1970’s GP footage
Discussion
I just watched the Grand Prix 1977 DVD from Duke Video
Whilst quite entertaining it was mostly pit lane footage with a modern day commentator dubbed over it. What little on track action that was included looked like it was shot at quite a distance from the edge of the track, from fixed cameras with no pan or zoom and, mostly from the pit and grandstand areas with no outfield footage. Also there was no interview footage with any of the drivers. Is this because?
a) The footage doesn’t exist.
b) Before FOCA the copyright was owned by myriad TV companies so it’s difficult to consolidate it into one documentary
c) 70’s TV Camera and outside broadcast technology wasn’t good enough to film F1 cars at speed so they stuck to pit lane and fixed position shots
On the plus side the pit lane footage was very atmospheric and nostalgic and they caught some very candid moments like James Hunt having a moan at Colin Chapman on the pit wall after he and Andretti had come together. One exception to the lack of on track footage was Monaco which was sensational.
I’m not sure I’ll get any more from the 70’s range if they are all like this though. Are the early official FOCA ones from 84 on the same?
Whilst quite entertaining it was mostly pit lane footage with a modern day commentator dubbed over it. What little on track action that was included looked like it was shot at quite a distance from the edge of the track, from fixed cameras with no pan or zoom and, mostly from the pit and grandstand areas with no outfield footage. Also there was no interview footage with any of the drivers. Is this because?
a) The footage doesn’t exist.
b) Before FOCA the copyright was owned by myriad TV companies so it’s difficult to consolidate it into one documentary
c) 70’s TV Camera and outside broadcast technology wasn’t good enough to film F1 cars at speed so they stuck to pit lane and fixed position shots
On the plus side the pit lane footage was very atmospheric and nostalgic and they caught some very candid moments like James Hunt having a moan at Colin Chapman on the pit wall after he and Andretti had come together. One exception to the lack of on track footage was Monaco which was sensational.
I’m not sure I’ll get any more from the 70’s range if they are all like this though. Are the early official FOCA ones from 84 on the same?
It's a combination of a), b) and c).
From about 1970 onwards, TV coverage wasn't too bad at all - colour(sometimes), reasonable number of cameras etc. The problem is, a lot of the video tapes were wiped after transmission so none or only some of the races survive on tape. I have seen some tantalising clips of the 1970 Monaco GP and the 1973 British and German GPs. I remember clearly watching the 1974 Monaco GP live on TV.
Look on youtube for the 1970 Monaco GP clips. The original was shown in colour and some of the clips I have seen are these colour images. However, the longest clip of the 1970 Monaco GP I have seen was the clip on youtube and it is the same footage, only in black and white. It seems to have a Scandanavian commentary so it was probably shown at a time when Scandanavian TV was still monochrome, even though the feed coming in from Monaco was in colour.
FOCA took over the rights from the 1981 season onwards so highlights of all the races from 1981 onwards are available in these FOCA packaged videos and DVDs.
The Duke video you were looking it is probably the well known Brunswick series which ran from 1970 to 1980. They were commissioned by Marlboro and were available at one time as a "Marlboro Collection". The footage shot at the races was nothing to do with the TV coverage of the day and was limited by the paucity of cameramen used by Brunswick. The commentary is of the time, although they does contain some mistakes and some weird pronunciations.
Indeed, in the early years, some of the countries where GPs were held (South Africa, for instance) had no TV AT ALL so there was no TV footage EVER of SA GP races until the mid 1970s).
From about 1970 onwards, TV coverage wasn't too bad at all - colour(sometimes), reasonable number of cameras etc. The problem is, a lot of the video tapes were wiped after transmission so none or only some of the races survive on tape. I have seen some tantalising clips of the 1970 Monaco GP and the 1973 British and German GPs. I remember clearly watching the 1974 Monaco GP live on TV.
Look on youtube for the 1970 Monaco GP clips. The original was shown in colour and some of the clips I have seen are these colour images. However, the longest clip of the 1970 Monaco GP I have seen was the clip on youtube and it is the same footage, only in black and white. It seems to have a Scandanavian commentary so it was probably shown at a time when Scandanavian TV was still monochrome, even though the feed coming in from Monaco was in colour.
FOCA took over the rights from the 1981 season onwards so highlights of all the races from 1981 onwards are available in these FOCA packaged videos and DVDs.
The Duke video you were looking it is probably the well known Brunswick series which ran from 1970 to 1980. They were commissioned by Marlboro and were available at one time as a "Marlboro Collection". The footage shot at the races was nothing to do with the TV coverage of the day and was limited by the paucity of cameramen used by Brunswick. The commentary is of the time, although they does contain some mistakes and some weird pronunciations.
Indeed, in the early years, some of the countries where GPs were held (South Africa, for instance) had no TV AT ALL so there was no TV footage EVER of SA GP races until the mid 1970s).
The footage certainly exists, although quality was very much up to the host broadcaster. In 1977, 52 countries took footage (please don't ask how I know), excluding the BBC who were asking every sponsor to reduce their logos to 5" tall.
I can remember back in 1973 that the BBC not only covered the British Grand Prix, but also footage from Austria (nice shots in the outfield) and Germany (I distinctly recall a helicopter following the Stewart-Cevert demonstration)
I can remember back in 1973 that the BBC not only covered the British Grand Prix, but also footage from Austria (nice shots in the outfield) and Germany (I distinctly recall a helicopter following the Stewart-Cevert demonstration)
Eric Mc said:
The Duke video you were looking it is probably the well known Brunswick series which ran from 1970 to 1980. They were commissioned by Marlboro and were available at one time as a "Marlboro Collection". The footage shot at the races was nothing to do with the TV coverage of the day and was limited by the paucity of cameramen used by Brunswick. The commentary is of the time, although they does contain some mistakes and some weird pronunciations.
I'm pretty sure you're spot on there, Eric. My local branch of Blockbuster video used to stock a few of these and I hired them out when I was first getting into the sport a few years ago. The style very much reminded me of the supporting feature documentaries I used to see in the cinema in as a kid in the late '70s, the style of the time, I guess. Still some footage is better than none.
Also some very interesting points in your reply, thanks Eric.
Eric Mc said:
It's a combination of a), b) and c).
From about 1970 onwards, TV coverage wasn't too bad at all - colour(sometimes), reasonable number of cameras etc. The problem is, a lot of the video tapes were wiped after transmission so none or only some of the races survive on tape. I have seen some tantalising clips of the 1970 Monaco GP and the 1973 British and German GPs. I remember clearly watching the 1974 Monaco GP live on TV.
Look on youtube for the 1970 Monaco GP clips. The original was shown in colour and some of the clips I have seen are these colour images. However, the longest clip of the 1970 Monaco GP I have seen was the clip on youtube and it is the same footage, only in black and white. It seems to have a Scandanavian commentary so it was probably shown at a time when Scandanavian TV was still monochrome, even though the feed coming in from Monaco was in colour.
FOCA took over the rights from the 1981 season onwards so highlights of all the races from 1981 onwards are available in these FOCA packaged videos and DVDs.
The Duke video you were looking it is probably the well known Brunswick series which ran from 1970 to 1980. They were commissioned by Marlboro and were available at one time as a "Marlboro Collection". The footage shot at the races was nothing to do with the TV coverage of the day and was limited by the paucity of cameramen used by Brunswick. The commentary is of the time, although they does contain some mistakes and some weird pronunciations.
Indeed, in the early years, some of the countries where GPs were held (South Africa, for instance) had no TV AT ALL so there was no TV footage EVER of SA GP races until the mid 1970s).
From about 1970 onwards, TV coverage wasn't too bad at all - colour(sometimes), reasonable number of cameras etc. The problem is, a lot of the video tapes were wiped after transmission so none or only some of the races survive on tape. I have seen some tantalising clips of the 1970 Monaco GP and the 1973 British and German GPs. I remember clearly watching the 1974 Monaco GP live on TV.
Look on youtube for the 1970 Monaco GP clips. The original was shown in colour and some of the clips I have seen are these colour images. However, the longest clip of the 1970 Monaco GP I have seen was the clip on youtube and it is the same footage, only in black and white. It seems to have a Scandanavian commentary so it was probably shown at a time when Scandanavian TV was still monochrome, even though the feed coming in from Monaco was in colour.
FOCA took over the rights from the 1981 season onwards so highlights of all the races from 1981 onwards are available in these FOCA packaged videos and DVDs.
The Duke video you were looking it is probably the well known Brunswick series which ran from 1970 to 1980. They were commissioned by Marlboro and were available at one time as a "Marlboro Collection". The footage shot at the races was nothing to do with the TV coverage of the day and was limited by the paucity of cameramen used by Brunswick. The commentary is of the time, although they does contain some mistakes and some weird pronunciations.
Indeed, in the early years, some of the countries where GPs were held (South Africa, for instance) had no TV AT ALL so there was no TV footage EVER of SA GP races until the mid 1970s).
Thank Eric, an informative reply. Yes the one I have is the Brunswick one. That explains why it’s mostly just pit lane footage. I also didn’t know the FOCA videos ran from 81 on. I wish someone would do a FOCA style documentary on the 1970’s. (I also wish FOCA would start re-release some of the pre 2000 VHS tapes on DVD).
I have the 1981 and 1982 FOCA videos (VHS) they are both very good. The 1981 season was narrated by Simon Taylor and 1982 by Clive James. The 1983 video is a disaster - the footage is good but the commentary is AWFUL. They have a nasal, whiney New York accented lady asking dumb questions about each race. What WERE they thinking about?
Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 10th January 11:49
Eric Mc said:
I have the 1981 and 1982 FOCA videos (VHS) they are both very good. The 1981 season was narrated by Simon Taylor and 1982 by Clive James. The 1983 video is a disaster - the footage is good but the commentary is AWFUL. They have a nasal, whiney New York accented lady asking dumb questions about each race. What WERE they thinking about?
Wondered that myself. Moving on along the years, 84 and 86 were both narrated by Clive James as well. For 85 they had the bizarre idea of asking the top drivers to commentate. Even Senna sounds like he's lacking charisma here. Prost and Mansell...well, I'm sure you can imagine!
For 87 TOCA decided to recruit Peter Ustinov but although a wonderful raconteur, it doesn't work quite as well with the format as Clive James.
From 88 TOCA reverted to more established commentators, apart from '93 when Johnathan Ross was tried out, which didn't really work. From 94 onwards the commentary has been done in a news-style fashion which I've never really enjoyed - it just doesn't flow.
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