MovieChat Forums > Grand Prix (1966) Discussion > Aron's Job/Dumping a Driver

Aron's Job/Dumping a Driver

posted 20 years ago by atomicmystieboy
5 replies | jump to latest

My friend and I are confused about the following scene in the movie:

Izo Yamura: Oh, Mr. Aron, if giving you the job would have meant firing one of the other drivers, would you still have taken it?
[Aron glares at Yamura]
Izo Yamura: Good!

We were not sure what to make of Aron's silence. Does Aron's glare mean he would have, or he wouldn't have taken the job if he were replacing another driver, instead of supplementing the team?

If he would have, does that mean the audience is supposed to view him in a highly-competitive light?

If he wouldn't have, does that mean the audience is supposed to view him a sportsmanlike light?

What is your interpretation of the scene?

[–] quinzo60 20 years ago

more to the point:

whenever Yamura speaks, can you get out of your head that you're listening to Boris Badenov??!?!?!

but seriously, is there any doubt that Jimbo is giving us one of his patented "what do YOU think?" looks, like he always used to give that obnoxious police detective in the Rockford show?

c'mon, man... the way they portrayed Garner's character, he probably would've killed one of the other Japanese drivers himself if it meant getting a ride in Formula 1.

[–] senninha70 20 years ago

Yamura desires nothing but perfection from his drivers and therin requires absolute determination to win. Therefore, Pete Aron's glare to me indicates that he absolutely would have taken the job no matter what, although the gentlemen inside of him had to think about it for a moment.

Anyway, the reason Yamura asked the question is that if a driver would actually turn down a ride just to avoid hurting someone else's feelings, he would be equally inclined to not drive at 110% for the win, no matter what the cost.

[–] ubercommando 20 years ago

It's also Aron not falling into a trap by telling Yamura what he really thinks. Aron's there's to race cars, either Yamura thinks he's up to the job, or he doesn't. Aron was twice the victim of Formula 1 politics (getting chucked out of the BRM team and having to go beg for his old job at Ferrari) so he's being inscrutable, just as the Japanese like.

[–] schumithecat 15 years ago

the owner was pleased he would've taken the job. It is ludicrous now to think of even asking the question, people would bump their own mother for a race seat.

[–] Swift-12 13 years ago

I always thought Aron's answer was off-screen, either a nod or a shake of the head. We don't know the answer because the camera remained on Yamura -- a cagey bit of "art" by Frankenheimer.

In more detail: We only see Garner's face while the question is being asked, then an edit to Yamura's close-up who views the unspoken answer and replies "Good", then cut back to Garner who silently turns to walk away.

But maybe I'm reading it wrong. I like how others in this thread interpret it.

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