The Great Race (1965)

VHS CASE/SIDE

MPAA Certificate Number: 20800

Length of film:  160 Minutes

Rated: Passed (PG)

Genre: Comedy. Action, Adventure

Director: Blake Edwards

Starring: Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmonm Peter Falk, Keenan Wynn, Arthur O’Connell, Vivian Vance, Dorothy Provine

IMDB Rank: 7.3/10

Part 1 Time:  90 Minutes

Part 2 Time:  70 Minutes

Where does the first part end? The remaining contestants are now in Alaska. How will they get across the Pacific Ocean? Who will ultimately be the victor?

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “Rise and shine, Max, Max, help!”- Professor Fate (Jack Lemmon) falls into the pacific ocean.

First line of dialogue on the second part: “Your wasting your time”- Professor Fate and Max (Peter Falk) speak to The Great Leslie (Tony Curtis) who is trying to figure out how they will get off the chuck of ice.,

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Minimal, all characters are stuck together floating on a chunk of ice. They have survived the night.

Which part is better? Part one has many more humorous moments with Professor Fate continuously trying to sabotage The Great Leslie in many creative ways. Part two begins a more serious tone, but picks up on the humour part way through. Part two is given a slight edge as we are able to see the conclusion of the race as well as the most epic pie fight in cinema history.

Academy Awards: Best Effects- Sound Effects, Best Cinematography-Colour (Nominated), Best Sound (Nominated), Best Film Editing (Nominated), Best Music- Original Song (“The Sweetheart Tree”- Nominated)