By Chris Barrymore
I really, really, REALLY wanted to include Charlie’s Angels (2000) on this list. After all, Drew Barrymore easily passes for a member of the pit crew, it has a very important scene that takes place at a race track, and you can’t go wrong with Bill Murray driving your race car around in circles on a track. If this was a Top Eleven List, then it would definitely be included. As it is, it will have to remain only on the Drew Barrymore Top Ten List.
At least for now.
Meanwhile ....
Doing research on the Elvis movies ignited my interest in mid-1960's Ann-Margret. Since she is currently old enough to be my mother, I have to suspend reality a bit here in order to not make this weird. So let's say I could time travel.
If I could time travel, like, as in Back to the Future (1985), then I would go back to the Hollywood sets of the '60s on which Ann-Margret was pouring her young soul out onto the silver screen. The class. The beauty. The voice. Like some sort of angel from Sweden.
It is a reminder of a simpler time. A time that I was never a part of.
And ya know, her appearance on the Flintstones in the early 60's didn't hurt either. It simply introduced a new generation (either through the original broadcast or in my case, reruns) to her AWESOMENESS.
Anyway, on a completely unrelated note, here are the Top Ten racing films of all time, presented once again in chronological order:
Viva Las Vegas (1964) starring Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret - This film is considered to be one of Elvis' best films. And his co-star, who from what I’ve seen in magazines, TV specials and internet video, really had it all going on back in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The chemistry between the two stars was apparently real during the filming. Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret Olsson allegedly began an affair which received considerable attention from gossip columnists and led to a showdown with a worried Priscilla Beaulieu (aka the future Mrs. Presley). CATFIGHT!!!
Speedway (1968) Starring Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra, Bill Bixby – Another entry from The King, only this time he gets close to an American-born princess. This film is good enough to make The List on its own merits, but gets an automatic pass for being a film that features this guy.
Cannonball! (1976) Starring David Carradine - The plot of this film became the basis for other films on this list such as it's namesake, for one. In this original version, the illegal cross country race degenerates into a violent demolition derby as contestants use any means at their disposal to try to eliminate the competition. It culminates in a multiple car pileup in New Jersey. Funny. The same thing happened to me the last time I was in Jersey.
The Cannonball Run (1981) Starring Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Jackie Chan, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Dom Deluise, Terry Bradshaw, Jamie Farr, Tara Buckman, Adrienne Barbeau - This film boasts an All-Star cast and is a hilarious movie. One of my many favorite scenes goes a little something like this:
Fenderbaum: [Fenderbaum and Blake's Ferrari drives alongside J.J.'s ambulance] Pull over! We want to give you our blessing!
Victor Prinsi: J.J., there are two priests in that car. They want us to pull over.
J.J. McClure: Victor, that's two priests driving a Ferrari. When's the last time you saw two priests drive a Ferrari? What are they doing, taking home the bingo money?
Victor Prinsi: No, they're doing the work of the Lord. In a Ferrari, they can just do it faster.
Six Pack (1982) Starring Kenny Rogers, Diane Lane, Anthony Michael Hall - This film is a story about orphaned children who finally find a father. About a lonely man who finally finds a good woman. About an unsuccessful racer who finally finds success on the comeback trail. And everybody lives unreasonably happily ever after.
Days of Thunder (1990) Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Randy Quaid - Before Kubrick exposed their marriage as a sham, before it all went bad, and before people starting referring to celebrity couples by some portmanteau of their two names, there was Tom and Nicole in this film.
Dorf Goes Auto Racing (1990) Starring Tim Conway - In this film, the protagonaist, Dorf, with his usual skill, soon turns the race into a shambles and sets the world of stock car racing on its ear. Are we sure we’re not talking about Jimmie Johnson here? I'm sure if someone had actually ever rented a copy of this straight-to-VHS masterpiece, I'd be able to find a clip of it on YouTube. Alas ....
The Fast and the Furious (2001) Starring Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez - The same can be said of all subsequent sequels, but this film has hot chicks and street racing. Need I say more?
Cars (2006) Starring Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry The Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, Tony Shaloub, George Carlin - Rarely if ever has a racing film, animated or otherwise, taught us so much about sportsmanship, friendship, honor, and loyalty. This film was rightfully nominated for Best Animated Feature for that year’s Academy Award.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) Starring Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen - This film is already a racing classic and featured a wide range of true life racers and broadcasters including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip, and Jamie McMurray.
Marry, bang, kill?
ReplyDeleteAnn-Margrock, Wilma Flintstone, Betty Rubble ....