The Great Race (1965)

Great Race, The (1965, USA) C-150m. SCOPE **½ D: Blake Edwards. Starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Peter Falk, Keenan Wynn, Arthur O'Connell, Vivian Vance. After the first two PINK PANTHER films, director Edwards turned to this big, generally enjoyable comedy about a 20,000 mile car race from New York to Paris. Evil professor Lemmon and his bumbling assistant Falk intend to outdo playboy Curtis and try to sabotage him at every turn. Feminist Wood, a reporter who competes in the race herself, plays the love interest. Starts well but bogs down, especially towards the end as the episodes begin to lose steam. Lemmon and Falk are a great team, though, in this attempt at epic comedy. It's just not consistently funny. Good score by Henry Mancini. Won an Oscar for Best Effects. Dedicated to Mr Laurel and Mr Hardy!


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© Ron Altman