MovieChat Forums > The Great Race (1965) Discussion > The Great Race DVD

The Great Race DVD

posted 18 years ago by MissSugarKane
15 replies | jump to latest

Quite recently (I'd say about 3 weeks ago) I purchased my copy of The Great Race on DVD! After a long wait, I was so chuffed when it came through my letterbox! But I do have a question to anybody else that also has it on DVD: I began watching it a few days ago and half way through it, in the scene where they're all on the iceberg, as soon as Professor Fate falls into the water for the second time and you see Max and the Great Leslie pull him out, there is an intermission! I thought this was rather strange! So I had to go back to the menu to the scene selections and get the next scene! I was just wondering if this was on anyone else's!

It's not a problem! But when I'll want to watch it next (probably for the upteenth time) it'll sort of annoy me to go through the scene selections!

''What do you think, Josephine? What does it say in your crystal ball?!'' - Daphne

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MissSugarKane 18 years ago

Yeah. It's in front of me now. Lol. It has a Behind the Scenes with Blake Edwards' The Great Race and the trailer and that. I've seen all the extras before and they're all coming out of the plane with their partners. So yeah!

''What do you think, Josephine? What does it say in your crystal ball?!'' - Daphne

[–] gittes98 18 years ago

The reason the intermission is on the tape (as is the Overture and exit music) is that the movie was originally released as a roadshow (AKA- reserved seat attractions)in select cities. This format, long since discontinued, fashioned big event movies much the same as legitimate stage productions with higher admission prices, limited daily shows and reserved seats. Personally I miss this era and am very happy to see the entire presentation, as it is in several other pictures released on DVD.
BTW-If the inclusion of the intermission on the DVD bothers you, why don't you just skip forward to the next chapter?

[–] beebee-14 18 years ago

I love the intermission I lets me run around like mad to refill my drink etc..., and I dont have to fiddle with pause. As an added bonus theres the nice background music as well lol. I had to place an order for my copy of the DVD, I'm kind of disheartened that it's not readily available in stores.

[–] gittes98 18 years ago

Actually I found my copy in the bargain bin at Wal-Mart

[–] RichN36 18 years ago

Wow I will have to dig deeper in the Bargain Bin at Wally World next time I go there. This is my Favorite Movie.

I agree the Intermission is a great time to go get a refill on Popcorn and Pop. And just what is wrong with Hennery Mancini Music???????? If Movie Producers would only have the Balls to Produce their own music instead of Ripping off music from MTV VH1 as their Background music If I wanted to listen to that Crap I would stay home and listen to my Radio for free.

[–] michael702 18 years ago

I saw this terrific movie in high school (yes, I'm a geezer) and loved it then and it still stands up. I am watching it right now (Saturday 12/30/2006)on the Speed Channel, although it's full of commercials. I'm recording it on the DVR and may have to come back and finish it when I can skip through the ads.

At any rate, lots of big movies in that era had intermissions, especially if they were musicals and I kind of miss it.

I'm gonna go look for a DVD of it tomorrow!!

[–] thames-5 18 years ago

Some other movies that have intermisions are
Doctor Dolittle
Sound of music
The King and I ( I think )
Lawrence of Arabia

and Even Gone with the wind ( at over 3 hours it would have to wouldn't it ?)

Ooh... I'm being ha-RASSed!
-Frank Spencer

[–] ScarletPimpernel64 18 years ago

I've tried two copies of this film on DVD, and both of them have about twenty minutes where the sound is literally non-existent.

[–] movieghoul 14 years ago

I've also seen the overture and intermission when TGR is shown on TCM.

The only problem with this is that although TGR may have been conceived and produced as a roadshow film, to my knowledge it was not released as such.

In New York, where roadshow films were common at the time, TGR opened at Radio City Music Hall and played straight through without an intermission or overture.

Is anyone aware of any city where there was a roadshow engagement?

[–] DodgersRule 13 years ago

I believe both THE TEN COMMANDMENTS and BED HURR had intermissions too.

[–] sfwmson 12 years ago

This was just on TCM today, 8/23/12 and the intermission was wasn't while they were on the ice berg, I don't think...odd.

[–] w22nuschler 12 years ago

I have seen this film over 30 times on DVD and TCM and the intermission is always on the Iceberg when they find land.

I love the intermission because they play wonderful music during it. They used to have intermissions for movies that were long in length. This would allow people in the theaters to go to the bathroom or get some food without missing the film. I hope this helps solve this question.

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

I notice in the IMDB information about the film it alludes to the DVD edition being trimmed to 146 minutes from the original 160 minutes. However there is no information about what's edited under alternative releases.

Can anyone advise what's been edited out?

You lost! Only the race!

[–] riccom 9 years ago

I notice in the IMDB information about the film it alludes to the DVD edition being trimmed to 146 minutes from the original 160 minutes. However there is no information about what's edited under alternative releases.

Can anyone advise what's been edited out?

It also has (Spain) after that reference.
My DVD copy is 159 minutes and 58 seconds, made up of:

6:34 Opening credits
83:38 Part 1
1:56 Intermission
65:28 Part 2
0:31 End credits
1:51 Exit music
=================
159:58 (Total)

http://leslie-special.info In appreciation of The Great Race.