Le Mans [1971]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
A classic auto-racing movie starring Steve McQueen, Le Mans puts the audience in the driver's seat for what is often called the most gruelling race in the world. McQueen plays the American driver, locked in an intense grudge match with his German counterpart during the 24-hour race through the French countryside even as he wrestles with the guilt over causing an accident that cost the life of a close friend. McQueen is his usual stoic magnetic self, and the racing sequences are among the best ever committed to film. A solid character-driven story combines with raw visceral power to make Le Mans a rich tapestry of action and thrills. --Robert Lane

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2006-07-15 rating:
Quite possibly the slowest film ever made
But all the better for it. Ironic considering the subject matter, but these paradoxes have a habit of working. Such is the case here. Le Mans is a classic. I'm not sure if I could say it has a story as such, but a multitude of small stories based on individual relationshps. Excellent performances are given by the entire cast, despite the relatively sparse dialogue. And that is a real compliment -to be believeable with little dialouge is far harder than with a volumnous script.

One thing that Le Mans does is provide quite an interesting, and realistic snap-shot of GT racing in the early 1970s. It is superbly shot, sensibly directed, with some spectacular footage (and crashes). Very good. The DVD doesn't have many extras. That doesn't particularly bother me, as I rarely bother, though some of you might be a little disapointed. A few would have added the icing on the cake.

The picture is a little grainy, but has beeen captured well for the DVD, and adds to the period feel anyway. The sound is excellent, though the levels could do with a little bit of a boost. Minor quibble. It feels real, because to a large part it was, and as such, is a mandatory purchase for any motor racing fan. Some see it as a boys own film -it's not though. There's more depth to it than that. It's not expensive either, so it's well worth aquiring.

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review by: bigdave2020 date: 2005-11-30 rating:
A film for the boys...
Is there a better film made about motor racing? I doubt it. Due to it's age, it is a fascinating snapshot of the period of LeMans racing before daft chicanes where put into the Mulsanne Straight, and racers were real heroes putting their life on the line. Forget all about the weak love interest story that pops up now and again, this is a high octane fuel, retro cool, boys movie. None of the actors in the film actually speak anything for the 1st half an hour or so, (the cars engines do the talking) until McQueen at his 1st pitstop mentions to his co-driver "watch out for the red Lola". The sound of the Porsche 917 and Ferrari 512 engines has to be heard to be believed. The sight and sound of the leading longtail 917 heading past maison blanche as the camara pulls back just after the start of the race, is awsome. McQueen is of course peerless whose style and screen presence defined an era. By the end of this film you will want to be Steve himself, just don't try to emulate his driving in your Mondeo! Slip the disc in the player, turn up the volume and send the partner down the pub. This film is so cool it hurts.

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review by: date: 2005-08-12 rating:
Great Movie
Forget the dialogue, but, this dvd is great! The cars are awesome, the camera work is great and it's a must for historic racing fans. I bought this dvd after reading the other reviews and I was not disappointed. I am very tough to please so only 4 stars, but only because I'm being really picky. It's a classic.

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review by: date: 2005-07-31 rating:
Legendaey
THE best motorsports movie out there. Can't stop watching this over & over again, the revised sound and wide-screen available on DVD really give it the final touch of perfection - especially that scene when all the engines fire up (as featured on the BSkyB ad). Shame Steve can't witness that this - one of his least successful films, and the one which forced his own production company SOLAR into liquidation due to cost over-runs actually turned out to be an all-time classic. Wifes and non-car fans are non-plussed obviously due to lack of "story" beyond the struggle of the drivers, but hey ho, can't be all things to all people. BUY THIS. Then buy it again.


review by: Rich Burtons Voice date: 2005-05-19 rating:
One of his best.
Don't be put off if you are not into cars and racing...I'm not the biggest car fan in the world but i did enjoy this movie.Watch it purley for McQueens powerful screen presence..He hardly has any lines but the emotion coming from the eyes says it all....A good film..one of his best.

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Video . DVD . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1970 - 1979
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