DVD Corner

The Great Race Blu-ray Review

“The Great Race” is exhausting, but entertaining.

Do you remember the “Wacky Races” cartoon from the late 60’s? This 1965 feature film inspired that series. “The Great Race” is essentially one big live-action cartoon itself as it revoles around a grand automobile race from New York to Paris. The participants of said race are a heroic daredevil (The Great Leslie), an ambitious news reporter (Maggie), and Leslie’s villainous rival Professor Fate (and his bumbling assistant Maximilian Meen). Over the course of the 160 minute runtime (complete with two overtures), the globe trotting trip is filled with adventures that include a brawl, a snowstorm, a massive pie fight, political intrigue, and, yes, a love story.

You know the old saying “They don’t make them like this anymore”? That certainly rings true with Blake Edwards’ comedic “The Great Race.” This is an epic old school slapstick major motion picture with a star studded cast (Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Peter Falk), elaborate set pieces, tons of costumes and extras, and a plethora of land, air, and sea vehicles. Sure, the story is tedious and mostly amounts to Professor Fate failing at every turn ala Wile E. Coyote, but there’s something charming about this lavish production. Perhaps it’s merely fun to see Jack Lemmon having the time of his life as Professor Fate or maybe it’s just a blast to see such a colorful cinematic spectacle that doesn’t resemble anything you would see. Regardless of the answer, “The Great Race” is a trip worth embarking on even if it gets tiring along the way.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.40:1 1080p. How does it look? The glorious Technicolor dazzles in hi-def.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? It sounds a bit soft for a 5.1 track, but it still comes to life at times.

There are two extras! A theatrical trailer and a 15 minute featurette titled “Behind The Scenes With Blake Edwards’ The Great Race” which is mostly a narrated collection of film clips with some neat narrated behind-the-scenes footage.

May 17, 2015 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Blake Edwards, Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood, Peter Falk, The Great Race Blu-ray Review, Tony Curtis