Lightspeed through Paris

[AtomicLabMonkey]

I had to pick my jaw up off my desk after watching this video... I can't believe the driver survived. The filmmaker had his friend, an F1 driver, take a Ferrari through Paris at race speeds. It looks like they went out very early in the morning, but still... he blows through several red lights with cross traffic at like 100+mph. :eek:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2851488008488190547

[JonnydaJibba]

! That was rad.

[cody]

Sweet!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2d/Ferrari-275-GTB-%2764.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_275

[MPREZIV]

holy crap Batman! That's scary shit...


I like to think I've got some decent huevos, but that's a little extreme for me. Don't think I'd be trying that!

[sperry]

That's pretty famous film, check out this little review:

http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/magazine/3300.asp?id=11528

You’d be hard-pressed to find a film as steeped in myth as “C’était un Rendezvous”. Filmed in the mid-seventies by seminal French director Claude Lelouch it is regarded as the ultimate in cinema verité. Spirit Level Films are pleased to offer Classic Inside subscribers the chance to win a copy. "It makes Bullitt look like a cartoon" - Jeremy Clarkson.

For many years it has been enjoyed as an almost Masonic secret among car enthusiasts. Whisper the words “Have you seen Rendezvous ?” and you’ll receive either a knowing, “No, but I’ve heard it’s unbelievable” or a smug, “It is un-be-lieve-able”.

Lack of distribution has only fuelled the myths surrounding the film.

* Was Lelouch really arrested when it was first shown?
* Who drove the car?
* Was it Lelouch or a hired Formula One driver?
* What was the car?
* Was it really a Ferrari 275 GTB?
* How did he do it?

A composite version of the rumours/myths (garnered verbally and from the web) would read something like this;

Lelouch had made enough money from his classic “Un Homme et une Femme” to buy himself a Ferrari, which he proceeded to drive with “enthusiasm” in his native Paris.

Whilst shooting another film, a new bit of equipment was being used – a gyro stabilised camera mount. Lelouch then came up with the idea for “C’était un Rendezvous”. The camera used only had a ten minute film magazine – hence the mad dash to the steps of the Basilique du Sacre Couér in Montmatre.

On first showing, Lelouch was supposedly arrested. In his defence, he proclaimed he had taken all possible precautions. This included convincing a Formula One driver to helm the car (he refused to name him).



Subsequently the film went underground - occasionally shown in front of a Lelouch full-length feature on theatrical release. Outside of this, only poor quality pirate copies on VHS or a badly worn print were available. These would be played at car club meetings and slowly the film attained its mythical status with the arrival of the internet helping to spread the word.

What we do know is that there are no special effects or speeding up the film - Lelouch simply mounted the camera on the front of the car and shot it.

This is what separates “C’était un Rendezvous” from all other films - it’s “verité”.

Today, the audience walks into a movie, safe in the knowledge of computer-generated special effects or a production where there’s enough money to block off streets and control the traffic. Lelouch had none of this.

Richard Symons, a documentary film maker, with more than a passing interest in fast cars came to hear of it and managed to acquire a very poor 2nd generation VHS copy. He wasn’t disappointed…

“I’d never seen anything like it, 9 minutes of adrenalin that simply leaves your jaw on the floor. To cut a long story short, we got in touch with the director, dusted down the 35mm negative, restored and re-mastered it for re-release – we’ve brought out all the details and colours and it looks stunning.”

“C’était un Rendezvous” has come to represent something more than an adrenalin rush. It uniquely captures a time and a spirit that seems a long way away from today. Lelouchs’ brilliant ending only adds to this – making a beautiful sense out of the preceding nine minutes.

[Ezdno]

Hell I was doing that yesterday in downtown Reno....my movies were gonna be late at Blockbuster! Three things I noticed about that video...one, that guy knows the streets like the back of his hand, he is one crazy mofo, and there are a LOT of birds hangin around those streets!

[kidatari]

I want to watch it *cry*

Damn you Google Video!~

(You can't watch Google Video from Korea :p )

[zpeed]

That is insane full speed thru redlight without lifting.

[cody]

That is insane full speed thru redlight without lifting.
Seriously. :eek:

[JonnydaJibba]

I want to watch it *cry*

Damn you Google Video!~

(You can't watch Google Video from Korea :p )

Why not?

[sp00ln]

I want to watch it *cry*

Damn you Google Video!~

(You can't watch Google Video from Korea :p )

Why are you in Korea!?

[cody]

Why not?
Why is this video not playable in my location?

Google Video empowers content owners to select the countries where they would like their video to be shown. If you're receiving a message saying "We're sorry, but the provider of this video has not authorized Google to display this video in your location," the content owner has opted to disable video playback in your location.

http://video.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=35090

Either that, or Google is sensored in Korea like it is in China maybe.

[SpecB#127]

One word: Awesome!

[JonnydaJibba]

Why is this video not playable in my location?

Google Video empowers content owners to select the countries where they would like their video to be shown. If you're receiving a message saying "We're sorry, but the provider of this video has not authorized Google to display this video in your location," the content owner has opted to disable video playback in your location.

http://video.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=35090

Either that, or Google is sensored in Korea like it is in China maybe.

I bet it's the latter, but either way, damn.

[Joeyy]

Crazy Frenchmen watch out for that ped...

[sti deede]

Why are you in Korea!?
Air Force sent him there. :(

But 33 (32 Korea days) until he returns, finally!

[Joeyy]

What base in Korea? I've done some time in Osan. It can be very pretty in the spring if you get out into the hill and away from town.

[kidatari]

What base in Korea? I've done some time in Osan. It can be very pretty in the spring if you get out into the hill and away from town.

I'm at Osan, 5RS Blackcats ;)

[T-Will]

ATTN: kidatari

http://ts.searching.com/torrent/474535/C_etait_un_rendezvous_Claude_Lelouch_1976

:)

[kidatari]

Thanks T-Will, I'll have to check it out once I get home ;)