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The Great Race vs Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

posted 10 years ago by elsa-reinsch
14 replies | jump to latest

I don't know if anyone has brought up this subject but if not. I was wondering which of these is most loved. I ask this because they are so similiar; they both came out in 1965, both are about huge races taking place in the early years of the 20th century, both are comedies, and both end in Paris (If anyone can think of any other similarities it would be appreciated). I personally love The Great Race better for many reasons which include 1. The Cast is in my opinion far superior I mean you can't beat Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood, Tony Curtis, and Peter Falk, 2. The Music is done by the great Henry Mancini, you can't beat that :), 3. The comedy in my opinion is far better, 4. It is more epic, 5. The great costumes, and 6. The pie fight and the huge bar room brawl. So what is everyone else's opinion?

[–] powersroc 10 years ago

I'm with you,TGR is more fun. I'd also add the nifty cars that Leslie & Fate drive.

[–] carrotcake8 10 years ago

also Dorothy Provine's dance hall number is a candidate for the best
musical number in a non-musical film.

[–] s007davis 9 years ago

Definitely The Great Race. I think the Jack Lemmon-Natalie Wood-Tony Curtis star trio easily outshines the James Fox-Sarah Miles-Stuart Whitman trio of the other 1965 race comedy. That stated, I do enjoy both films.

[–] SevernSarge 9 years ago

I have and enjoy both movies.
To me, The Great Race is funnier, and has greater staying power, for all the reasons already mentioned. But, I do love seeing those aircraft fly.

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[–] Prismark10 9 years ago

The Great Race is too long so I find The Magnificent Men as the better film.

Its that man again!!

[–] elsa-reinsch 9 years ago

But is it possible for a delightful film like the Great Race to be TOO long? :)

[–] movieghoul 9 years ago

Magnificent Men was only a few minutes shorter. But much better paced, scenes in GR go on too long.

[–] hoosier95-551-986445 8 years ago

Why in the world would you or anybody else want someone to chose between the two movies? They are different in such a way there is no comparison other than they are both classic comedies and each of them stand on their own merit. If someone offered me a large sum of money to choose I would go home broke actually. The only time I would choose one movie over another is in the case of a remake. The Nutty Professer is a good example. The Jerry Lewis version will always reign supreme of the two in my opinion.

[–] bonjon 8 years ago

One movie does remind a person of the other. Personally, I do not believe that you were trying to say which is better. I like them both, and they are both in my collection. I do see stark contrasts. Whereas MAGNIFICENT MEN takes a considerable deal of license and the characters are larger than life, the race itself was easier to believe. GREAT RACE however is sheer outlandishness, particularly the idea of crossing the Bering Sea on an iceberg. I guess which one is better depends on what sort of mood on is in, since despite the comparisons, they truly are different styles of comedy.

He didn't get out of the cock-a-doody car!!!

[–] brefane 8 years ago

The Great Race is strident, shrill, repetitive and soooooo long. The race is a dud and the characters are one-note and annoying so by default I'll choose TMMITFM even though I saw it in '65. Could it be worse than TGR? I doubt it. TMMITFM placed 3rd behind Darling and The Pawnbroker for Best Picture in the voting of The NY Film Critic's Circle that year and was a nominee for a Golden Globe in the Best Comedy and Best Actor categories.

[–] 8 years ago

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