At the date of this filming, 1971, i think steve mcqueen was a little too old41 to be in competitive motor racing. Following the success of bullitt, a film about the worlds most famous endurance race with steve mcqueen as its star should have been a hit. The car movie that made steve mcqueen lose his cool for steve mcqueen, filming his race car movie le mans was the culmination of a dream and yet it wrecked his life. The turbulent production of the steve mcqueen carracing classic le mans serves as the subject of this documentary from filmmakers gabriel clarke and jon mckenna. Rating is available when the video has been rented. Filming at speed the making of the movie le mans steve. The 24 hours of le mans is a legendary race, but le mans the film is a legend in its own right when it comes to cinematic portrayals of motorsport. The camera pans around and you recognise him as michael delaney steve mcqueen, the top driver of the gulf team. This documentary amazes me in how no effort was spared to make the movie. He would lose his marriage, close friendships and control of. Le mans 24 hours for steve mcqueen, and many others, a.
A new steve mcqueen documentary chronicles the troubled production of the king of cools racing drama le mans and all the drama that came with it. He decided to use his star status to bring a passion project to the big screen, a film about the 24hour car race in france called le mans. As horological icons go, the heuer monaco wristwatch worn by actor steve mcqueenaka the king of coolin the 1971 film le mans is an undisputed collector darling, right up there with. The driver stops, climbs out, the camera angle shows his back.
Chris malburg is also an author, his latest novel is man of honor. Mcqueen was a lover of racing and speed and it is palpable in the documentary. Steve mcqueen in le mans version francaise youtube. Acknowledgements a true steve mcqueen fan, don whistance provided the photograph of the chateau lornay. Featurelength documentary following steve mcqueens efforts to make his passion project, the 1971 film le mans, revealing the true extent of the troubled production process. This documentary film interweaves stunning, newly discovered footage and mcqueens private recordings with original interviews to reveal the. Hot off the back of classics like the thomas crown affair and bullitt, the racing fanatic began production of his passion project, le. The last mile revisited pebble beach 2012 jay lenos garage.
Theme challendging the clock is more rewarding that challenging ones self. With a fixed stare, he focuses on a certain spot beyond the steel rails. This article was first published on june 26, 2018 at the real story behind steve mcqueens heuer monaco. It features actual footage captured during the 1970 race held the previous june. Le mans in the rearview mirror, chronicles the iconic 1971 racing film with hundreds of never before seen photos taken by don nunley. The man and le mans doesnt have the broad appeal of a movie like senna, its still a fascinating behindthescenes look at. Steve mcqueen driving porsche 911s le mans intro youtube. Filming at speed the making of the movie le mans steve mcqueen documentary duration. Le mans is a 1971 film depicting a fictional 24 hours of le mans auto race starring steve mcqueen and directed by lee h.
Alltime film rental champs, variety, 7 january 1976 p 46. An official selection in the cannes film festival, 2015, this feature documentary is the closest study yet of the superstar actor, steve mcqueen, through the prism of the making of his lifes dream the ultimate motor racing movie, le mans. This has the most incredible racing footage ive ever seen in a film. Exclusive interview with le mans property master don nunley. Steve mcqueen of shame at the toronto film festival 2011 by red carpet diary. The thomas crown affair and bullitt had made him a sex symbol and a household name. How steve mcqueens quest to make the perfect racing film. With steve mcqueen, sharon tate, roman polanski, chad mcqueen. For any fan of the great steve mcqueen this film is a must have part of any serious collection.
Variety magazine has been given exclusive access to steve mcqueen. In 1970, steve mcqueen set out to make the ultimate racing movie. Don nunley is the author of a book about le mans entitled steve mcqueen. The man and le mans is the story of obsession, betrayal and ultimate vindication. With a surge of star wattage from smashes such as the thomas crown affair and bullitt, actor steve mcqueen jumpstarted an ambitious passion project. He was the king of cool and the worlds most notorious ladies man. With steve mcqueen, siegfried rauch, elga andersen, ronald leighhunt. Filming at speed the making of the movie le mans steve mcqueen documentary.
Steve mcqueen and michael fassbender at the 49th new york film festival by film at lincoln center. In general, le mans depicts a 24 hours of le mans race involving michael delaney steve mcqueen as he participates while faced with the presence of the widow of a driver who died the previous. On 12 july, production of the movie about ferrari and fords duel at the 24 hours in the midtolate 1960s made a stop in le mans. A 1970 porsche 917k from steve mcqueens movie le mans may. The start of the race top 5 weird ww2 german prototypes that actually flew duration.
In anticipation of the film, here is a twopart look back at 24 stories about steve mcqueens 1970 le mans, now considered a classic, with this first installment centered around filming on the track. Porsche enthusiasts will particularly thrill to the close up scenes. Hot off the back of classics like the thomas crown affair and bullitt, the racing fanatic began production of his passion project, le mans, centered on the 24hour car race in. Depicting the racing at the famous le mans circuit. Too bad steve did not actually get to drive at lemans. In this film, steve mcqueen is ideally cast as a champion racecar driver, participating in the famed 24hour race headquartered in le mans, france. Steve mcqueen, siegfried rauch, elga andersen, louise edlind credits. Given his choice of film projects thanks to a lucrative deal with cinema center studios, mcqueen quickly began work on the passion project he. It is the story of how one of the most volatile, charismatic stars of his generation, who seemingly lost so much he held dear in the pursuit of. Watch the new steve mcqueen le mans documentary trailer. This 1970 gulfliveried 917k was used as a test car for le mans before becoming the star car in steve mcqueens legendary racing movie legendary racing movie le mans film. At the time le mans went into production mcqueen was one of cinemas biggest stars. The race shots were ahead of their time giving the motor racing fan onboard footage of some of the greatest cars of the time.