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The Great Race
1965 160 min United States of America 0+
★7.8
Comedy, Adventure, Action, Romance, Western, Family
Director: Blake Edwards
Trailers
Description
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.
Budget:
$12M
Worldwide:
$25.3M
Starring
Tony Curtis
Actor
Natalie Wood
Actor
Jack Lemmon
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1966
— Best Sound Effects
Moscow International Film Festival 1965
— Silver Prize
Academy Awards 1966
— Best Original Song
Saturn Awards 2003
— Best DVD Edition of a Classic Film
Moscow International Film Festival 1965
— Main Prize
Golden Globe 1966
— Best Picture (Comedy or Musical)
Academy Awards 1966
— Best Cinematography (Color)
Golden Globe 1966
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
Golden Globe 1966
— Best Original Song
Golden Globe 1966
— Best Original Score
Academy Awards 1966
— Best Sound
Moscow International Film Festival 1965
— Silver Prize
Key opinion
The Great Race is widely regarded as a lighthearted, nostalgic slapstick classic that excels through the comedic synergy of its cast. While some viewers feel the film suffers from an overlong runtime and repetitive gags, most audiences appreciate its charming, family-friendly atmosphere and iconic performances.
| Acting | Jack Lemmon's dual performance as Professor Fate and the drunken prince anchors the film's comedic success | |
| Humor | The slapstick sequences, particularly the legendary cake-throwing scene, remain iconic highlights of the genre | |
| Score | Henry Mancini's score and Russell Harlan's cinematography successfully craft a vibrant, retro aesthetic | |
| Pacing | The film's nearly three-hour duration divides audiences between those who enjoy the leisurely, episodic pacing and those who find the narrative repetitive or bloated | |
| Screenplay | While many praise the movie as a harmless, timeless adventure, some critics feel the structural lack of coherence and excessive reliance on repetitive gags hinder the overall narrative quality |