The 1960s saw two comedy films made about two real, legendary automobile contests. The first was "The Great Race" in 1965. It was a hilarious rendition of an actual event held in 1908. That was a race around the world that involved far fewer cars than shown in the movie. In my comments on that film (18 April 2014), I give a history of that event, and some details about the museum where the winning car and trophy are housed today. The National Automobile Museum is located in Reno, Nevada. One can spend more than a day going through that world-class museum.
The second race film of the 1960s was this one, about the Monte Carlo Rally. "Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies" came out four years after the first film. The rally is a real event that has taken place annually since 1911, except during the years of World War I and World War II.
Critics generally panned "The Great Race," which was the most costly comedy made to that time. It had a budget of $12 million. But the public liked the film. The critics and public liked "Jaunty Jalopies," which also made a nice profit. But it wasn't as popular in the U.S. as had been "Race."
I think "Race" clearly was a much funnier comedy. It had some outrageously funny scenarios, including the best and longest filmed pie fight in history. "Jaunty Jalopies" on the other hand, has many moments that bring chuckles or smiles. But there ae no standout hilarious scenes. What's best about this film is its international cast and the cars and reproductions that showed innovations. The rally in its early years was a showcase for new automobile innovations. In this film, this is show with two English characters and a car entry by Major Dawlish and Lt. Barrington, played respectively by Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.
Terry-Thomas plays the part of a cad so well, but in this film his part isn't that funny. Many of the actors give good performances, and the string of mishaps one after another is funny. But "Jalopies" never rises above a chuckle. The original European title for this movie was, "Monte Carlo or Bust." Movie buffs may be interested in some more history of the real event in this film. The Monte Carl Rally is sponsored annually by the Automobile Club de Monaco.
Since 1973 it has been run in stages – as many as 35 in 1986, and as few as 13 in 2011. As in the movie, contestants have choices of places to start from – usually four to six – all equidistant from Monte Carlo. Until 1972, the event was as shown in the movie – with cars traveling a long route from five different staring places, to arrive at the same place. Then, the surviving cars competed in a short timed distance race. Since 1973 and the multiple stages, the total distances have ranged from 867 km (539 miles) in 1986, to 329 km (204 miles). Since 1995, all rallies have been below 500 km (310 miles), and they have tended to level off at around 400 km or lower (248 miles). While the rally remains highly popular, the reduced distances likely are due to considerable increases in traffic on the roads and difficulties in shutting down roads to public traffic and other logistics of the event.
The second race film of the 1960s was this one, about the Monte Carlo Rally. "Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies" came out four years after the first film. The rally is a real event that has taken place annually since 1911, except during the years of World War I and World War II.
Critics generally panned "The Great Race," which was the most costly comedy made to that time. It had a budget of $12 million. But the public liked the film. The critics and public liked "Jaunty Jalopies," which also made a nice profit. But it wasn't as popular in the U.S. as had been "Race."
I think "Race" clearly was a much funnier comedy. It had some outrageously funny scenarios, including the best and longest filmed pie fight in history. "Jaunty Jalopies" on the other hand, has many moments that bring chuckles or smiles. But there ae no standout hilarious scenes. What's best about this film is its international cast and the cars and reproductions that showed innovations. The rally in its early years was a showcase for new automobile innovations. In this film, this is show with two English characters and a car entry by Major Dawlish and Lt. Barrington, played respectively by Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.
Terry-Thomas plays the part of a cad so well, but in this film his part isn't that funny. Many of the actors give good performances, and the string of mishaps one after another is funny. But "Jalopies" never rises above a chuckle. The original European title for this movie was, "Monte Carlo or Bust." Movie buffs may be interested in some more history of the real event in this film. The Monte Carl Rally is sponsored annually by the Automobile Club de Monaco.
Since 1973 it has been run in stages – as many as 35 in 1986, and as few as 13 in 2011. As in the movie, contestants have choices of places to start from – usually four to six – all equidistant from Monte Carlo. Until 1972, the event was as shown in the movie – with cars traveling a long route from five different staring places, to arrive at the same place. Then, the surviving cars competed in a short timed distance race. Since 1973 and the multiple stages, the total distances have ranged from 867 km (539 miles) in 1986, to 329 km (204 miles). Since 1995, all rallies have been below 500 km (310 miles), and they have tended to level off at around 400 km or lower (248 miles). While the rally remains highly popular, the reduced distances likely are due to considerable increases in traffic on the roads and difficulties in shutting down roads to public traffic and other logistics of the event.