MovieChat Forums > The Great Race (1965) Discussion > Professor Fate!

Professor Fate!

posted 19 years ago by ecarle
33 replies | jump to latest

I met Jack Lemmon in person at a Q and A event in the 70's, and he remarked about Professor Fate: "I get more fan mail for that character than almost any other I played. Still."

For most of his career, whether in comedy or drama, Jack Lemmon tended to play the nice but neurotic milquetoast kind of guy.

But I've always thought that he was hell-on-hilarious wheels as Professor Fate in "The Great Race." Fate is a macho sort of villainous blowhard, yelling a lot of the time, and he looks great in his expensive black clothes. (Jack Lemmon himself looked good in this movie, healthy and forty-ish with moustache and curls.)

Lemmon knew to play Professor Fate as a cartoon character. Look at the early scene in which Tony Curtis (as hero "The Great Leslie") pulls Fate's fake beard off. Lemmon suddenly raises his eyebrow sky-high -- like Bugs Bunny or something.

"The Great Race" is dedicated by director Blake Edwards to "Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy," and Jack Lemmon pairs with the great Peter Falk (as Fate's long-suffering assistant, Max) to copycat those guys, but with more meanness.

But wait, there's more. In the final part of "The Great Race," Jack Lemmon plays a second role -- the drunken, foppish childlike King of that mythical country who is always saying, "Oh, you Great Leslie you!" TWO hilarious Jack Lemmon performances for the price of one. (Fate, disguised as the king, is told that the Great Leslie "escaped with a small friar", and replies: "The Great Leslie escaped with a CHICKEN!!"

Jack Lemmon never played a role as over-the-top as Professor Fate again. I wish he had.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] la-resistance 19 years ago

I remember when I first saw the movie. I was 8 years old and usually at that time I prefered the heros in movies, but then Professor Fate totally changed my mind ;)
Jack Lemmon was such an amazing actor (a lot better than for example Tony Curtis in that movie or in SOME LIKE IT HOT.

[–] [email protected] 19 years ago

Professor Fate rules! He's like Snidely Whiplash with a double helping of Wile E. Coyote. Nice tribute: Dr. Clayton Forrester signing off all those episodes of 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' with "Push the button, Frank!"

[–] thoroughly_modern_hillry 19 years ago

Great topic, ecarle - I hoped I wasn't the only one with an odd affection for Professor Fate!
The 'neurotic, milquetoast kind of guy' was exactly what I thought Jack Lemmon played in every one of his movies, based on his films in my recent memory: "The Apartment" and "The Odd Couple," to name a few.
His turning up as the raucous, meddling Professor Fate was truly the most hilarious part of "The Great Race" for me. That laugh of his was so unexpected when he first sounded it and then, so constant and truly, effortlessly maniacal that I just had to laugh myself (and have to laugh now, even thinking about it.) I don't know who or what he was channeling when he was in that role, but it is unbelievable, and I wish he'd done more of it. His character makes the movie - and it more than makes up for us having to endure Tony Curtis in a lot of white, effeminate getups.
The Prince Hapnik character is hilarious, too - especially the bedroom scene with the pug dogs. I love how they're licking and snarling at him as he passes out, giggling. Fantastic!

[–] juggle5 19 years ago

>The Prince Hapnik character is hilarious, too - especially the bedroom scene with the pug dogs. I love how they're licking and snarling at him as he passes out, giggling. Fantastic!

I remember reading that in that scene, just after one of the pugs licks his face, he ad-libbed the line "I HATE you!", which is so beautifully done it's simply hilarious.

[–] thoroughly_modern_hillry 19 years ago

I watched the movie for that exact part as soon as I bought the dvd, and realized that that scene wasn't in my VHS version of the film. It is brilliant, though, when the disguised Prof. Fate does that whole scene - "GET OFF THE BED!" in that outrageously loud voice, the little pugs continuing to nuzzle him, all leading up to that seething, perfectly-timed "I hate you"...just beautiful. Aw, what an actor.

[–] JSBeers50 19 years ago

The only thing I've seen that was as over-the-top (and admittedly he didn't sustain it for the whole movie) was Robert DeNiro singing "Secret Agent Man" in Bullwinkle. I'd pay good money to see the outtakes fron that scene!

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] baldy007 19 years ago

HAHA...no I didn't have a crush on him but got to meet him at a Bob Hope Golf Classic...kinda funny there were autograph seekers bothering him and he kind of brushed them off...but when I approached him and told him that my grandfather worked with him on that movie and mentioned his name to him, he greeted me with a big smile and shook my hand and asked how my grandfather was doing...it was pretty cool that he made time for me...he was a very nice man.

[–] MissSugarKane 18 years ago

''Did anyone else here have a crush on him after seeing this movie? (And yeah, I'm a girl, in case anyone's wondering, lol!)'' - inhabitant_of_shadows

(I know this is a bit of a random reply to a topic that was started agesss ago but hey) - Lol!

But yeah, i did develop an unusual crush on him! I've always found him hilarious. Some Like It Hot was the first movie i saw and i didn't really like to admit that i liked him a lot! But i just adore him now!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] MissSugarKane 18 years ago

'Oh, goodie,someone else besides me likes him, lol! :^)' - inhabitant_of_shadows

Hehe! Thats exactly how i feel now! Wooo!! lol!

x

[–] Miss-M 18 years ago

I LOVED Jack Lemmon in the dual roles of Professor Fate/Prince Hapnik. Together with Jerry/Daphne in Some Like It Hot, this film contains my favourite Lemmon performances.

I didn't have a crush on Lemmon but I did, however, develop a crush on Peter Falk after seeing him as Max!! I can't explain why, but there ya go! :o)

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] MissSugarKane 18 years ago

Nahh. I didn't really see Peter Falk in that light. Haha. Jack Lemmon all the way for me, *wink*. Jack was about 40 when he played the Professor and he still looked pretty handsome and good, exactly like he did in "It Should Happen to You" when Jack was in his mid-20s. Which by the way, is pretty good! Not many men can get away with a curled moustache and curly black hair! Note: BLACK hair! No signs of any grey then! Haha! But that's just my opinion!

I love him. Totally.

"Men? We wouldn't be caught dead with men! Rough, HAIRY beasts with ape hands..." - Daphne

[–] avenger-16 18 years ago

So did I! - I thought Peter Falk as Max was irresistible!

[–] Tjcat 18 years ago

I first saw this movie at the drive-in when I was a kid back in 19??. Now, as a discerning and sophisticated woman I must confess have always had a thing for Professor Fate (Jack Lemmon). I think he would be a lot more fun on a date than Leslie Gallant(Tony Curtis). I mean, aren't the bad boys more exciting? Professor Fate is obviously educated, innovative (he built his own car) resides in an awesome house, and is a sharp dresser...for example...those top hats and the Persian Lamb collar on his overcoat featured at the start of the race. However,in all reality I would probably end up with Max. Peter Falk is absolutely adorable and endearing as Fate's devoted & long suffering assistant. Max thinks fast on his feet (dressed as the Franciscian friar...bless you my son, BONK), crawling/tunneling beneath the royal robe to inform the imposter (Fate) prince "The jig us up!"
It is entirely possible Max serves a cook and butler for the Professor. A man who can cook and is able to fix things? Now, that is a man I could marry!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] riccom 9 years ago

Max is actually very highly skilled.
You see him flying the biplane, driving the Leslie Special and the Hannibal 8 in Potzdorf, and he's pretty resourceful when Fate isn't around! :)

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

[–] gittes98 18 years ago

I saw this movie when it was first released and as a 10 year old, loved it. But after Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, The China Syndrome and Glengarry Glen Ross this over-the-top performance doesn't really stand up today and is hardly in the same league as those mentioned above.

[–] RichN36 18 years ago

Jack Lemmon = Classic Movie in what ever he did.

I admit this is one of his best Rolls and it is dead on and very few weaknesses in the Preformances. Someone mentioned Odd Couple for me that is my other Favorite Roll it is in my Top 10 movies list. Much more so then Some Like it Hot which doesn't even rate in my top 100. But that is just me.

[–] jabortes 18 years ago

Yes, Fate is one of the best humoristic movie villains ever created!

[–] juanmonge69 18 years ago

When They drive into the Russian village and he says "I'm Professor Fate". and you could have heard a mouse piss on cotton-made me fall to the floor laughing. What a great actor who could make himself look that foolish.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] ProfessorFate 17 years ago

Well obviously if you look at my name (and my sig below) you'll know how I feel about this movie and Mr. Lemmon's performance. I think he's brilliant as PF and should have been nominated for an Oscar. It is a truly great comic performance, especially since he plays two roles and is equally hilarious (but in a completely different way) as the Prince.

I have so many favorite scenes, but right at the top is the scene with the dogs on the bed. The contrast between how the Prince interacts with them and then the way Fate treats them ("GET OFF OF THE BED!!!") is true comic genius.

BTW, I can imitate Professor Fate's laugh and often embarrass my girlfriend in public by doing it (especially if I've had a few beers).

"Push the button, Max!"

[–] ecarle 17 years ago

Bump...the button, Max!

Because we can always use a little more Professor Fate.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] MusicalMagpie 17 years ago

I also had a thing for Professor Fate and Max. The bad boys are always more interesting than the good guys. I mean, how could any girl fall for a hero named "The Great Leslie"....????

Of course, that was part of the joke, wasn't it?

[–] gquinn-2 17 years ago

"Push the button, Max" must have been the inspiration for "Push the button, Frank" on MST3K!

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] PeachHamBeach 17 years ago

Prof. Fate/Prince Hapnick is still my all time fave role of the great Lemmon. I adore Jack Lemmon. My 2nd fave is a completely different role: George Kellerman in the Out of Towners...so natural and neurotic and human!!!

He was pure genius.

Mari
www.sisto-act.net

[–] MissSugarKane 17 years ago

I love Jack as the Professor! Who was a totally different character to his usual innocent, nice-guy characters. He was a master of comedy.

Jack Lemmon: America's Sweetheart
"It's Magic Time"

[–] Tjcat 13 years ago

I watched The Great Race again last night and still have a thing for Professor Fate and Max!
Over forty five years have passed since it was released in 1965 and this movie remains hilarious as it ever was.