GrandPrix, LeMans and Bullitt - heads up.

[skeggysteve]

Mods I'll post this in the films forum aswell, just thought motorsport people would like to see it!

Spirit Level Films are doing a special offer, the 3 films on DVD for £14.97 + P&P.
I've no connection with the company, just thought it too good a deal to not share!

[Eric Mc]

Ironic as Steve McQueen was in on the early stages of what became "Grand Prix". Because he parted ways from that project, he went on to produce his own "Le Mans" instead.

[Mazda Baiter]

iirc it was a rival film.

Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart were signed up to McQueen, hence they aren't in Grand Prix. Then McQueen's funding fell through and Grand Prix went ahead. McQueen regrouped, then made Le Mans.

[Eric Mc]

The kick off point was the book "The Cruel Sport". McQueen was interested in a film based on the images shown in the book. He left the project early on however,

[FourWheelDrift]

McQueen's F1 film was going to be "Day of the Champion".

[skeggysteve]

Very interesting stuff, as ever PH is a fountain of knowledge.

However they came about both films, GrandPrix and LeMans, are very good!

[tr7v8]

Le Mans is better in my eyes than GP but both good.

[covboy]

Anyone here old enough to remember the Alan Whicker documentary about the filming of Grand Prix at Monaco?

Didn't really appreciate it at the time (hadn't got the same sort of interest then) but would be good to try and see it again

Seem to remember some weird insights (like F3 cars made up to look like F1 and allowed to start at the back of the grid ?)

(edit) Just found an intersting link

http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showtopic=26...

Edited by covboy on Friday 13th August 08:29

[Eric Mc]

I remember the documentary well. Bits of it (at least) have survived and can be seen on youtube. The bit I remember best was James Garner bhing about having to hang around in his wet clothes.

I wonder was it the first "making Of...." type documentaries?

[covboy]

I would also recommend “A French Kiss with death” which details the background to the story of the Le Mans film.

Some VERY interesting behind the scenes details.

[zac510]

On but also off topic, the BFI Southbank is having a Steve McQueen special this month:
http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_southbank/film_p...

There is only one screening of Bullitt but it would be a good chance to see it on the big screen.

[StevieBee]

Does anyone remember the BBC Drama series from the 80s that featured a housewife who took up racing - based around the silhouette series IIRC.

[Eric Mc]

FourWheelDrift said:

McQueen's F1 film was going to be "Day of the Champion".

Interesting psoter.

Here is the front cover of "The Cruel Sport".



Not a million miles apart.

[covboy]

StevieBee said:

Does anyone remember the BBC Drama series from the 80s that featured a housewife who took up racing - based around the silhouette series IIRC.

Was it Peter Baldwin doing the actual driving?. I remember them filming a number of actual races.

Must have been a bit fed up running round with a womans name on the car




edit

Found it
http://forums.autosport.com/lofiversion/index.php/...

Edited by covboy on Friday 13th August 10:12

[John_S4x4]

Can you get any of these cheap on BluRay yet ?

[FourWheelDrift]

Don't forget Roman Polanski's documentary on the Monaco GP with Jackie Stewart, Weekend of a Champion.

[cragswinter]

Eric Mc said:

I remember the documentary well. Bits of it (at least) have survived and can be seen on youtube. The bit I remember best was James Garner bhing about having to hang around in his wet clothes.

I wonder was it the first "making Of...." type documentaries?

buy the american two disc edition & the documentey is included

[CAD Monkey]

My father has the GP soundtrack on LP, its epic up loud on the stereo, the sound of a V12 Ferrari flat out at Spa. If i ever get round to recording it to digital, i will post the sound files.

[williamp]

FourWheelDrift said:

McQueen's F1 film was going to be "Day of the Champion".

Intersting: "now filming"

...I wonder if any footage exists. In any format

[FourWheelDrift]

1 million feet of footage was shot before it was canned when "Grand Prix" was released.

Information about the shoot, why it was canned and how McQueen didn't speak to Garner for 2 years is in this book where Robert Relyea, who worked for McQueen’s Solar Productions, writes about the race between John Frankenheimer and MGM vs. McQueen and Warner Bros. to produce a movie with Grand Prix racing as its theme. - http://www.amazon.com/Steve-McQueen-Tribute-King-C...