LeMans – on TCM this afternoon

LeMans – our choice for the best car movie ever, is on Turner Classic Movies this afternoon.

Of course any true DrivingEnthusiast would have their own copy on DVD, along with the book. If you don’t, then this is your chance.

LeMans is the quintessential racing film! Not only is the race itself an epic, but the making of the film was also an epic itself. Steve McQueen was responsible for it from start to finish. It was a labor of love for him. The movie was not well received by the critics… they felt there was too little dialog and very little plot. But it’s a, insider’s depiction of the famous event – you’ll feel as though you were there because of the exceptionally well done in-car sequences. We consider this film as a must-see for all enthusiasts.

Have patience – it’s a long film but a very rewarding one. And if it’s as cold where you are as it is here… then this is the perfect way to spend part of your Saturday.

There is also an unbelievably detailed book: A French Kiss With Death

This books covers the life and filmography of Steve McQueen as background. The main focus, however, is on the film Le Mans itself – and the book offers an incredibly detailed view of the making of the film. You’ll rarely see this level of detail about any film, much less an automotive racing film! It’s surprising that this level of memory even still exists and speaks to the extreme level of research by the author.

And, of course, if you are ever going to go to the Le Mans race itself, this book would be excellent background reading.

463 pages, with several hundred photographs. One of the best books in our automotive library!

Image to the left: from the start of the film, where Steve stops before the event to look at a length of guardrail that had to be replaced after his terrible crash the year before. Very typical scene in the film, and done without dialog.