86 replies to this topic

[Ralliart]

As regards the '73 USGP, my understanding:
1 Stewart had informed Tyrrell and Walter Hayes in April that he was going to retire at the end of the year.
2 Ferrari had signed Regazzoni for '74 but Lauda was still on BRM's books (he would even test after The Glen) but would go to Ferrari (partly on Regga's recommendation to Enzo) if he could get out of his contract.
3 Unbeknownst (apparently) to Cevert, Tyrrell was trying to convince Jackie to, if it came down to it, allow Cevert to win.
4 Cevert, apparently, went out in qualifying - he was either lying 4th or he achieved that spot before his last lap - not knowing that he would be allowed to win and that he would be no. 1 in '74, paired with Jody. Had he been armed with this knowledge before that qualifying session, I wonder...
I can see a film being made about the '76 season but a film about what was, is and always will be, a tragedy, I have no plans on watching it.

[jj2728]

I fail to see why people are so down on the fact that this movie may be produced. Who knows what the producers thought process will be and/or how the storyline will play itself out. I'm just gonna wait and see and should it make it to the big screen will undoubtedly go and see it.

[scheivlak]

Just a question: is there anybody in the world that can play a convincing Francois Cevert?

I've never seen someone like him in the more literal sense of the word.

[jj2728]

Just a question: is there anybody in the world that can play a convincing Francois Cevert?

I've never seen someone like him in the more literal sense of the word.

Good question!

[CSquared]

Senna worked as a movie because once in a racing car he became a sociopath; indeed bordering on a psychopath at times; and it was this psychological study which made him interesting to non-fans of motorsport.

Have you seen the movie? 'Cuz that's not what it's about at all.

[David M. Kane]

Have you seen the movie? 'Cuz that's not what it's about at all.

I don't even know what to say? Clearly you had an entirely different viewing than I.

[Hank the Deuce]

Have you read his autobiography?

I have, it's been a few years but I seem to remember he took financial risks to go racing without any "family money" and did it fairly hard.

he had borrowed 1750 pounds from his grandmother to purchase a Mini he'd crashed before its owner could find out, which turned into a swap and more debt for a racing Mini... although Lauda thought that his father might've stumped for that when the car's owner came clean to Lauda the Elder, that his son was racing... and perhaps that he may have owed money to do so... "To Hell And Back/Meine Story" outlines it as a procession of bank loans/sponsorship deals, cemented by the financiers looking upon Lauda as "coming from money" and therefore not so much of a risk... but Old Lauda (Niki's grandfather) had scuttled at least one of those deals too. Still, according to that book, Niki owed something like 170,000 pounds, the repayments for which were covered by starting money for BMW in touring cars, and then by signing with BRM post Monaco - which he felt there was no other choice.

While Niki might've traded on the Lauda name - which was apparently a rather aristocratic one - to open doors, my impression of him would be that he possessed a determination to be his own man.

[domenico]

Good question!

Jules Bianchi. He's got a lookalike. And he is a future WDC.

Edited by domenico, 03 April 2012 - 04:22.

[Jack-the-Lad]

As regards the '73 USGP, my understanding:

3 Unbeknownst (apparently) to Cevert, Tyrrell was trying to convince Jackie to, if it came down to it, allow Cevert to win.

I don't understand this at all. What would have been accomplished, and what would possibly motivate Stewart to take part in such a scheme, especially in the final race of an illustrious career?

[midgrid]

Just a question: is there anybody in the world that can play a convincing Francois Cevert?

I've never seen someone like him in the more literal sense of the word.

Jerome d'Ambrosio? No acting experience, but he can do his own driving scenes.

[scheivlak]

I don't understand this at all. What would have been accomplished, and what would possibly motivate Stewart to take part in such a scheme, especially in the final race of an illustrious career?

http://plus.autospor...ery-human-drama

"Ken Tyrrell had suggested to Stewart that if they had been running 1-2, he pull over and let Francois win, to symbolize the passing of the baton to the new team leader."

"Stewart, keen to go out with one last win, said it was asking a lot but he'd think about it and they'd discuss it after practice."

[Jack-the-Lad]

http://plus.autospor...ery-human-drama

"Ken Tyrrell had suggested to Stewart that if they had been running 1-2, he pull over and let Francois win, to symbolize the passing of the baton to the new team leader."

"Stewart, keen to go out with one last win, said it was asking a lot but he'd think about it and they'd discuss it after practice."

Thanks for the reference. I'm not a subscriber so I can't read the entire article, but it sounds like pure speculation, unless the writer is quoting Tyrrell directly, or is quoting someone who had direct knowlege of the situation. It's difficult for me to imagine Tyrrell asking JYS to do such a thing, and equally difficult to imagine Stewart giving it any serious consideration.

[philippe7]

Thanks for the reference. I'm not a subscriber so I can't read the entire article, but it sounds like pure speculation, unless the writer is quoting Tyrrell directly, or is quoting someone who had direct knowlege of the situation. It's difficult for me to imagine Tyrrell asking JYS to do such a thing, and equally difficult to imagine Stewart giving it any serious consideration.

Jackie tells the story himself ( at 30" )

[Jack-the-Lad]

Jackie tells the story himself ( at 30" )

Thanks, Philippe.

I certainly can't argue it coming from the horse's mouth! Still, it seems totally out of character for Tyrrell, and the "you'll be a bigger man" for giving away the race sounds quite...odd.

Jack.

Edited by Jack-the-Lad, 04 April 2012 - 22:21.

[Phil Rainford]

Donington Park today...





PAR

[Jack-the-Lad]

Donington Park today...





PAR

Nice picture. Thanks!

[zepunishment]

Jerome d'Ambrosio? No acting experience, but he can do his own driving scenes.

Although whether he could act is another story...

[E1pix]

Jerome d'Ambrosio?

Wow, you're not kidding! With matching hair, the similarities are a bit haunting...


Beautiful Tyrrell image, Phil!

Edited by E1pix, 06 April 2012 - 02:15.

[watkins]

Here's a link to an article from a local newspaper in the Watkins Glen area about this movie project:

http://www.the-leade...to-Watkins-Glen

I'll never forget that day when most of the cars were on the track going slowly through the Boot, right after the accident, and many of the drivers weren't wearing their helmets. We then knew something very bad had happened.

Edited by watkins, 06 April 2012 - 13:36.

[BRG]

Although whether he could act is another story...

Well, he managed to act well enough to fool people into thinking that he was a racing driver. A season in F1 put that one to bed though.

[JacnGille]

Well, he managed to act well enough to fool people into thinking that he was a racing driver.

ouch!

[E1pix]

Well, he managed to act well enough to fool people into thinking that he was a racing driver. A season in F1 put that one to bed though.

Driving what?

[BRG]

Driving what?

Something called, apparently, a "Virgin-Cosworth".

Now don;t start off about how bad the Virgin was and he couldn't be expected to do any better - three seasons in GP2 with zero victories and a best championship placing of 9th suggests that he is not good enough. Looks a bit like Francois but can't drive like that sadly lost champion.

[ReWind]

three seasons in GP2 with zero victories

... and what's that?

[cpbell]

Something called, apparently, a "Virgin-Cosworth".

Now don;t start off about how bad the Virgin was and he couldn't be expected to do any better - three seasons in GP2 with zero victories and a best championship placing of 9th suggests that he is not good enough. Looks a bit like Francois but can't drive like that sadly lost champion.

True, but would any of us (let alone the average filmgoer) notice said talent gap if he was driving on screen?

[scheivlak]

... and what's that?

[seccotine]

Good question!

After seeing the guy who plays James Hunt in the Hunt-Lauda film, I thought things couldn't be better than a kind of Bobby Deerfield + Walk The Line (or another biopic of this kind).
Now, Cevert...
I can see no one to be a credible Cevert, in terms of charisma, and also because a good documentary would be so much better.
There are interviews, documents in 16 mm and also the kilometers of film shot by Jacqueline Beltoise.
So why try to recreate an era and that unique character? And why not Jean Dujardin tap dancing in a Tyrrell overall?
Or Ben Affleck with a French accent?
Ridiculous...

[BullHead]

I was under the impression that this film will be about the Jackie / Francois partnership and relationship over the whole 3 / 4 yr period. Not just a focus on 73 and certainly not Watkins Glen.
I would prefer a feature documentary on this subject rather than a drama.

[Louis Mr. F1]

Hello 

having watched the Hunt / Lauda movie made me wondering what's the progress of the Stewart / Cevert movie, does anyone know?

 

i searched the forum and couldn't find any new info since April 2012.

thank you

[Gary C]

It's been cancelled,  a good few months ago.

[Gary C]

..............apparently the producers/writers changed the 'plot' so that it now involved Francois having an affair with Helen Stewart.....which, quite understandably,  as an idea, Jackie wasn't keen on.

[LotusElise]

If they want petrol-headery, treachery and bonking, someone should make a film about the "Brooklands set" in the 1930s. 

 

We have the technology now, and it would be possible to include some of the brutality as well as the glamour. The period detail would attract some of Downton Abbey's viewers, and there is always the looming threat of war to use as both a plot device, and an ending.

[Jejking]

Jerome d'Ambrosio? No acting experience, but he can do his own driving scenes.

 

Just a question: is there anybody in the world that can play a convincing Francois Cevert?

I've never seen someone like him in the more literal sense of the word.

 

Oh wow, just wow. The similarities are frightening (yes, I know you posted in 2012). Another good sub for Cevert would be Cillian Murphy (the Scarecrow from Batman), I'm absolutely sure of it!

 

[Cappo]

Another Irish actor who would fit the role, Robert Sheehan

[colinsays]

A film about relationship between Cevert and Stewart sounds fine but lacks of neccesary drama for a good racing film

Why not a film about Senna/Prost relationship or even one about the Great Colin Chapman and the relationship with his drivers (Jim Clark, Jochen Rint,Andretti....), his problems with FISA and justice.....LOTS OF DRAMA ASSURED!!!!

I personally would prefer this last one

[LotusElise]

<fluff> Stop it, all of you. I have a thing about slim men with really dark hair and blue (or green) eyes and you are distracting me from trying to updated my neglected blog.

 

(Reminds self that Francois Cevert died before self was born, and if still living, would be older than self's dad. And that Cillian Murphy is married and the others are probably young enough to be self's nephews, if not sons.)  </fluff>

 

Racing movies that probably won't see the light of day: The Michael Schumacher Story, told as an unconvincing rags-to-riches tale of a simple German auto mechanic who battled some sort of adversity (and Damon Hill) somewhere to become a multiple champion and oft-cited symptom of F1: The Boring Years.

 

Bernie! Because we don't particularly want to know, and Andy Warhol is no longer living and available to play him, and Guy Pearce has said no.

 

The Adventures of Max Mosley because of obscenity laws, basically.

[seccotine]

I find this project insane, and not only because of the silly dramatization we can expect but above all because Cevert had a charisma that cannot be reproduced in any way.
Instead of looking at photos and try to find a good-looking guy with blue eyes and dark hair, go to Youtube and watch the videos.

The guy was obviously different, and so was the story... The year 73 has been well documented and that was a great year...

So why not to preserve the documents that exist and that won't last eternally and have a good film made with them?
It is something that hasn't been made about Cevert or Formula 1 of the 70s - I mean not for cinema, just as the film about Senna.

The best way to weaken a legend is to shoot one of those silly biopics.