The Great Race (1965)

Good concept, poorly executed.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

I cannot think of another movie where the top 5 billed stars are actors and actresses are people I love. Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Peter Falk and Keenan Wynn. Add Dorothy Provine who steals the movie with her song! I love when Tony Curtis asks her is she is a native of Baracho and she answers "I ain't no native, I was born here! This movie is just fun to watch. I think watching Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk as the funny bad guys is what makes the movie work. There are also many funny action sequences. The fight in the saloon after Dorothy Provine sings is great. Later on the pie fight is the best pie fight ever put on film. Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood also are great as the hansome leading man and beautiful leading lady. Jack Lemmon also plays a dual role in the film that is equally funny. I love it when his second character says "Raw, Raw Raw! I am a big fan of all of the main 5 actors and the comedies they have made, but this one tops anything else they have ever done. Buy the Blu Ray or DVD today!

I just love this movie. I've seen it many times over my life, and it never gets old. The contrast between squeaky-clean Tony Curtis and dastardly Jack Lemmon is wonderful, and Lemmon in particular delivers a hilarious performance, both in his main role as Professor Fate, as well as the Crown Prince of Pottsdorf later in the movie. The laughs and mannerisms of both characters are memorable. The scene in the Arctic snowstorm always cracks me up, Fate's mustache being snapped off by his henchman (Peter Falk, who's also great), and him showing he's not exactly a 'morning person' when he's asked to 'rise and shine'. Professor Fate is so bothered by everything that he'll even snarl at cute little pugs in a lavish bed. Natalie Wood is in a deceptively tricky role, needing at the same time to be funny, serious as a suffragette, and secretly attracted to Curtis as a love interest – and she absolutely shines. She's also incredibly beautiful, simply a dream, as always. The 'big' moments of slapstick in the film are done very well, including an epic pie fight and barroom brawl, but there are also a large number of 'small' moments – little lines of dialogue, inflections, and facial expressions – that keep me smiling throughout, even when I know it's silliness that would appeal to children. The film is 160 minutes but Director Blake Edwards keeps it lively, and it never drags. Great film.

I love slapstick. Laurel and Hardy and Inspector Clouseau. My wife cannot stand either but will tolerate some Stan and Ollie on occasion so here I have a personal note. I am a 10 year old fan of this film, saw it in 1965 and in later years since. BluRay now. Such is time. Now at the age of 61, I watch it with my wife every September 11 as I am also a survivor of the South Tower, 101st floor, so my hand is on the selection button for that night. I enjoy it immensely - Fate under the Curtiss pusher, the torpedo, race, the saloon fight and all. Right back to Laurel and Hardy in WAY OUT WEST. So here is a personal note for me here for this group - it has flaws but immensely entertaining. Watch it, laugh and enjoy fine performances from a time long ago.

This film is a perfect classic! Straight from the impeccable A-list cast! Natalie Wood was great in this film! And of course Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon fit their roles perfectly also! This is just the type of film that I love! A big road trip adventure movie, with a great cast, humor, and well written along with a good story line. The costumes are fantastic too, I'm sure it was tough to gather all those different costumes, for all the different settings in the movie, especially for 1965, they did do a great job though! This movie is just pure fun!! Very fun, adventurous, funny, well acted, well done. The sets are very pretty and elaborate looking. The bottom line is this movie is just so enjoyable and fun to watch! I 100% suggest the great race (1965) 10/10! Some people don't even know it exists, and it's really a shame, because it's better than some movies that come out today.