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The Best Car Movie Ever!


Dave@Moon

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Last night I watched <span style="font-style: italic">Speedy</span> (1928) starring Harold Lloyd. I enjoy silent movies, and try to see as many as I can, but I'm hardly an expert. This movie was made on the streets of New York during the summer of 1928, and much of it (about 20%) was shot while driving around various sections of the city.

It was a car lover's feast. Most of the movie is shot in upper class areas (at the time), and the cars are largely restricted to high-end classics and neo-classics (<span style="font-style: italic">no</span> appologies to the CCCA!). I lost count of Pierce-Arrows and Lincolns, and was <span style="font-style: italic">extremely</span> suprised by the dirth of Fords (probably less than 1% of street traffic)! At one point two differently painted (Springfield) Rolls-Royce town cabriolets drove past in succession!

Given the limitations of the day, I doubt seriously that these cars were staged for the film's sake (except for a few cars used in dodging stunts, notably Buick cabs).

If you get a chance, check this one out of the library and watch. It's a better rare-car-fest than <span style="font-style: italic">The</span> (original) <span style="font-style: italic">Love Bug!</span> cool.gifsmile.gif

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Guest BruceW

Dave,

Speedy sounds like a neat movie with quite a variety of cars.

Ron,

I read before where chase between Bullitt's Mustang and the Dodge Charger 440 was voted the best chase scene in movie history. Its interesting to read the "behind the scene" stuff about that movie.

Dont know if you saw it but Hagarty Insurance recently published a poll it held of the Top 10 Movie and TV cars. They (whether you agree or not..please don't shoot the messenger) were as follows:

#1 . 1969 Dodge Charger R/T "General Lee"

#2. 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 from the movie Bullitt

#3. 1967 Shelby GTS named "Eleanor" from the 2000 remake of Gone in 60 Seconds"

#4. Back to the Future?s 1983 Delorean

#5 Batmobile from the 1966 Batman television series.

#6 James Bond?s 1964 Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger

#7 1977 Pontiac Trans Am from "Smokie and the Bandit"

#8 Herbie the Love Bug ? 1963 VW

#9 1975 Ford Gran Torino ? Starsky & Hutch

#10 Green Hornet?s "Black Beauty"

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car.jpg

The "Car" in 1977 with James Brolin...

Got to love that horn.... Da..Da..Da....Da.. before you got run over...

The car show of my dreams... or maybe driving thru the White feild! grin.gif

Suspense/Horror

James Brolin stars as Sheriff Wade Parent, a man who must stop a large, black 2-door sedan from terrorizing a small New Mexican town. No one knows the car's origin, who is driving it, or how to stop it. After it kills 3 people, the Sheriff must find a way to stop this seemingly indestructible machine. Who is behind the wheel? Could it be...Satan? That may be the case given that late Chuch of Satan leader Anton LaVey was given a 'Technical Advisor' credit on the film! Though it was greeted by a chorus of jeers when it surfaced in 1977, this is a goofy but oddly gripping and altogether unconventional horror film. From the director of A MAN CALLED HORSE and a script co-written by Michael Butler, writer of PALE RIDER.

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Guest Skyking

I always liked the chase scene in "The French Connection" where Gene Hackman drives that Pontiac LeManns......As for a movie with lots of nice cars, try "It's A Mad Mad World" ....funny too!! grin.gifgrin.gif

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I liked Roy Schieder's(SIC?) "ride" in his Pontiac Lemans chasing the bad guys in teh "Seven Ups". Took off a few car doors, fenders, and then crashed in the back of a parked semi. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> He was smart as he ducked just before impact!!!!!!! Hope I'm that smart if that even happens to me. Wayne

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"Driving Miss Daisy " had some beautiful cars in it....A gorgeous Hudson, and a '55 Cadillac Series 60 Special, all with great interior shots. The movie was good for other reasons too. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

But if not movies, I have gotten my hands on several old 60's shows like "T.H.E. Cat"...those of you who love Corvettes should love his '66 Modified Vette! There are all sorts of beautiful cars in these programs. "Peter Gunn" had some very nice shots of '58 and '59 Chryslers, mostly Imperials. And "Burk's Law" has that lovely '55 Rolls Royce. Now I know the Black Beauty came in last on the Haggerty poll, but that was one of my favorite cars, ever. There is a great website on her restoration. The number 1 car has all the gagdets (including many never used in the short run series) and all work. Check it out at Black Beauty .

OK back to the movies!!! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

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If you want the best car chase, I think there is only one movie. <span style="font-style: italic">Duel</span> (1971), starring Dennis Weaver and directed by Steven Spielberg (his first commercial movie, albeit for TV), is nothing but chase scene and is a work of art and genius in it's simplicity. I think it's the best of the early '70's "car movie" genre (<span style="font-style: italic">Two Lane Blacktop, Vanishing Point, </span>etc.)

Did I mention that it's scary as hell because it's so banal in it's realism?

duel.jpg

NONAME75.jpg

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Bought a 1970s anthology of horror short stories a while back- guess what's in it? Richard Matheson's original "Duel" short story.

I've watched a movie called "Black Cadillac" several times recently on one of the satellite channels. It's another good car-based horror story. Features a 57 Fleetwood terrorizing a bunch of college boys in a Saab- in a snowstorm no less.

Also check out "Crossing the Bridge". The Buick Club of Minnesota furnished a bunch of cars for that movie including the 1965 Electra "War Wagon" that was central to its plot.

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I liked Roy Schieder's(SIC?) "ride" in his Pontiac Lemans chasing the bad guys in teh "Seven Ups". Took off a few car doors, fenders, and then crashed in the back of a parked semi. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> He was smart as he ducked just before impact!!!!!!! Hope I'm that smart if that even happens to me. Wayne </div></div>

It was actually a Ventura II (Pontiac Nova). Pontiac had some good product placement in that movie. I thought that Grand Ville the bad guys had was a hoot! Never thought a big car would move and handle like that.

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Guest Andynator

Best car film - how about "The Blues Brothers"? It's just one of those movies that has a certain appeal and every time you catch it on, you watch it.

Lifted from the IMDB:

Before the falling-Pinto scene could be filmed, the filmmakers had to get an "Air UN-worthyness certificate" from the Federal Aviation Administration for the Pinto. This was done by conducting preliminary drop tests to ensure that it would not behave as an airfoil and drift from its target line, but would drop "like a brick" when dropped from a great height.

Film held the world record for the number of cars crashed.

The scene where the Bluesmobile is driving at 115 MPH on Whacker Drive is actually real. The film crew received permission to clear the street for two 100 MPH+ passes.

Andy

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Guest BillP

Or 'Lemans' w/Steve McQueen, 'The (original, with Michael Caine) Italian Job' w/all those Minis, or 'The California Kid' a totally forgettable movie but for a sweet '34 Ford coupe. Also see 'Paper Moon', no relation to Dave.

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I know I may be showing my youth, but there were some nice cars in the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds" With Nicholas Cage. It is a move about a group of retired car thieves who are having to locate and steal a bunch of collector vehicles in an effort for the boss (Nicholas Cage) to get his brother out of trouble. Meanwhile, the thieves have a certain number of cars that they have to steal, they have to take a specified list of cars in a short period of time while they have a cop who is trying to catch Nicholas Cage back in the act of stealing cars.

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Guest DeSoto Frank

I saw "Speedy" the last time TCM ran it, about 6 months ago...

The streetcar bit towards the end is classic silent comedy!

Some other great "car" movies:

"The Postman Always Rings Twice " - the original - District Atty. Leon Ames drives a spiffy white(?) '42 De Soto, with "Airfoil" headlights...

Mack Sennet's "Super-Hooper-Dyne Lizzies" - a silent film featuring radio controlled "T"s going through all sorts of stunts...

"Hog Wild" - an early '30s Laurel & Hardy short where Stan's Model "T" touring car, being used as a platform for Ollie's ladder as he valiantly strives to put up a radio ariel to please the Mrs., suddenly takes-off with Ollie still perched a-top the ladder; ...second only to their 1927 short "Big Business", where as enterprising Christmas tree salesmen (in Sunny So. Cal.), they run afoul of James "Scrooge" Finlayson, and the mounting "tit-for-tat" results in the mutual destruction of Stan & Ollie's "T" and Finlayson's house !

How many model "T" Fords gave their life for the Hal Roach studios ?

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RE: Blues Brothers

I rarely watch many movies more than once or twice, but I have seen The Blues Brothers probably 40+ times! The Wacker Drive scene was first shot w/o people on the street for safety reasons. The result looked as if they just speeded up the film so it was re-shot with people on the street for realism.

I really loved the mall chase scene! "Look, the new Oldmobiles are in early this year!" If you ever get a chance to see the behind the scenes for the move, do it! Lots of great stories on it's making.

Last week, An Amphicar friend got a call about an Amphi for sale in NY. They guy said it was his son's car and showed him his son's motorcycles too. As it turns out his son was none other than Dan Akroyd!

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Guest imported_Dwight V.

A little unfortunate that most car movies are intent in crashing the things, but what can ya do? cool.gif

I first saw "Duel" as a Late, Late Movie on TV. Sitting alone, in the dark, watching it with no idea what would happen next was the way to see it. Awesome. Bit of trivia: the theatrical release has additional footage that was not in nor shot for the TV version. They apparently had a terrible time finding another Peterbilt as ugly as the first one (it was a really old truck even then).

Another good car related thriller is "The Hitcher".

There is no substitute for the original Hilicki classic "Gone In 60 Seconds". Rent the special edition DVD if you can. A bad film with a spectacular car chase. No digital enhancements, just crazed stunt driving.

Tied with it for 'best car chase' is the Peter Fonda flick "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry". Features a '66 Impala and '69 Charger as getaway cars. Awesome drawbridge jump with the Chevy shot at speed. Script isn't bad and the film moves at a fast pace.

Ron Howard made a little known film called Grand Theft Auto. Very slapstick in presentation, but has some good stunt work, including the destruction of a Rolls-Royce.

Gumball Rally, probably the best film of the Cannonball Run genre for realism and just sheer fun watching the Cobra and Ferrari at speed (especially in the LA river basin).

Plenty more if I can think of 'em. grin.gif

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

"Hog Wild" - an early '30s Laurel & Hardy short where Stan's Model "T" touring car, being used as a platform for Ollie's ladder as he valiantly strives to put up a radio ariel to please the Mrs., suddenly takes-off with Ollie still perched a-top the ladder; ...second only to their 1927 short "Big Business", where as enterprising Christmas tree salesmen (in Sunny So. Cal.), they run afoul of James "Scrooge" Finlayson, and the mounting "tit-for-tat" results in the mutual destruction of Stan & Ollie's "T" and Finlayson's house !

How many model "T" Fords gave their life for the Hal Roach studios ? </div></div>

Those poor Model T's! But unfortunately, I laughed myself almost to death when I saw that "Big Business" where J. Finla(nd)yson parted out that T! How about that episode where Stan & Ollie were working in a sawmill. The had this model T which had a record player under the hood grin.gif .

Then they accidentially drove the Model T to BIG sawtooth and cut the poor car half..

Then was this one episode where Stan was at the I WW, even the war had been over for many years. That poor '36 Ford roadster that they drove through the garage door grin.gif

Maybe the people at Hal Roach didn't like Fords smirk.gif

Hey! Why no one hasn't suggested Stephen King's Christine?!?!?!!! mad.gif

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One of my favorites for just looking at cars is GodFather Part 2. The wedding scene and the parking lot full of 1940 era cars is great. They also have a nice Woodie along the street later on.

Car crash movies, Check out Motorcycle Mamas.. Lots of crashes and excitment in that one. An no, it is not Porno, its a 60's movie when they were making movies about outlaw bikers. Grade B is being kind to this one though.

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did anyone notice that in the "Road to Perdition", Tom Hanks 1930 Buick had sealed beam head lights behind the original tilt-ray lenses......

If you watch the movie, you will see that the beam of light dose not fill the whole tilt-ray lense. Those bastards!

Also the 1977 moive Dillenger had a lot of nice cars, but Dillenger was a Ford man confused.gif

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Reading these posts, I'm reminded of the TV movie about Henry Ford. I think it was based on a book written about 10 years ago. There were so many historically inaccurate facts in the movie that I almost lost my cookies. For instance, the movie opens with some dialog in the background about the 'new' engine to be place in the new Model T (1909). As the camera enters the model room where the talking men are, there on the floor next to them is a brand new 1926-27 engine with wide pedals. In another scene where Old Henry got mugged, he was standing next the drivers side of the car searching for his keys so he could unlock the door!!! shocked.gif

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What about the movie "Tucker"? Great cars there!

I agree whole heartedly with the Blues Brothers movie. Great scenes, wrecks, etc. BTW, I'm still looking for a 74 Dodge cop car! LOL

smirk.gifsmirk.gifsmirk.gif

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Guest SalG (Sal Grenci)

When Driving Miss Daisey came out on video one of the guys brought a big TV and VCR and the movie was meeting night entertainment. Fried Green Tomatos was good for the cars and not the story.

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Guest Skyking

Another movie worth watching just for the chase scene is Arnold's lastest. "The Terminator". I don't know which number it is II III IV,?? But the fire truck chase is unbelievable!......Rumor's say Arnold flipped the bill just to do it.....

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Shame on me! I DID forget Christine! 1957 Plymouth Fury...what a honey! I found a model of Christine before and after out on eBay not long ago. Unfortunately it had already been built but nicely done. Good one, Mike! smile.gif </div></div>

Randall, in the movie and the book it was a 1958 Plymouth Fury. Some confusion comes from the first issue hard cover book with the dustjacket and a picture of Stephen King on the back cover sitting on the hood of a 1957 Plymouth. grin.gif

Also the Fury in 1958 was only available in buckskin beige with gold trim. Poetic license I guess. grin.gif

christine-fury.jpg

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Guest imported_JPIndusi

There was an old black and white movie probably made in the 1930's called "If I had a Million". In this movie a wealthy old banker is dying and his relatives are downstairs in his house waiting for his demise so they can get their share of his estate. He becomes enraged and decides to spend his millions by giving one million dollars to names he picks at random from the telephone directory. The movie then portrays what happens to the lives of the recipients of his largesse.

One man, played by W. C. fields, and his wife, played by Margaret Dumont, buy a new Ford which gets wrecked while driving out of the dealer by a "Road Hog". Fields and his wife vow to get even and they purchase about 10 old large clunkers and drive around looking for road hogs and crashing into them. The whole thing is hilarious. Before I die I have this secret wish that I could buy some old parts cars and run some of our local road hogs off the road. My spouse thinks I am crazy.

Joe

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Guest imported_DodgerDave

Ok all very good movies for the cars we love.

A. "It's a wonderful life" for the old car buff teen's to the thirties

B. "Seabiscuit" another movie filled with old generation cars

C. The final seen in "Better off dead" chevy camro awsome

D. "The times of their lives" Abott & Costello

Just to name a few. DodgerDave

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A few notes:

<span style="font-style: italic">Speedy</span> can really only be appreciated on cd or DVD in slow motion. The street scenes, especially the scenes where Babe Ruth is being driven in a cab by Harold Lloyd, are just dumbfounding for the number of 1920's extreme high end cars in traffic and parked along the roads.

<span style="font-style: italic">Vanishing Point</span> loses me every time the Challenger hits the bulldozers and turns into a Camaro (look CLOSE)! The Trans-Am in Dirty Harry that turns into a Camaro when driven into the bay, and the Maserati that becomes a Jag E-Type when wrecked in <span style="font-style: italic">The Love Bug</span> tick me off as well.

Another <span style="font-style: italic">GREAT</span> car watching movie is the original <span style="font-style: italic">The Love Bug</span>. It's an irritating kids movie to be sure, but you just have to watch the race scenes in slow motion. The racing scenes are all shot in So-Cal club races in 1968. It is amazing to see what was being run in those races at that time. I'll bet half the cars Phil Hill sat in are in that flick! cool.gif

If you watch <span style="font-style: italic">The Godfather</span> very closely, almost every car in the movie is 2 or 3 years too new for the scene it is placed in. This is most often true of the police cars. (It's hard to tell, you have to look for subtle cues and references to concurrent events.) It doesn't make looking at them any harder, though! cool.gif

<span style="font-style: italic">Christine</span> supposedly consumed 80+ two-door hardtop '58 Plymouths, said to be 1/3 of those then extant. frown.gif

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Fried Green Tomatos was good for the cars and not the story. </div></div> Next time you watch this movie notice that a 1930-31 Model A Ford Pick up crashes into the water. Years later they pull it out and it is an engineless 1933-34 Ford pick up.

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Guest DeSoto Frank

Tommy 1927...

I did notice that, and I also thought that the tires looked a little "big"...

At least they had him driving something other than a Model "A"...not trying to knock the "A"-model Ford, but there seemed to be a period (1980's-90's) where every Hollywood period piece that was set in the '30s -'40s , everyone drove Model "A"s, to the exclusion of any other make...

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Guest Skyking

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Also the Fury in 1958 was only available in buckskin beige with gold trim. Poetic license I guess. </div></div>

Dave, 1957 was the year Fury only offered Eggshell White with the Gold package, not 1958.......... laugh.gif

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Guest Skyking

I just read in my Stadard Catalog of American Cars, that mid-year 1956 Plymouth offered the off-white/gold package in the Fury also..P29-3 with the 240 hp V8...So it was 1956 & 1957......

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