5 Reasons Why You Should Watch The Great Race (1965)

A battle of egos, sexes, and wits ensues when an unflappable hero (Tony Curtis), a blundering villain (Jack Lemmon), and a feisty suffragette (Natalie Wood) compete in an adventure filled automobile race from New York to Paris.

Ah, the 1960’s…that time in history when movies with ensemble casts, long running times and sizeable budgets ruled the box office. The decade that gave us The V. I. P.’s, How the West Was Won, and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

While some films of this category tend to wear out their welcome long before the credits roll, for me The Great Race is an exception.

The charm of the film lies in a purposefully overblown quality which allows the viewer to fully immerse themselves in the comedy and the bygone era it so beautifully depicts.

Yes, it is long; and no, it’s not a perfect film. But it is worth watching.

Here are 5 reasons you should sit back and get lost in the wonderfully wacky world of The Great Race…

1. Jack Lemmon’s Hilarious Performance(s)

Jack Lemmon pulls out all the stops as the dastardly Professor Fate intent on defeating, actually more like obliterating, The Great Leslie (Tony Curtis).

The only problem is, everything…and I mean everything, backfires on the guy and while he gleefully carries out his devious master plan, he is the one in trouble, not Leslie.

Accompanied by his inept, but trusty sidekick Max (Peter Falk), the two get in all kinds of hilarious scrapes much to the audience’s delight.

Lemmon is pitch perfect. In a film which could be described as maximalist, it is this versatile comedian’s performance which gives The Great Race most of its zest.

His diabolical laugh and delivery of lines such as “Push the button, Max!” will put a smile on your face and stay with you long after viewing.

2. Henry Mancini’s Lovely Score

Henry Mancini.

We are talking one of cinema’s greatest composers who penned such scores as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Pink Panther, and Charade.

While the music for The Great Race is not iconic, it undoubtedly has an old fashioned charm all its own, sending us back in time to its early twentieth century setting.

Mancini’s score hits all the right emotional tones from Professor Fate’s bumbling cues to the racer’s triumphant fanfares to the romantic love theme.

Fun fact: The Academy honored Mancini’s wistful tune “The Sweetheart Tree” with lyrics by Johnny Mercer (“Laura”) with a nomination for Best Song in 1966.

Also, can we talk about the design of those opening titles?! Just marvelous. And guess who’s tickling those ivories…Yep, Mancini himself.

3. The Incredible Visuals

The Great Race takes us on a madcap adventure from New York to Paris, through the Wild West to the savage Arctic, from a dusty, brawling barroom to a lavish European mansion. And it does it all with style and panache.

The production design on this movie is incredible. Mexican art director Fernando Carrere (The Great Escape, 1963) created a colorful, nostalgic world filled with early twentieth century modes of transportation at every turn.

And how about those cars? Leslie’s and Prof. Fate’s were made especially for the movie.

While a large portion of the film was shot on the backlot at Warner Bros. and in nearby outdoor locales, the production also utilizes beautiful European locations.

The Anif Palace and Salzburg Cathedral in Austria stood in for the fictional kingdom of Carpania with additional scenes filmed in Paris for the film’s climactic ending.

The Great Race shows off its high production values and attention to detail with color cinematography by Russell Harlan (To Kill A Mockingbird, 1962).

Harlan also garnered a nomination for his stunning work on the film along with Ralph Winters for Best Editing, but lost the statue to Doctor Zhivago and The Sound of Music, respectively.

As can be expected with a period piece, the atmosphere is a highlight of this film and the costume department went to town for it: Edith Head for Natalie Wood; and Donfeld, perhaps most famous for creating Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman costume, is credited alongside her.

4. A Screen Team Made in Heaven

Okay, so I’ve already mentioned Jack Lemmon, but when there’s a team this great it bears a mention all its own.

Lemmon and Curtis on the screen together again. Though it doesn’t come close to the brilliance of their work in Some Like it Hot, it’s still a barrel of fun seeing these two together. There’s no denying they had something special.

And when competing against each other it is a different dynamic, adding another layer to their onscreen chemistry.

Leslie is our hero – always dressed in white, always immaculate, organized, and successful. Fate is the complete opposite – wearing black, always disheveled, discombobulated, and unlucky. The contrast between the two can’t help but generate a few giggles (and a bit of sympathy for Fate).

5. The Classic Movie Nods

Director Blake Edwards’s roots in film history date back to his step-grandfather., J. Gordon Edwards, a silent film director. It is only natural that he would have a deep love and respect for the art form.

Edwards notably made slapstick fashionable again with his Pink Panther series and was continuing the tradition with The Great Race in his own distinctive style.

“This is a kind of cartoon I’ve presented with real-live people.”

Blake Edwards

The film is not only dedicated to Laurel and Hardy, it is a love letter to slapstick comedy with everything but the kitchen sink included: wild stunts, outrageous pratfalls, and sight gags.

Keep an eye out for the Prisoner of Zenda spoof and the most epic pie fight scene ever!

Closing Thoughts

The Great Race is a perfect rainy day film, its chaotic merriment and colorful characters will brighten the cloudiest of days.

Although humor comes in many different flavors, you may find that the ride with Tony, Natalie, and Jack is just the ticket when the need for adventure arises.

Just fasten your seatbelts and hang on…tight!

And now it’s over to you – What do you think of The Great Race?

…Let me know in the comments below…

This post is my contribution to The Travel Gone Wrong Blogathon hosted by 18 Cinema Lane. Thank you for letting me participate despite my late entry, Sally!

Click here to visit the rest of the fabulous travel themed entries!

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