The Great Race

Both panned and praised when it was released, this zany cross-continental romp zooms ahead full throttle for all of its 157 minutes. Tony Curtis is "The Great Leslie," and Lemmon is the arch villain, "Professor Fate." Falk is Lemmon's Igor-like sidekick, and together they scheme to best Curtis in a 22,000-mile road race from New York City to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The year is 1908, and the period cars are a delight. Wood is a femme fatale who also hopes to win the race. Her car breaks down almost immediately, so she reluctantly rides with Curtis and his mechanic, Wynn. Lemmon's car is an evolutionary precursor to the MAD MAX vehicle. The Hannibal 8 is equipped ...