Films about Le Mans

[Nick M]

Having finally managed to watch Truth in 24 in HD on a proper TV screen (thank you Apple TV !!), I'm of the view that this is one of the few films which truly captures the depth of Le Mans - the preparation, the people, the race itself - and brings home the fact that's it's a race for the full 24 hours, not just the bits I happen to be awake / sober for...

Which got me to thinking about my collection of Le Mans films and whether there were any others I should check out. And maybe even non-Le Mans films which people have seen and enjoyed.

Given I'm not sat in front of my DVD cabinet right now I'm going to struggle to list them all, but (with the aid of Amazon ) a few of the ones I've got are listed below:

- Le Mans
- La Ronde Infernale
- The Speed Merchants
- Truth in 24
- Annual reviews from various years, including 1988 and 1990
- Licence to Le Mans
- In the Lap of the Gods
- One Hell of a Weekend
- The Jaguar's Roar
- An ACO (I think) DVD covering the history of Le Mans, but can't remember its title
- This Time Tomorrw / Target 200
- Racing Through Time - Great Sports Cars of the 70's
- Chasing the Dream
- Racing Through Time - The Cat Came Back - Jaguar's ReturntTo Le Mans
- Roaring To Victory - Jaguar Story from 1985-88 Le Mans
- In Car 956
- The Battle of Le Sarthe (Strakka Racing DVD)

I know there was a French film, "Vaillant", but I've not got round to looking for that. Remember watching them filming it one year during the race (they used a Lola and / or a Corvetter as I recall), but no idea if it's any good.

Oh, and I deliberately don't have "The Deadliest Crash" - still not sure how I feel about that film...

So, any I may have missed ??

[DS240]

Agree, I think the truth in 24 is one of the best films (audi advert) made.

I like the McQueen Le Mans for the period shots and it has the same sense of building up to the race. I think it is better than it is given credit for.

The deadliest crash was more of a documentary if my memory is right. It was alright and covered the subject appropriately.

[Truckosaurus]

Nick M said:

I know there was a French film, "Vaillant", but I've not got round to looking for that. Remember watching them filming it one year during the race (they used a Lola and / or a Corvetter as I recall), but no idea if it's any good.

"Michel Vaillant" => http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307156/

I have a copy on DVD.

They ran a Lola and a Panoz in the 24hrs.

Some good LM footage, but also has rallying and saloon car races in the very weak plot.

Stars that Diane Kruger sort before she was a big Hollywood star.

[leyorkie]

IIRC I have an old VHS called "A Fast Drive in the Country it's a history of Le Mans introduced by James Coburn
It's a documenty but lots of old clips.

[neilatter]

You haven't got 'Speed Tribe' on there....

Linky to promo trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8uyuAgirTw&fea...

[Nick M]

leyorkie said:

IIRC I have an old VHS called "A Fast Drive in the Country it's a history of Le Mans introduced by James Coburn
It's a documenty but lots of old clips.

Have that on my Amazon wish list !

[Nick M]

neilatter said:

You haven't got 'Speed Tribe' on there....

Oooh, good call - had forgotten that one !

I've got it as well, although it seems more like a film which happens to have some clips from Le Mans, than a film about Le Mans which happens to have some funky special effects and soundtrack.

[Nick M]

DS240 said:

The deadliest crash was more of a documentary if my memory is right. It was alright and covered the subject appropriately.

Saw it a while ago. It was very well done, and not at all sensationalist, but it still strikes me as a 'difficult' subject to do justice to given the number of people who died.

Would you, for example, make a documentary about Hillsborough ?

[L500]

In-car 956 footage from Derek Bell amazing. 'Relaxing' on the Mulsanne. Fantastic. Although Ikyx takes him towards the end of the lap...!

[DS240]

Nick M said:

Saw it a while ago. It was very well done, and not at all sensationalist, but it still strikes me as a 'difficult' subject to do justice to given the number of people who died.

Would you, for example, make a documentary about Hillsborough ?

Don't see why not. If it fact based, I see no reason not to do a documentary about most things. They may be sensitive or graphic, but it is history, it happenned so lets understand it. There have been films and documentaries about things like the world trade centre and world war 1/2, concentration camps etc.

[Nick M]

DS240 said:

Don't see why not. If it fact based, I see no reason not to do a documentary about most things. They may be sensitive or graphic, but it is history, it happenned so lets understand it. There have been films and documentaries about things like the world trade centre and world war 1/2, concentration camps etc.

Fair points. I guess it's a case of it being something relevant to a sporting event I have been interested in from when I first saw 'Le Mans' back in the 70's, rather something I can't directly relate to such as WWII or the world trade centre.

[NeilChills]

What about McLaren at Le Mans: Pursuit of Perfection.

Covers the 1995 victory with great driver interviews...JJ Lehto cheeky grim when asked if he is running over the kerbs and bending the suspension is quality.

Derek Bell in the pits watching Justin leading in the Harrods car are nail-biting...

[Nick M]

NeilChills said:

What about McLaren at Le Mans: Pursuit of Perfection.

Not heard of that one ! Will have to go and check that out - sounds interesting !

[lost in espace]

I am wondering if they will show another film this year on the Thursday? night. Last year watching Le Mans on the start finish straight was amazing.

[tvrman]

Also Noel Edmonds - Le Mans Dream

Quite good at getting the emotion captured.

Diffiuclt to find a copy though. Ian

[Yiliterate]

tvrman said:

Also Noel Edmonds - Le Mans Dream

Quite good at getting the emotion captured.

Diffiuclt to find a copy though. Ian

How much do you reckon the director had to hassle and/or bribe the pit crew to allow Noel to do the re-fuel...?!

[williamp]

Yiliterate said:

tvrman said:

Also Noel Edmonds - Le Mans Dream

Quite good at getting the emotion captured.

Diffiuclt to find a copy though. Ian

How much do you reckon the director had to hassle and/or bribe the pit crew to allow Noel to do the re-fuel...?!

It was his team, wasnt it? So hes the boss, he drives/refuels/sits back and watches.

Havent seen it in ages, but it was opn youtube a while back (cant find it now though)

[BryanC]

Here's and oddball '23:58' - not cars but bikes. A very rare movie and saw it a good few years ago at an arthouse but it never got repeated or issued on DVD.

http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/79910/23-58.ht...

Its about some guys wanting to rob the ticket office while everybody else is watching the race. Who would be looking at the box office when the race winner is about to be celebrated.

Cos it is not in circulation, i'll give the spoiler...
- one of the gang gave the game away to a nosey cop and he was there waiting to make the arrest.

......................now thats an idea eh ?

Stay Cool..

[gt6]

tvrman said:

Also Noel Edmonds - Le Mans Dream

Quite good at getting the emotion captured.

Diffiuclt to find a copy though. Ian

i was ther that year and watched from the other side of the start finish straight, full credit to him that he decided very early on in the build up that he was not good enough to race and supported the team the best way he could, he stayed in the pit lane the full 24 hours and helped raised the profile of the 24 hours at a time when the TV stations did not want to know

[thanetspeedshop]

Surreally spaced out piece of film making; Le mans 1970:

http://www.fatracing.co.uk/?p=1084