Le Mans - Reunion with the movie by Steve McQueen
05/29/2011
"Le Mans" is one of the more controversial films ever made. While people who have little interest in fast cars, racing and men's worlds barely survive the first few minutes, the 109-minute racing movie has become a true cult film among fans of prototype racing.
It's understandable, as this movie requires a special kind of nerve. Hardly a word is spoken in the first 38 minutes and racing, driving and pit scenes make up the main part of the movie. But these are really something!
To capture the realistic footage, a Porsche 908/02 was used as a "camera car" (piloted by Linge, Slotemaker and Williams) in the real 24-hour race in 1970. And many scenes were re-enacted at real speed. Jo Siffert played a not insignificant role, as he provided some of the vehicles used in the film. Instead of the expensive original vehicles, some cheaply purchased Lola T70 chassis (!) with appropriately adapted bodies were used for accident scenes. David Piper lost a lower leg in one of these staged collisions.
Dialogue remains sparse throughout the film, but some sentences are said that have been widely quoted ever since, such as: "Racing is life, anything that happens before of after is just waiting". So it is the thrilling racing scenes and gladiator fights that make this film so appealing. However, the film is also particularly recommended to fans of the Porsche 917, as never before or since has the car been presented in such a dynamic and powerful way.
June 9, 2011 is almost Christmas for Le Mans fans. That's when the Blu-ray version of the film will be released, adding a new dimension to the enjoyment of this movie.
For those who are undecided, here is the trailer for the movie: