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Bells and Sirens in Steve McQueens Le Mans film?


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#1 Mark Bennett

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Posted 08 April 2004 - 15:16

Something occured to me the other day whilst catching a bit of Le Mans...

In the film, every time there is an accident, there is a bell ringing, then a siren, followed by the commentator saying "Attention, attention - there has been an accident..." Followed by the car numbers.

Did they really announce incidents like this? Or is it just dramatic affect by Mr McQueen?

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#2 Lotus23

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Posted 08 April 2004 - 23:37

During the 3 years I attended the race (61-63), I don't recall any bells/sirens -- just the announcements. As I recall, they were first given in French, followed by a briefer English summarization.

Of course, this was all over four decades ago, pre-McQueen, and I don't trust my memory as much as I did before I joined this forum!

#3 RTH

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Posted 09 April 2004 - 13:33

As I remember in the film the PA was only in English - with an American accent ! Certainly during the last 14 yr period on all the occassions I have attended the PA was only in French ( at machine gun fire speed) The English commentary is available only on Radio Le Mans - on headphones by an all English crew based in the trade village.

I suspect the bells and sirens were dubbed in for dramatic effect - usually very serious accidents & fatalities are down played & hushed up anyway, - the nightime on track flashing yellow lights instead of waived yellow flags are authentic.