Why Grand Prix is (and isn't) the best racing film ever

This movie used every single Panavision 65mm camera on Earth that the time. Literally every one.

It is.

Love this movie.

I've always loved this movie. IMO, those were the coolest F1 cars ever. No aero, no sponsors. All driver skill. And they just look and sound cool.

Grand Prix is tops, even despite the lagging story line. The POV (Point-Of-View) cinematography using the specially designed "high tech" remote cameras throughout the film are "jaw dropping" writ large! The first and last races shine most at Monte Carlo and Monza, with the filming at Monza being next-level breath taking! Add to it the voiceovers describing of drivers negotiating slip-streaming, plus a narrow track with steep banking - with NO F*CKING SEATBELTS - at 180mph (290kph) is just absolute dumbfounding! I've watched every racing film back to The Crowd Roars (1932 film) with James Cagney, and Grand Prix gets the number one spot. I'm glad I got to view this film as intended on the big screen in Panavision where it truly shines.

I have watched this movie three or four times...I think that I will take a break but at some
point I will see it again...Car guys get it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My favorite cartoon as a kid was Speed Racer, and it was because of the engine soundtrack. Music to my ears.

The romantic interludes were so slow and drawn out.

The cinematography was fantastic the editing was Superior and was shot on utlra panavison 70 mm Cinerama I saw on the big screen it was a visual treat

Best racing movie ever made.

A person who knows nothing about racing reviews a racing movie. 🐨

Best racing movie of all time. And an example of how real life later imitated art, rather than vice versa. I could not believe how Nikki Lauda’s actual life followed the Scott Stoddard story - serious crash, followed by difficult recovery, and rejoining before the same season’s end to finish second behind James Hunt.

Always wondered why Studdard had Stewart's helmet. Same for the other actors woth their helmets.
Only now I realize it was so they could use real footage from the actual drivers.

Francoise Hardy is in it... nuff said.

I remember seeing this on Encore here in the states when I was 15. The soap opera stuff was worth watching to get to the racing scenes. Seeing the old Monza with the banking was mindblowing!

They showed it at the Empire cinema in Morecambe on it's release. At seven years old I nagged my Grandfather to take me to see it. Over fifty years later I still love Formula One and it's all down to this film.

if you’re looking for a feature, double check out Le Mans 😂 1971, starring Steve McQueen. and there’s a bit of a backstory to the film. Originally Steve McQueen supposed to star in the film, but didn’t show enough interest according to the director, so he went with James Conner.

So, I know it's like three years since you made this video. But it showed up on my timeline, and I had to chime in. I was born and raised in Indianapolis. And though I love the ovals (don't hate on me yet), I was then and remain a huge F1 fan. I just love racing overall. And it's been nirvana the last decade or so that Monaco, Indy, and Charlotte NASCAR races have been all on the same day. Jim Clark won Indy the year I was born (1965). And he was my first racing hero. Grand Prix was my favorite racing movie from when I was a young bloke. But I do have to agree with your final conclusion. Watch Le Mans then go see Grand Prix. (BTW, James Garner and Steve McQueen were my heroes as a kid too). Grand Prix and Le Mans are truly the best racing movies of all time. There are other "good" ones. But nothing comes close. But don't hate on Grand Prix too much. The dramatic storyline helped it actually make money. Steve McQueen was many years after attempting to recover from the financial loss he took on Le Mans. But it is truly fantastic and a real joy for a fan of motorsport.

Bernard Cahier was also in the group scene...

Cannot stand CGI and will be the downfall of Movies and acting. So, something real like this and La Mans I truly like and needless to say own both on DVD. RUSH (Ron Howard Film) was pretty good and own on DVD but way too much CGI.

Best racing film period, no equals

It’s one of my favorite films ever!

To this day my favorite motorsport themed film of all time. James Garner was seriously bitten by the racing bug during the filming. It led him to hopping into a race car any and every chance he got, from then on. And a friendly racing rivalry with his friends Paul Newman & Steve McQueen.

Enzo Ferrari at first wanted nothing to do with it. Initially he wouldn’t even allow the ‘Ferrari’ name to be used. But after director John Frankenheimer convinced Enzo to sit down with him & watch some of the racing scenes, he decided that he in fact loved it. Allowing the film nearly complete access to everything. Seems quite the ‘Ferrari’ approach to things. 🤣

🛑🛑 Keep In Racing Boys!!

No Safety Car Back Then!
😂👍💯

this is one i havent seen, but i do like a lot of the folks in it. for me, Rush takes it as the best racing film. the actors portrayed the real people beautifully, even including mechanics and pit crew. watch old 70s footage of F1 and its nuts how well they matched the looks of the real people. and come on, who cant love a film about hunt and lauda?!

It still is the best ever. The first racing movie that was worthy was the 'Racers' with Kirk Douglas,. Cesar Romero, Gilbert Roland; good movie AND story.. Then came 'Grand Prix. Beautiful story, with Montand and St. Marie stealing the movie, plus the special effects and cars were par excellance! After that 'LeMans' is absolutely on par with the Frankenheimer film but lacks the story. Nonetheless, these 3 are the best ever made about racing.

A rather plebeian review.

AWESOME

Greatest film ever made

Ther are no feeshh in this lakee

Yeah it's hard to imagine but in 66 nobody used seat belts in Racing insisting that it's better to get thrown clear than risk dying by fire.

I had now to watch the hole movie an i was flashed.

Watched for 43 seconds before clicking away. You speak annoyingly fast. It sickens me on many levels.

Saw this when I was 9 or 10 years old. Made me an F1 fan to this day !! Loved the car’s & racing scenes!!!

I've stopped counting how many times i've watched this movie and LeMans. I have both on DVD. Saw them when they were first released at my local cinema.

Nice film, nice video. But the clip at 7.15 Stoddard isn't getting into a Vanwall, it's a Lotus 16.

Fun fact, James Garner was the only actor to do his own driving for close up shots. Also, for those shots they used F2 cars, which back then were very hard to distinguish from F1 cars. Also, olb Monza is just so cool.

The crazy thing i learned about this movie is every crash besides the Monaco hill crash at the start and the Monza crash is all based off what happened in the Grand Prixs

ARON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RAHHHHHH🇺🇲🦅🇺🇲🦅🇺🇲🦅🇺🇲🦅🇺🇲🦅🇺🇲🦅🇺🇲

The very first DTS!

Francoise Hardy is in this film.
Makes sense, she was often pictured with F1 cars back in the 60s.