CARS ON THE RUN

Everyone enjoys a good movie: a chance to live vicariously through the adventure and romance of a leading character, to experience exotic locales, to be a super hero, or to drive a car in a way that only Hollywood can realize. What is more exciting than gripping the edge of your seat; widescreen visuals fueled by the thunderous sound of roaring engines and screeching tires, taking you on a thrill ride that you could never live on your own. It’s the thrill of the movie car chase. It’s living the thrill of cars.



There is a long history of car chase scenes in film, more than I realized until I started to really think about them. Everyone has their favorites, but at the top of my list, Bond leads the chase. The signature of any (and all) James Bond film(s) is the car chase. They all are exciting and they all take you where no man has gone before, or at least in reality. Since there are too many to critique, it’s better to just sit back, follow the link and enjoy the ride.

JAMES BOND
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=bond+car+chase&aq=1&oq=BOND+CAR




When it comes to movie car chases, the 1968 classic, BULLIT is a must see. Steve McQueen and stunt driver Bud Ekins traverse the hills of San Francisco high revving McQueen’s Mustang in hot pursuit of the Dodge Charger. From the moment you see the menacing grill of the Ford in the Dodge’s rear view mirror; you know what’s coming. The final tip off is the close-up of the seat belt being buckled by the driver of the Charger. Roll ‘em, and action! The rest is history. Topping speeds of over 100 mph, careening up, over and down the hills of San Francisco, the chase takes the viewer on the ultimate thrill ride.

So successful was this 9 minute scene, it overshadowed the rest of the film and it firmly established the Mustang as an icon of Americana. The Mustang’s excitement in this film has led Ford to successfully market limited edition “Bullit” versions of the car for sale to the general public. A dream becomes a reality, thanks to Hollywood.

BULLIT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMc2RdFuOxI


Making of Bullitt


Close on BULLIT’s heels came the ultimate car chase in 1971’s, THE FRENCH CONNECTION. Gene Hackman’s Pontiac zig-zagging through Brooklyn, chasing the elevated train, still thrills to this day. THE FRENCH CONNECTION's director, William Friedkin, successfully captured the essence of New York City traffic; turning fantasy into reality, as to how best to conquer the streets of Brooklyn, and how to live to tell the story. Wouldn’t it be great if you too could tackle rush hour the way he did?

THE FRENCH CONNECTION
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu3GmRQ-U9k&feature=PlayList&p=078491C026D4FF96&playnext=1&index=35#




Roy Scheider (who played Gene Hackman’s partner in FC) returned to try to capitalize on the successful formula of the French Connection with a similar chase in the 1973 film, THE SEVEN UPS. While imitation is flattery, the scene does not quite measure up to the thrill of Friedkin’s work. An entertaining ride, but one you’ve taken many times before and since.

THE SEVEN UPS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vACWV5sRcY




A car chase has proven to be compelling enough to carry an entire film, as well as launch the career of the unknown director, Steven Spielberg. The 1971 made for TV thriller, DUEL, pitted Dennis Weaver against a faceless trucker for the entire film. One of the few chases of truck vs. car, and the car wins.

DUEL
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1003em-pDM8&feature=related


Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7TixHbC3rw




The George Lucas 1973 classic, AMERICAN GRAFFITI, captures the automobile as a signature of California dreamin’, along with the nostalgia of a bygone era, but as far as chase scenes? It only provides a short, disappointing street drag with an unknown actor (Harrison Ford) at the wheel.

AMERICAN GRAFFITI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFgTMYEaWlc




By 1977, car chase films progressed to the point of dominating the entire plot of a full length feature film in the form of Hal Needham’s, SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT. Needham, as a former Hollywood stuntman, turned a full length movie into one long chase scene, crash after crash. The formula worked. Many Smokey sequels and clones (CANNONBALL RUN) followed.

SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnRwQjTYfGI&feature=related




Many other films come to mind, some good, and some bad:

CORVETTE SUMMER, 1978
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U5NBCRdPFw&feature=related


THE BLUES BROS., 1980
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1636761881/

THE BLUES BROS. 2000, 1998
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1471873305/

THE FAST & FURIOUS, 2001
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2508980505/



The list of car chase films is endless. While my favorites are the Bond films, BULLIT and THE FRENCH CONNECTION, your list may start with the more contemporary FAST & FURIOUS, and grow from there. Regardless of the price of gas, or the state of the economy, car chases in film will continue. It will be fun to see what Hollywood delivers next. Get some popcorn, fasten your seat belt, and let’s ride.