What if? Remake - The Great Race (1965) Discussion

[–] jleslie48 20 years ago

what it would take for me to even bother watching a remake:

fate = jack black, a distant second, alan rickman.
leslie = will smith, jude law, open,
max = Jason Mewes (jay from dogma), keanna reeves (aka bill and ted),
personal fave, michael keaton, john cusack, to go with:
Maggie = joan cusack, funniest woman on the screen since lucille ball.
showgirl = special guest appearance by: madonna or kim cattrall.

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[–] foster_316 20 years ago

For me , my stars for the remake of "The Great Race" would be

Professor Fate: Robin Williams
Max: Keanu Reeves
Great Leslie: Jim Carrey
Maggie Dubois: Katey Segal
Showgirl: Special Guest Appearance by Madonna

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[–] RichN36 20 years ago

Professor Fate/ The Prince Robin Williams.
Maggie Katey Segal
Showgirl I guess Madanna or Brittney Spears.
The Great Leslie. Jude Law.
Max. I don't know Someone who is use to play Second Banana.

Lets hope that they never remake this though its a classic.

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[–] lennon21182 20 years ago

I know that this is a "what if?", but I mean, let's face it: Blake Edwards actually managed to be one of those few directors who caught lightning in a bottle more than once in his career and this is probably one of his greatest moments outside of the Pink Panther series. With a cast that includes the legends of Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, you could never really redo it and have the same results. For instance, take Around the World in 80 Days: David Niven & co. were amazing but the remake was nothing in comparison, both in scope and cast. For my money, you just cannot beat Jack Lemmon in his vilianous outing as Prof. Fate. This is easily right up there in the Jack Lemmon canon with Ens. Pulver, Felix Unger, etc. Enough of this though...if I was given the task of casting, my top choices would include Tom Hanks as Prof. Fate, Ewan MacGregor as The Great Leslie, Jennifer Aniston as the female lead, Steve Buscemi as Max, and John Cleese as Leslie's mechanic. This was the best that I could come up with at the moment.

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[–] blincoln-2 19 years ago

You got it right about Blake. I have often wondered about the chemistry on the sets when filming this movie. I think this was one of the most inspired performances in Jack Lemon's career. Peter Falk could not be topped by anyone in his Max character. Tony Curtis was perfect as the Great Leslie, Natalie Wood's over the top portrayal of Maggie Dubois was a perfect fit for the script. And Ross Martin's Baron von Stuppe (how did they get away with this??) was terrific. Even the great Keenan Wynn was perfectly cast.

I just hate remakes. What's wrong with the original? I don't need to imagine who could be re-cast in these classic roles - I won't even try. Why mess with it? There is nothing to gain.

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[–] RedSaint1984 19 years ago

Professor Fate: Jim Carrey
The Great Leslie: Tom Cruise
Max: Seann William Scott (Stiffler)
Hezakiah: Ed Harris
Ms. Dubois: Jenny McCarthy

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] galbarex 19 years ago

Professor Fate/ The Prince: Tom Hanks
Maggie: Liz Hurley
Showgirl: Madonna
The Great Leslie: Owen Wilson
Max: Danny DeVito/Ben Stiller/Jackie Chan.

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[–] belacane 20 years ago

Madonna as the singer is probably good. She might balk at being given such a tiny role, though.

I would pick Jonathan Frakes (Riker) as Leslie, but for a really stupid reason. You know how they always made Leslie's teeth sparkle when he smiled? Well, I used to work for a software company who licensed the Star Trek theme from Paramount. The company hired Frakes to be the spokesperson for a few years. For the first 2 years (under license) we had the rights to use the Riker character & Star Trek stuff, so Frakes always appeared in his Riker costume on the set of the Enterprise bridge when doing promotional videos. After the license expired we just hired Frakes to be himself in the videos. In one (very cheesy) video, I don't even remember what the "story" of the video was, but they had him dressed in a pilot's outfit, and they did that sparkle-teeth-thing in the video a couple of times. I'm sure it's been used elsewhere but every time I watch The Great Race I think of Frakes.

Somebody mentioned Jim Carrey as Leslie, I think he'd be better as Fate.

Otherwise, don't know, hope it never gets remade...

"You ever get the feeling there's something going on we don't know about?"

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[–] PeachHamBeach 17 years ago

The only person I see REMOTELY capable of capturing the genius of Professor Fate is Kevin Kline, who I often compare with Jack Lemmon for having that same comic timing and skill.

As Max, I could see Owen Wilson, Jack Black, or Oliver Platt.

The Great Leslie has to be a young, appealing, handsome guy, but not one of the vapid 20 somethings who have no personality, so: Will Smith? Perhaps Matthew McConahey (sp?)? Ben Affleck? Even George Clooney could do it, I think.

Maggie DuBois: Has to be someone who is sexy, but also has charisma. None of those blonde bimbettes, please! I'd pick Heather Graham (noooo, she's not your typical blonde bimbette, so don't start), Jodie Foster, maybe Sandra Bullock, or Bebe Neuworth (sp?).

Mari
www.sisto-act.net

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[–] names_are_stupid 20 years ago

OK just a disclaimer here I would never want this movie to be remade... it would get ruined. But supposing they did remake it, here are my choices:
-Jim Carey or Jack black as Professor Fate.
-Clive Owen as The Great Leslie
-Robin Williams as Max
As for the rest of the cast... I don't know

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[–] guestar57 19 years ago

I had a idea,some 10 years back...THE GREATER RACE with JAMIE LEE CURTIS & CHRIS LEMMON.It's the battle of the sexes ! Get It ? I had Jamie's address back then and chickened out,would have made a kewl movie-of-the-week :)

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[–] ecarle 19 years ago

Professor Fate: Tom Hanks (he can yell real funny, like Lemmon in this picture)
The Great Leslie: Tom Cruise (lightening up, a bit)
Maggie DuBois: Ashley Judd
Max: Danny DeVito
Hezikiah: Ving Rhames

Trying to get Hanks/Cruise together at their prices would be tough, but a great combination of "The Two Toms."

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] ecarle 19 years ago

"The Great Race" was indeed silly -- but in the expert way that only slapstick master Blake Edwards could devise -- and it was also one of the most out-of-control superproductions of its day.

Studio Chief Jack Warner several times tried to close down production because Edwards kept running the budget up higher and higher and higher: big sets, nice costumes, travel, even two offset casinos for cast and crew between takes.

I think the results are rather epic, with Jack Lemmon giving the most overdone yet hilarious comedy performance of his career and Peter Falk matching up nicely as his sidekick. Tony Curtis is carefully doing his own parody-thing, as well. Natalie Wood looks good, even if her role is irritating.

If it weren't for its being so "silly," I think this would be perfect remake material.

I can definitely see Tom Hanks -- in his yelling mode" -- as Fate. Mel Gibson is an interesting idea as well. Burt Reynolds seems built more for the Great Leslie -- if he'd played the role years ago.

I'd go see a remake, but in the meantime it is fun enough to have the original, which might cost 200 million to make today.

One of my favorite lines:

Guard: The Great Leslie has escaped with a friar!
Villain: Leslie escaped with a CHICKEN??!!

Another:

On the melting iceberg, Leslie confides in Professor Fate:

Leslie: This iceberg is melting at a few inches a day. Don't tell the others, it might cause a panic.
Fate: Alright, but when the water reaches up to my nose, I"M GONNA TELL SOMEBODY!!

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[–] jwhale9382 19 years ago

I like what I've heard so far. I could imagine Jim Carrey being Prof. Fate, and I can see Jude Law as Leslie. I think Jack Black would be better as Max. As for the showgirl, I didn't like her. She wouldn't be in my version.

Brother Maynard, bring forth the holy hand grenade!

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[–] jleslie48 19 years ago

remember, the showgirl should be just a cameo at best. On the heels of the dukes, jessica simpson would be funny. I really like the idea of Danny de-vito as max.

Frakes may know how to direct, but god is he an awful actor...

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[–] panj 19 years ago

A similar movie was made "Rat race" and it's a feel-good no blockbuster movie

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[–] fang123horn 19 years ago

Jack Black or jim carrey as Professor fate
will farrell as max
freddie prinze jr. or ewan mcgregor as lesile
christina rcci as maggie
damon wayans as hazakiah
tony curtis as the general
sean bean as Baron von stuppe
sean william scott as texas jack
carmen electra as lily olay

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[–] jleslie48 19 years ago

oh well done especially chritina and curtis. all but will farrell. can't stand him. either one of the guys from wedding crashers would work great though. Jackie chan maybe??

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[–] dong-5 19 years ago

i'd cast ben stiller as max

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[–] fang123horn 19 years ago

What about Sarah silverman she's outspoken like Maggie

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[–] ScarletPimpernel64 17 years ago

According to Chris Lemmon's book, there was supposed to be a sequel, but Edwards couldn't get the rights. Chris Lemmon was supposed to play the sons of both Fate and the drunken prince, and Lemmon & Curtis were going to reprise their parts. I suppose Falk would have, also.

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[–] zimbo_the_donkey_boy 19 years ago

I wouldn't be surprised if this movie does get remade -- sometime over the next several years. It's (very loosely) based on an actual race of 1908. Celebrations of the centennial of that are being planned to be held in 2008. They are slowly garnering publicity. They are putting together a documentary on the actual race but it seems likely, to me, that all this'll inspire Hollywood to again put out a fictional, comedic version of it. And the easiest way for them to do that would be to remake The Great Race. Well, the easiest (and best, as said above) way would be for them to push the original again but they never do that.

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[–] zandam14 19 years ago

Professor Fate - Johnny Depp
Leslie - Brad Pitt or Antonia Banderas (w/o accent)
Maggie - Rachel Weisz or Eva Mendes
Max - Dustin Hoffman
Showgirl - Charlize Theron

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[–] lounge27 19 years ago

NO MORE REMAKES!

I think that remakes are an obscene waste of time and money.
Doesn't Hollywood have screenwriters anymore?
Can't Hollywood just leave perfectly good films alone and make something new??
Surely it can be done. I've seen them.
Why not go remake Citizen Kane? Oh wait, I read that Tarantino's doing that one.

But to answer your question, (in reference to other comments posted),
I am completely sick of Tom Hanks,
no to Robin Williams (and i LOVE him -- he's great, and might could do it, if he'd stick to just ONE character, which would be a waste since he's so Brilliant)
Keanu Reeves - are you kidding?
and does Jack Black have to be in every movie?
Jim Carrey (totally unforgivable for the grinch movie), Mel Gibson (totally relgious obsessed), Tom Cruise (just totally nuts)

What is would take to remake this movie (which should NOT happen)? Character actors. Really great ones. And I can't think of a single one.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] devsmith 19 years ago

While I am sick of remakes too. But if done right, her would be my list of
actors I would like to see in it.

Professor Fate: Nathan Lane
Max: Lee Evans
Leslie: Ben Aflact
Maggie: Natilie Portman

If you've seen mouse hunt you would realise how Nathan and Lee could do
the same type of comedy that Jack and Peter pulled off int he movie.
Ben and Natilie have the sam look as Toni and the other Natilie did.

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[–] Biscuitchris7 19 years ago

They wouldn't remake it because it would be totally unimportant, the movie is not that well known only to the true fans

PS: If they do remake this film, I am blaming you Whale.

I aint hear no fat lady...forget the fat lady you’re obsess with the fat lady, drive us out of here

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[–] photonman17 19 years ago

If they were to remake this film, I think it would be better suited to have it take place in the present to see how well it would work in the context of modern times, while still staying true to some of the film's themes, such as women not being able to compete with men. The fictional cities and saloon/pie fights would have to remain though.

As for the cast, this is what I had been thinking for a while:

Professor Fate/Prince Hapnik - Johnny Depp
The Great Leslie - Sean Bean
Maggie DuBois - Rachel Weisz
Max - Mike Meyers or Kevin J. O'Connor
Texas Jack - Ben Stiller
Baron von Stuppe - Kenneth Branagh
Henry Goodbody - Donald Sutherland
Hester Goodbody - Glenn Close
Frisbee - Rick Moranis

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[–] lawrence142002 19 years ago

Prof. Fate/Prince Hapnik - Robin Williams

The Great Leslie - Antonio Banderas

Max - Jack Black

Maggie DuBois - Natalie Portman

Henry Goodbody - John Goodman

Hester Goodbody - Glenn Close

Baron Von Stuppe - Kenneth Branaugh

Mr. Frisbee - Rick Moranis

Dr. Cynic Has Spoken

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