Grand Prix (1966)

Classic portrait of an era

If you're a vintage racing fan, Grand Prix needs no review: it's a remarkable document of the golden age of racing, made at a time when the real cars -- and drivers -- were available. Phil Hill's recent passing reminded us of what we've lost.

If you're a film enthusiast, and maybe not so knowledgeable about 1960s Formula One, Frankenheimer's work still delivers. The cinematography is superb, and the script provides a fascinating look into the social scene and competitive aspects of racing back then. It's educational, without the burden of being a documentary, and apart from the overture and intermission segments it's easy to forget you're watching a 1966 movie. And it has a bit of substance: 1960s racers risked their lives in every race, much more so than F1 drivers do today in their much more elaborate cars. The spectre of death, and the sense that some onlookers might be there for the carnage, weighed on at least some of the drivers who were there for the sport. Grand Prix acknowledges this.

Grand Prix may be the best racing movie ever made. McQueen's LeMans in 1971 (he was originally supposed to be in Grand Prix) is a cult classic for diehard race fans, but almost devoid of plot or dialogue. I'm a big fan but would hesitate to recommend to anyone who isn't a gearhead. Grand Prix, on the other hand, should be very enjoyable to almost anyone with an appreciation of the era.

The extras included in the two-DVD set are also very good, and you can watch them prior to the film if you're among those whose knowledge of Formula One is minimal.
December 16, 2008

Grand Prix review

Great movie from the sixties, I remember vaguely some of the highlights but now I was able to relive it. I am very pleased. November 24, 2008

Grand Prix

Excellent "car guys" movie, I forgot the excitement and real beauty of the photography and music. The audio and video are superb in this race fans classic. If you ever enjoyed Formula 1 racing, this is the one to watch on wide screen with 5.1 sound. It is really beautiful. November 23, 2008

Grand Prix Deja Vu

This is re-release of the Movie Grand Prix with remastered audio. The movie is completely true to the original (including having an intermission and disk change) and the 5.1 audio is outstanding, you should really have your system hooked to a sound system to get the benefit of the music, sound effects and ambience.
The movie places you in the drivers cockpit of a "Formula 1" grand prix racer. What you see on the screen is exactly what the driver is seeing and doing. The actors were sent to Bob Boundrant High Performance driving school and they are really driving the race cars. This is the movie that got me convinced to get my SCCA regional license and start racing for real.
It shows it like it actually is.
November 16, 2008

Grand Prix

This is one of my favorite movies of all I. I couldn't wait for them to come out with this in DVD and now I have it Excellent. September 19, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...