Grand Prix [HD DVD]

American Grand Prix driver Pete Aron is fired by his Jordan-BRM racing team after a crash at Monaco that injures his British teammate, Scott Stoddard. While Stoddard struggles to recover, Aron begins to drive for the Japanese Yamura team, and becomes romantically involved with Stoddard's estranged wife.

Shop Now »»

Permalink: dealnay.com/107199

Last updated: October 19, 2009, 4:40 pm

Grand Prix [HD DVD] Cusomter reviews:

Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 193

(Phil, 2009-09-15) This usually is not my kind of movie, but the acting, the story and the non-CGI effects really pulled me in. I bought this film because it was a cheap HD DVD closeout, but what a treat it was for me to find that it was a fantastic film. The restoration is perfect; as it looks like it was filmed today. The performances are spot on and believable. Basically, I was shocked that I could sit down though a 3 hour film from the '60's and not get bored for a second. A film I never heard of, but one that will stay in my collection for a long, long time. Buy it cheap, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

(Aaron Marks, 2009-07-22) This movie is easily the best motorsport movie I've ever seen and I'm blown away with the camera-work and filming techniques considering the movie was made in 1966. The special features were very enjoyable but most importantly the quality of the transfer from 70mm to HD-DVD is outstanding. Watching this movie in HD-DVD made an already spectacular movie 100x more enjoyable!

(Daniel G. Lebryk, 2009-06-21) This movie just begs to be on Blu-Ray - shot on 70mm panavision, this would be one incredible movie in high definition. The progression, sumptuous movie theater experience (in the 60's), crummy VHS, to Laserdisc, to DVD. I've seen them all. The DVD version to date, is the best ever. Sound-wise DVD is much better than the theater version, visually theater still wins. The movie - pretty darn simple story about Grand Prix drivers during the 1966 F1 season. It's what you would expect, beautiful women chase handsome race car drivers. All set around the dangers of driving a race car in that era, death and injury. Four fabulous races are covered. The best line of the movie - James Garner walks the absolutely stunning gorgeous Jessica Walter back to her hotel room. *Why do you all do that?* *What?* *Wear sunglasses on top of your head? You look ridiculous.* The film is incredible from all possible angles. The director, John Frankenheimer did not invent split screen photography; but he made the best use of the technique in any film to that date. He worked very hard to make the racing feel real. Much of the footage is of real live F1 race from the 1966 season. He had all the actors learn how to drive race cars, so stunt doubles were not required. The only exception was Brian Bedford (he played Scott Stoddard) who could not learn how to drive. James Garner actually spent 2 months learning from Bob Bondurant. He also hired a big group of excellent F1 drivers of the era. Pacing, it's a long film, nearly 3 hours. There is even an intermission, with music. The racing footage is spectacular. The romance story in between was just sort of OK. The second disc is full of really great bonus features. The list is long and deep. Making of, interviews with Frankenheimer, race drivers, racing journalists, and a look at what F1 racing was like in that era. There's around 1.5 hours of material. New to the movie - you have to remember in 1966, there was no ESPN, no in car cameras, and no high definition. Putting a camera on an F1 camera and seeing 150mph 6 inches above the ground, was revolutionary. None of us had ever seen anything like it. People also stood right next to the track with no barriers. There were no major sponsors on cars. And drivers got killed frequently - it was a very dangerous business. Today, Father's Day 2009, I watched this movie. I'm reminded of the day my father took me to see this film - my first panavision film ever, and the reason I love racing so much. I was 9 years old, and was stunned by this film for weeks afterwards. Finding it on VHS a long time later, was just disappointing. The LaserDisc version was really nice. 4 Disc sides, really good sound, good picture. It was almost like the original theater version. Then this DVD came along, and I now own a really great surround system and large television. The original theater experience was very close. It's just a darn great movie. This version is really nice. I can't wait for Blu-Ray.

(Rusty Shackleford, 2009-06-10) This movie is a must for racing fans and casual observers alike. The details, the sounds and the characters all make this movie an awesome experience to behold! Each race depicted in the film keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat... wanting more. For a never forget experience, be sure to view Grand Prix with your surround sound system turned up to the max!

(Jon Warshawsky, 2008-12-16) If you're a vintage racing fan, Grand Prix needs no review: it's a remarkable document of the golden age of racing, made at a time when the real cars -- and drivers -- were available. Phil Hill's recent passing reminded us of what we've lost. If you're a film enthusiast, and maybe not so knowledgeable about 1960s Formula One, Frankenheimer's work still delivers. The cinematography is superb, and the script provides a fascinating look into the social scene and competitive aspects of racing back then. It's educational, without the burden of being a documentary, and apart from the overture and intermission segments it's easy to forget you're watching a 1966 movie. And it has a bit of substance: 1960s racers risked their lives in every race, much more so than F1 drivers do today in their much more elaborate cars. The spectre of death, and the sense that some onlookers might be there for the carnage, weighed on at least some of the drivers who were there for the sport. Grand Prix acknowledges this. Grand Prix may be the best racing movie ever made. McQueen's LeMans in 1971 (he was originally supposed to be in Grand Prix) is a cult classic for diehard race fans, but almost devoid of plot or dialogue. I'm a big fan but would hesitate to recommend to anyone who isn't a gearhead. Grand Prix, on the other hand, should be very enjoyable to almost anyone with an appreciation of the era. The extras included in the two-DVD set are also very good, and you can watch them prior to the film if you're among those whose knowledge of Formula One is minimal.

Shop Now: Grand Prix [HD DVD]