The Great Race
Seen it?1965 | 160 min | Comedy, Adventure, Romance
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It won an Oscar, it earned strong reviews (69% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics, anyone who wants a laugh and adventure fans. If you loved Back to the Future or Midnight in Paris, start here.
- The mood
- Light and funny, romantic.
- The pace
- Epic and sweeping, at 2 hr 40 min.
- What might put you off
- It's long: 2 hr 40 min.
- Made in 1965: an older pace and style.
Professional daredevil and white-suited hero, The Great Leslie, convinces turn-of-the-century auto makers that a race from New York to Paris (westward across America, the Bering Straight and Russia) will help to promote automobile sales. Leslie's arch-rival, the mustached and black-attired Professor Fate vows to beat Leslie to the finish line in a car of Fate's own invention.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
69% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Sound Effects. Also nominated for 4 more Oscars, 4 Golden Globes and 1 WGA Award. Plus 2 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$25 million worldwide on a $12 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 118K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Back to the Future
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed adventure.
Midnight in Paris Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed romantic comedy.
Ninotchka Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed romantic comedy that fewer people know today.
Around the World in 80 Days
Weeknight WatchAnother adventure, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo Weeknight WatchAnother romantic comedy, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Blake Edwards
- Jack LemmonProfessor Fate
- Tony CurtisThe Great Leslie
- Natalie WoodMaggie Dubois
- Peter FalkMax
- Keenan WynnHezekiah
- Arthur O'ConnellHenry Goodbody
- Vivian VanceHester Goodbody
- Dorothy ProvineLily Olay
- Larry StorchTexas Jack
- Ross MartinRolfe Von Stuppe