. Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis were at the top of their forms in this melodrama. Curtis plays The Great Leslie, the hero, and Jack Lemmon plays Prof. Fate, the villain. Natalie Wood and Peter Falk have many great moments respectively as the heroine and the villain's sidekick. Prof. Fate and Leslie have a car race from New York to Paris to prove who is better. The cars and stunts are great. The film also includes the largest pie fight ever staged. It's all in good fun and great for kids to watch as well.
- A classic: No it's not great cinema, but it is entertaining. I remember watching this movie many times as a kid ("Push the button, Max"), and thought my own kids would get a laugh. As with all thing that aren't new and hip, they were skeptical at first, but after a few minutes, they too were hooked. More brandy!!!
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