Movie "Grand Prix" coming out on DVD!
We know many Autoblog readers were among the 7,105 people who signed the petition to persuade Warner Home Video to release this classic movie on DVD. Well, we're a little late in posting this update, but in case you haven't heard, your efforts have been rewarded! Warner announced in April that a U.S. release for a two-disc 40th anniversary special edition of John Frankenheimer's Academy Award winning movie is scheduled for July 11.The re-release is fully restored with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, in 16x9 widescreen format, and includes several special feature documentaries on the making of the movie.
The movie predates the era of computer-generated special effects, and all the racing footage was shot "live," with many of the cars driven by real-life grand prix racers. Many legendary racers also appear in cameo roles in the film, including Graham Hill, Richie Ginther, Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren, and Phil Hill, and hardcore fans will have fun playing "spot the famous racer" while watching the movie.
Kudos to The Motorsport Collector in Downers Grove, Illinois for spearheading the petition drive. Reward their efforts by pre-ordering the DVD at their website: www.PutGrandPrixonDVD.com. (Amazon is also accepting advance orders.) We're warming up the Autoblog Theatre and getting the popcorn ready!
[via the ekartingnews.com forum]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GOKARTN 10:15PM (5/09/2006)
It's about damn time!!!! It pissed me off that I could get Porky's 3, but not a masterpiece like Grand Prix!
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Emmett Keegan 11:49PM (5/09/2006)
Now the world will see THE Movie of the halcion days of Grand Prix auto racing, and the first time I ever saw the Hertz Shelby rental, guess the past is where its at Detroit...but keep the diming interior dome lights.
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gbh 1:10AM (5/10/2006)
The stuff worth watching almost always takes forever - at least it'll be available! That gets a coupla xmas presents out of the way really early...
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Sally 6:07AM (5/10/2006)
Nice, i buy it.
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Paulo Becker 7:00AM (5/10/2006)
John Frankenheimer... That's the guy who directed Ronin right? If so, this movie must rock =D It's going straight to my collection when it gets released.
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Richard Warren 7:38AM (5/10/2006)
Cool!
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amp 7:40AM (5/10/2006)
Pre-ordered it on Amazon last week, less than $14 for the two-disc "special edition".
It strikes me that special edition cars and DVD's are very similar. With both, it seems like the SE is the base, entry-level price point.
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Steve C. 8:32AM (5/10/2006)
Fantastic.
I know everyone wishes there were movies like this one still being made. High quality. Great actors. Realistic racing scenes.
Unfortunately, today all the "car" movies star Vin Diesel and are all about racing on the street, or they star someone like Tom Cruise as a NASCAR driver (yeah, that's believable).
For my money, there have only been two car movies ever made that are worth owning and Grand Prix in one of them.
The other? Le Mans, with the one of the only other actors (other than James Garner and P.L. Newman) who could actually drive a real racecar well enough to be competitive with the real racers -- Steve McQueen.
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Andrew 10:58AM (5/10/2006)
Should we start the petition now for a release on HD-DVD or Blue Ray? DVD is sooo yesterday.
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Rocket Punch 12:20PM (5/10/2006)
THIS IS A MUST BUY!!!!!!!!!!!! This will show the kids what REAL racing movies is about.
You can shove your fast effing furious up your exhaust!
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jimmy cripe 12:18AM (10/13/2006)
is emmet keegan the donkadelic bonk jibbin fool i know
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