MovieChat Forums > Grand Prix (1966) Discussion > Everyone Read This Thread! MUST READ!

Everyone Read This Thread! MUST READ!

posted 18 years ago by abbogus
17 replies | jump to latest

I don't say that just to get attention... Everyone must read this thread, and as it goes, you will see why!

Last night, April 28, 2007, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in Hollywood at the Linwood Dunn Theater on Vine, screened a BRAND NEW 65mm print of Grand Prix. It is a small theater, maybe 250 seats, but with a REAL screen. None of this multiplex crap.

We were there.

And it was spectacular. The colour was so alive, the detail of the image was insane, the sound was just like being at a real race. It is 6 track audio, but not magnetic.

I am 41 years old. The movie was released shortly after my first birthday. As such, I never saw it in the theater. I became aware of the film in the late 1980s, but never expected to see it on TV, let alone on a big screen.

A few years ago, Speed Channel dug it out of the archives, dusted it off and presented it. I have watched it two or three times that way (more or less). I had planned on getting on DVD - still do.

Last Wednesday night, a friend told me about the screening, and gave me two extra tix (tickets for these are available only at the Academy, or the Samuel Goldwyn Theater - I think - no Internet), and they are only $5.00!

As part of the Academy's "Sound Camera Action!" series, they made a new print (to the tune of $8,000.00) off the ORIGINAL 65mm Cinerama negative.

I did have a chance to chat with Mrs. Frankenheimer. She was most gracious. Told me a funny story, I paraphrase: Back in the 60s, when it was in its original theatrical release, teens would get high off a joint and go to the theater, watching the film from the front row! Just too funny.

James Garner was NOT there. Get that out right now, cause I can bet people will say he was.

I hope this print goes on the road. The chair of the committee that put this series together made no reference to that happening.

This was an experience not soon forgotten.

You can all officially hate me now. :)

[–] Cobram 17 years ago

This movie was filmed in Super Panavision, it was shown in Cinerama theaters at the time, but was NOT a true 3 projector Cinerama film. This "fake" Cinerama is actually better than the real thing when watching on a non-Cinerama screen, since the film wasn't rectified to fit the Cinerama screen curvature. The Arclight cineplex https://www.arclightcinemas.com/static/Dome.htmlin Los Angeles has a true Cinerama setup, and the 70mm Super Panavision (marketed as single strip Cinerama)capability too. I bet they'll be showing this sooner or later, if they haven't yet, if there is interest shown by movie patrons, they'll show it.
You Angelinos give the rest of us a heads up if it does, worth a trip to LA even from the opposite coast to see these movies in all their intended glory.

[–] richard-1260 17 years ago

I was 9 years old when I saw this movie and loved it! These were the years when Cinerama was trying to do battle against the encroachment of TV. They even handed out four color glossy programs all about the movie. I've always wondered if it was as good as my 9 year old's memory of it!

[–] phunzicker 17 years ago

My grandmother took me to see this movie came out when I was eight. It was mesmerizing. I especially remember thinking how amazing the detail was in the driving scenes. All the shifting. What a work out!

Frankenhimer does the samething in "The Train" with Burt Lancaster making train parts and setting explosives. A must see.

[–] abbogus 16 years ago

Whew... lotsa comments to follow up on.

It's been a while!

First off, no sign of it being reshown... but I will get on the ArcLights email list ASAP.

As far as I know, the Linwood Dunn projector is supposed to be an arc light, but I haven't gotten confirmation of this.

The cars were F3s... cheaper to deal with than F1s, even then.

Back in the day, many drivers did not wear seatbelts, not because they didn't exist, but because there was so much magnesium, that they would rather take their chances with flight than fire. Dan Gurney's Weslake Eagle was mostly magnesium and 105 octane gas... it's much like doing 180 MPH inside a BIC lighter.

The banking at Monza still exists, but hasn't been raced on in years, it was just too dangerous.

The movie is a great snapshot of the time... it was sad realizing many of those real racers are gone (Jimmy Clark, Graham Hill, etc)... With that, God Bless Phil Hill, 1927-2008. He can be found in the film, too. He was about retired from racing, tho. Went on to a fabulous career as an auto restoration expert. Won Pebble Beach and such. Had the pleasure of meeting him at Sebring back in 1996, such a wonderfully nice fellow. He will be missed.