How about a trip around the world? That's what we have for you with 1965's "The Great Race", a film about two daredevils who challenge each other to a global car race from New York to Paris. The film's cast includes Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Peter Falk, Keenan Wynn, Arthur O'Connell, Vivian Vance, Dorothy Provine, and Ross Martin.
The Great Leslie and Professor Fate are both daredevils who perform stunts for the general enjoyment of their audiences.
While Professor Fate's stunts always end in failure, the Great Leslie enjoys enormous success. To say the two are each others' nemesis would be an understatement.
They get the idea to participate in a race around the world with the prize being ultimate bragging rights. Also joining the race is a feminist newspaperwoman named Maggie DuBois, who is intent on keeping up with the boys. The Great Leslie rides with his partner Hezekiah, while Professor Fate rides with his, the dimwitted Max.
On the way to the first stopover, a western town called Borracho, Professor Fate mistakes the town's welcoming committee for an imminent attack, which does not make them happy. His car is equipped with all sorts of devious tricks to evade them and give him an advantage.
The Great Leslie (now giving a lift to Ms. DuBois, whose car has broken down) arrives in the town to be feted and acclaimed by the populace.
That night, our race participants attend a reception with entertainments provided by the town beauty, Miss Lily Olay, who sings a spirited song entitled "He Shouldn'ta Hadn'ta Oughtn'ta Swang On Me", which is great fun.
During the song, Maggie gets a bit jealous at the attention that Leslie is paying to Miss Olay.
And it sure doesn't make her happy when Lily slaps her boa repeatedly in Maggie's face. When Leslie tries to get to know a little bit about Miss Olay, he asks her, "Are you a native of Borracho?" To which a stunned Miss Olay exclaims, "I ain't a native! I was born here!"
Things turn chilly when the group is en route to Alaska and has to stop on account of a blizzard. Naturally, Professor Fate and Max run into some trouble and have to get out of their car.
And just as they get out, a polar bear gets in. By the time they realize what's happening, the polar bear is comfortably settled in the back seat, which necessitates that Professor Fate and Max share a vehicle with Leslie and Maggie (without Hezekiah, who has mysteriously disappeared).
Things go from bad to worse when the ice their cars are on starts to melt and gets smaller and smaller. Have no fear though. Just in the nick of time, Hezekiah is there to rescue them.
After making it to Russia and driving through Eurasia, the group comes to the European capital of Potsdorf, whose inhabitants are very enthusiastic about the race coming to them.
The Great Leslie is greeted with much pomp and taken to the palace to meet Prince Hoepnick, the ruler of Potsdorf, who is due to have his coronation the next day.
Professor Fate and Max, however, unwittingly become part of a plot to overthrow the prince. With their very lives threatened, they are forced to participate in the coup.
Meanwhile, Leslie and Hezekiah are shocked to see that Prince Hoepnick looks exactly like Professor Fate. They can't believe their eyes. However, the man couldn't be more different in personality. To say his mental status is shaky would be kind. After walking a long way through the corridor, the Prince takes a big gulp of wine and says, "You know, there’s one
thing wrong with living in a palace. It takes so long to get from
one place to another.I live in a constant state of
exhaustion."
After a switcheroo, Professor Fate is forced to take the place of the Prince. He can't stand the Prince's dogs (something the Prince adores). And it's fun to watch him try and acclimate to the changes.
He is even supposed to stand in for the Prince at the coronation service the next day. Professor Fate can hardly believe what's happening. He wants desperately to get back to the race.
At the earliest opportunity, he makes a break for it. Running through the streets of Potsdorf in an effort to escape, he enters a bakery.
What follows is the most hysterical pie throwing scene you've ever had the privilege to witness! The real prince, Professor Fate, Max, Hezekiah, Maggie, and Leslie all participate in this hilarious sequence.
Here's a little info on the scene. Over 4,000 pies were used over the course of a five day shoot. Jack Lemmon bears the brunt of the pie throwing. At the final call of "cut", the entire cast and crew each had a pie which they then threw at him. The sequence cost about $200,000, which would be over $1.6 million today. Lemmon is absolutely hilarious to watch here. Well worth the 4 minutes.
At the end of the pie throwing, the real prince (now restored to his crown) waves the cars goodbye as they continue on with the race.
Our friends make a mad and frenzied dash to Paris. Both teams get there anxious to be the first at the finishing line.
I won't spoil it for you and tell you who wins (you'll have to watch to find out). But it's a close one right up until the end.
The winner decrees that there needs to be a rematch: another race, this time from Paris to New York. Cast rundown:
Jack Lemmon...........................Professor Fate/Prince Hoepnick
Tony Curtis..............................The Great Leslie
Ross Martin..............................Baron Rolfe Von Stuppe And that's it for The Great Race. Natalie Wood did not want to have a role in this film. She accepted it to get a part in a film that she really wanted. You would never know she was unhappy with this movie. She plays Maggie DuBois with a bubbly personality that you can't help but like. As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.
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