Review of Le Mans (1971) by John L — 11 Sep 2007
The best racing movie ever. If you don't get it you never will.
Le Mans is a big race, and McQueen wanted to capture it. Firstly by documentary. He wanted to race himself co piloting Sir Jackie Stewart. The studio wouldn't let him do this. So he made a fictional account. Although both he and Jackie drove the Solar camera car in the 1970 race. The racing is the story, and the ending lives up to the hype. The off track plot is subtle and not distracting. It is a masterclass in acting with out words from McQueen and Elga Andersen, a German TV actor! If Oscars were given out for acting alone McQueen and Andersen should have taken both the acting prizes in `71. The race footage is made up of real footage from the 1970 race as well as staged action shot over months at the track, which is also a public road. A very good book about the making of the film 'A French Kiss with Death' is well worth a read.
This review of Le Mans (1971) was written by John L on 11 Sep 2007.
Le Mans has generally received positive reviews.
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