The Great Race

Buy This Item The Great Race by Warner Home Video  Available from Amazon  $14.99  on 9-20-2008     Director Blake Edwards, fresh from the success of the first two Pink Panther movies, indulged his love of classic slapstick comedy with this long free-for-all, which throws in everything but Laurel and Hardy's kitchen sink. The film reunites <I>Some Like It Hot</I> stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, ably aided by a spunky Natalie Wood. The subject is a New-York-to-Paris auto race in the early years of the 20th century, pitting the Great Leslie (Curtis), a goody-goody dressed all in white--even his teeth sparkle--against the malevolent Professor Fate (Lemmon), whose coal-black heart is reflected in his handlebar mustache. He looks like a bill collector from a silent- movie melodrama. Lemmon does double duty, also playing the pampered, drunken king of a small European country, whose laugh sounds like the wail of a cat in heat. The film may be too long for its own good, and you really have to love Jack Lemmon to put up with his over-the-top performance, but it's side-splitting in spots. It's one of those movies, if seen in childhood, that stays in your mind for years afterward. Some of the bigger routines, such as a pie fight of epic proportions, don't work as well as the simple chemistry between the perpetually exasperated Professor Fate and his much-abused assistant, Max (a terrific Peter Falk). Push the button, Max. <I>--Robert Horton</I> Reader Reviews I loved this movie when it was first released and I always have a DVD copy with me in my house. My kids and grandkids love it. The Henry Mancini music is great and the over the top acting is a visual and audible treat. Every movie gag is in this movie and in my family we all know them by heart. More Pies!!

The Great Race Available from Amazon Price: $14.99 Updated on 9-20-2008.

SPONSORED LINKS