Review of Grand Prix (1966) by Stephen C — 20 Jul 2014

For those in the know its my belief That director John Frankenheimer was the link between the old Hollywood studio system and the movie brats who followed in the 1970s.

Several of Frankenheimer films made in the 60s are rightly regarded as classics of there time and even his lesser works have plenty to keep most folks interested.

The story here is of course the lives and loves of several drivers competing in the F1 Grand Prix's.

James Garner is the American driver with a point to prove after causing a massive shunt at the start of the film .

Garner did most of his own driving and he really could of had a career as an F1 driver.

Yves Montard is great as the driver who ahs seen it all and just wants to survive and Brian Bedford plays the driver with a unfaithful wife and the shadow of his dead brother playing havoc with his career.

The truth is these domestic issues take away from the films best quality and that the racing consequences .

Even in todays real of CGI Frankenheimer and Saul Bass really give you a terrifying insight in to how deadly F1 was in the 60s.

The Monza sequence alone is pretty hair raising and its to the directors credit that all the race featured feel different despite the fact its just cars going round a track.

Saul Bass works alongside the director and his montages add plenty of excitement to already heady mix of thrills and spills.

So if you can bypass some iffy script problems this one is a real podium finish .