Rating: Summary: Lemmon And Falk ARE The Movie Review: I don't have the patience, or the bladder, for many of the roadshow-spectacles of the 60s. There's something obscene about not just the profligate wasting of money, but the very concept of 2 1/2 & 3-hour comedies. And THE GREAT RACE shares many of these defects. The big-bigger-biggest aesthetic is completely at odds with what great comedy is all about; too many of the gags here fall flatter than a pancake as a result. Precision timing is tossed to the wayside so that we can get an eyeful of the money being spent at every opportunity: the opening dedication to Laurel & Hardy may be well-meant, but the 150 minutes that follow make such sentiments ring hollow when you consider the combined budget of EVERY short and feature Stan & Ollie made is less than what this white elephant cost to produce. Still, THE GREAT RACE ain't ALL velvet curtains and Busby Berkeley pie fights. The late Jack Lemmon, nicely abetted by Peter Falk, makes this elephantine epic worth investing in a beaded seat-cushion to sit through. His dual turn as Professor Fate and the Prince of Potsdorf is deliriously, enthrallingly over the top. Rarely did Lemmon throw caution to the wind like this; you'll wish he did it more often after watching him release his deranged comic muse out of its cage. Subtle it ain't, but that's the joy of it. And as soon as the plot extricates itself from his crazed grip to return to Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood, you'll appreciate his mustache-twirling bombast twice as much. Rarely mentioned when cineastes gather to collate the Jack Lemmon canon, THE GREAT RACE is nevertheless his finest comic turn; it's only due to Lemmon and Falk that you can refer to this overlong mess as a comedy at all. Put on a pot of strong coffee, pop this into the VCR and savor his deliciously shameless slapstick.
Rating: Summary: The Great Race is truly great ! Review: I saw this on the Big Screen when it was originally released and have been laughing ever since. When VCR's came out it was one of the first two movies I purchased---having the luxury of viewing it whenever I wished was well worth the price of the initial release. A well done spoof of many classics. Push the button Max (the play button and we'll watch it once more).
Rating: Summary: One of the best movie of my life. Review: I've seen this movie first time I was 8 or 9 years old in Japan. I did't know Jack Lemmon or Tony Curtis, I knew Natle Wood, She was very popular actress in Japan. But in this movie I love Jack Lemmon. Who is this guy? I find out he was big star in US. I saw this movie over 30 times. Now I have a video(I hope DVD coming out soon). I've been watching this movie sometime at home. I enjoy everytime I watch.
Rating: Summary: Pure magic Review: I once read about a lady who had seen 'The sound of music' 50 times. Well, I'll probably beat her when it comes to 'The great race'. Not yet; I've only seen it 18 times. But I still have a few years to go. Now then. As a comedy, this is a perfect movie. It has all the ingredients: the hero, the bad guy, the lovely lady, lots of around-the-world action and classic slapstick (the movie is dedicated to Laurel & Hardy, and it's easy to see why). But, far more important: I saw it five times in my early youth, and it established my picture of the world. There's good guys, and bad guys (who aren't so bad after all) and lovely ladies ... Well, you can imagine what this movie did to me. Buy this video, enjoy it yourself, and then show it to your (young) kids. It's a blessing.
Rating: Summary: Now, will you give me some fightin' room ? Review: From beginning to end, an homage to the great films of the 1920's, when heroes wore white and they sparkled, the villians were in black and employed the most devilish laughter, plots and crimes. Of course, the lovely damsel - part B&*^% and part angel, beautiful and exasperating. The photography is wonderful, but will never match the witty dialogue and the classic set ups for pratfalls and schemes-gone-bad. This is a put-on-your-comfy-jammies and pop-some-corn kind of movie. It's lengthy, but truly funny and moves right along. For me, I love " push the button, Max " and " come and get it ! " - with the obvious retort from Fate and Max. Just relax and enjoy and hope this hits DVD soon !
Rating: Summary: lavish and delightful fare Review: Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis are wonderful in Blake Edwards' classic turn-of-the-century comedy THE GREAT RACE.The "race" referred to is one that starts in New York, and finishes in Paris, and the contestants include The Great Leslie (Tony Curtis), Professor Fate (Jack Lemmon), and Maggie DuBois (Natalie Wood), who is covering the race for the New York Sentinel. Along the impossible journey, the group gets into plenty of scrapes, including a Royal masquerade situation, and getting stranded on an iceberg in the Antartic! Despite all this, Maggie still manages to look God-damn gorgeous in some beautiful Edith Head creations. Also featuring Peter Falk, Vivian Vance and Dorothy Provine, and the beautiful song "The Sweetheart Tree", THE GREAT RACE is a classic movie the whole family will love.
Rating: Summary: International Cast in Fun Fun Fun Film! Review: With the new invention of the automobile, it was inevidable to test-drive these jalopes, to find out "who's the fastest?". -- The International competition is on! Who can drive through several countries' borders and be the first to reach the Eiffel Tower in Paris? Of course there's the usual foul play, sore losers and pretty ladies to considerably slow down mortal men; all together making for a fun adventure to enjoy from the comfort of your living room. The only way to top this experience is to see this gem at a theater (like I did when I was 8 years old). This film is great fun for the whole family. Enjoy!
Rating: Summary: a great comedy Review: This is a comedy for everyone! The pace is brisk, the sets sumptious, the costumes are fabulous and the comedy just keeps rolling! Tony Curtis is a dashing hero. Jack Lemmon is a dastardly villian and the exquisite Natalie Wood is hilarious as the heroine! The cameos and guest stars just keep popping up all over the place! It only proves that you don't need bathroom humor and mindless sex jokes to make a great comedy. Hats off to Blake Edwards!
Rating: Summary: DVD Please Review: This is a funny and engaging movie, with a great cast! When are they going to put it out in DVD. I hate to see all that other trash they are producing in DVD when super movies like this are left to languish on VHS.
Rating: Summary: Classic Comedy Review: I first saw this movie in a theater as a teen with several friends. We all laughed until our sides ached. During the following few days I took everyone in my family to see it. To this day it is a favorite of all of us. This isn't a smart or sophisticated film, but rather a slapstick romp of epic proportions. It's loaded with sight gags and funny lines and you have to keep your eyes and ears open to catch it all. Curtis, Lemmon and Wood are excellent as the classic hero, villain, and damsel in (not so much) distress, but perhaps the most notable contributions come from some of the other players. Most notable in this regard is Peter Falk, who is outstanding as Professor Fate's (Lemmon) assistant, Max. The beginning sets the tone. The Great Leslie (Curtis) and Fate are arch rivals, and they don't much like each other, either. Of course Fate always comes out on the short end of everything. Enter Wood as "emancipated" Maggie DuBois (the setting is the beginning of the 20th century) and the race is on. Though it is long, the movie has lots of great sequences. The opening exhibitions by Leslie and Fate, the beginning of the race(where Max has sabotaged other cars), the saloon fight in Boracho, floating on the iceberg, the duel, and the pie fight, just to mention some of them. Invite some friends, make lots of popcorn, slide this video into your VCR and start it up. It may be a bit corny (that's sort of the idea), but if you don't find yourself laughing out loud, your funnybone's out of whack.
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