Grand Prix: Will it EVER be released?

Eric_B_C · 10-11-2004, 12:36 AM

I've been lamenting the lack of any kind of DVD release for Frankenheimer's (slightly cheesy in spots) Formula One epic "Grand Prix".

All you can get is a very poor "making of" disk that, from what I've heard, has very little to do with the actual movie.

Anyone heard anything, any rumour, any smidgeon of information heard in a whisper in the bathroom, that this movie may ever see the light of day on DVD? Le Mans made it... Surely Grand Prix is worthy?

I'd even be happy with a movie only release!

Drew Reiber · 10-11-2004, 01:19 AM

I am also someone who has been waiting a while for this movie. I've become a huge Frankenheimer fan in the last 2 years and the only bits I've seen of Grand Prix are the clips in "The Directors: John Frankenheimer". The film looks incredible and obviously had quite an influence on the entire racing film genre... but for some reason, they're still sitting on the release. WHY?!?

Jeff_HR · 10-11-2004, 03:34 AM

I fortunately have my WS Laserdisc until this gets a release.

Ken Koc · 10-11-2004, 08:16 AM

"Grand Prix" would be great to have on DVD. I'm glad I still have the widescreen Laserdisc as well.

Eric_B_C · 10-11-2004, 04:39 PM

ARGHH! There's a laserdisc version? BASTARDS! I thought this was only ever out on VHS, but the fact it's out on LD just makes it's DVD all the more aggravating.

I would sell a kidney for an XVID rip of the LD version! (Okay, maybe half a kidney.)

I think I shall have to try and track one down. I already have it on VHS but really want a copy that isn't going to degrade. (Since my tape sure is.)

Drew: Head to http://www.turnerclassicmovies.com and at the top, search for Grand Prix. The site has the original trailer, and a couple of other videos. One is a short "making of" that's really interesting. The other is a brief interview with Frankenheimer. He's right when he says they could never make this movie now. Also, the movie is airing on TCM in November in all it's letterboxed glory.

And to think, what passes for the racing genre now is idiotic drivel like "Driven".

**HTF Ads**

Jeff_HR · 10-12-2004, 03:30 AM

The LD has been out for many years. A little checking would have discovered that fact. I just wish Frankenheimer had done a commentary for it.

Eric_B_C · 10-12-2004, 03:16 PM

Why would I have checked that when A) Laserdisc was a pretty obscure format for anyone but the hardcore, and B) how the hell WOULD you find that out? Not like you can go to Amazon and search for laserdiscs. You may know your laserdiscs. Us common people don't

A huge shame Frankenheimer never did a commentary. I have the airing of the movie taped off Speedvision a few years ago. That had a lot of interviews with Frankenheimer, Garner etc... Sadly I had to edit some of it out as it was during the "intermissions". (It was shown without commercials) I didn't want 15 minutes of chatter in the middle of the movie.

Sadly Speedvision never re-aired it so I couldn't tape what I missed. But I have, probably, 40 minutes of stuff. Whoever owns the rights to that stuff (probably Fox since they bought Speedvision) could provide that as extras. (Okay, so Fox owned material on an MGM DVD is unlikely

)

Dick · 10-12-2004, 03:33 PM

The widescreen laser disc is severly compromised. The aspect ratio is something like 2.10:1 and very obviously omits a fair amount of left/right screen information (you can see this during the credit sequence). I was never happy with the laser for a number of reasons, and have been looking forward to an eventual DVD. It amazes me Warner Bros. hasn't jumped on this one yet.

Nelson Au · 10-12-2004, 10:54 PM

Quote:

The widescreen laser disc is severly compromised. The aspect ratio is something like 2.10:1 and very obviously omits a fair amount of left/right screen information (you can see this during the credit sequence)

Really? I am now watching my Grand Prix widescreen laserdisc in an effort to see what you are referring to. No offense is meant, but both the beginning and end credits do not look like anything is omitted, in fact the credits are well within the frame, centered. I crudely measured the aspect ratio and I would agree with your assessment of 2:1. Frankenheimer's use of split screens appears to have been preserved in their presentation throughout this laserdisc. Of course I have never seen this film in either a regular theatrical presentation or in a Cinerama presentation to compare with the LD.

The laserdisc is an MGM/UA release dated 1991, the running time is 2 hours 58 minutes. It includes the overture prior to the film's start and the entr 'acte at mid-point. I really like this laserdisc. Of course the color may look a bit faded compared to films of the same era already remastered for DVD, but it is sharp and a fairly clean tranfer for what it is.

For more information about this film and others presented in Cinerama, a member of this forum had pointed to this site for more information. It may be his site.

JeremySt · 10-12-2004, 11:38 PM

Quote:

The LD has been out for many years. A little checking would have discovered that fact.