25 replies to this topic

[Zippel]

This was a film I loved to watch as a kid but, artistic merits aside, does anyone know when the Monte Carlo scenes were filmed? Specifically the first 4 minutes of this:



I noticed a number of Monte Carlo Rally locations and they race through the Grand Hotel Hairpin no less than three times(!) but disguise the fact by using different camera angles. Did they film while the Rally was on or the Grand Prix? I assume it must have been sometime in 1976 as the film was released in 77.

[Barry Boor]

Aside of the fact that it's all a complete load of old tosh, don't you just hate it when they feel they have to run the film through faster than normal?

[kayemod]

Aside of the fact that it's all a complete load of old tosh, don't you just hate it when they feel they have to run the film through faster than normal?

Yes, but at least that means that the film ends sooner than it would otherwise have done.

[Leigh Trevail]

Aside of the fact that it's all a complete load of old tosh,

No it's not tosh, it's a Disney film made for kids, it is a bit of fun not to be taken seriously.

[Sharman]

No it's not tosh, it's a Disney film made for kids, it is a bit of fun not to be taken seriously.

You mean that Herbie wasn't REAL?

[Leigh Trevail]

Of course Herbie is real but he was only acting in the film.

[arttidesco]

Sorry an error occurred, please try again later !

Going on the Ron Howard film 'Rush' that is currently in production I'd guess the film was shot between 1975 - 1976, I very much doubt that it was shot during the running of the Rally proper, wrong time of year, or the Grand Prix, simply not enough space for the GP and a movie crew.

IMHO Herbie is mostly harmless

Unless you have copious numbers of hyper kids to take to the cinema of course

Edited by arttidesco, 15 January 2012 - 15:46.

[RS2000]

Did they film while the Rally was on or the Grand Prix? I assume it must have been sometime in 1976 as the film was released in 77.

Wasn't the last time the Rally included a test on the GP circuit 1964?

[RStock]

Were they still using hay bales at that time? I think it's all filmed on a circuit set up just for the movie.

[GMACKIE]

Of course Herbie is real but he was only acting in the film.

Herbie is real for sure.

I have custody of one of his cousins [No. 8], and all that's required is to remove your hands from the steering wheel at speed, and he will do exactly what Herbie does.

[Zippel]

No it's not tosh, it's a Disney film made for kids, it is a bit of fun not to be taken seriously.

Exactly, no one expects an Inspector Clouseau film to be an accurate representation of solving crime.

Going on the Ron Howard film 'Rush' that is currently in production I'd guess the film was shot between 1975 - 1976, I very much doubt that it was shot during the running of the Rally proper, wrong time of year, or the Grand Prix, simply not enough space for the GP and a movie crew.

That surprises me considering the cost of closing down a few popular roads for filming wouldn't be small, though there may have been some financial incentives to film in Europe at the time. I originally thought they'd have filmed just before or after Rally stages to avoid closing those roads a second time.

Wasn't the last time the Rally included a test on the GP circuit 1964?

If that's the case then the road must have been closed off purely for the film.

[BRG]

If that's the case then the road must have been closed off purely for the film.

I suspect so. The early part, in the country, would be easy. The French are relaxed about closing roads for rallies etc, so a few dollars would achieve that no problem. The shots in the town itself cannot have been during the GP weekend as there are no barriers in place. In 1976, there was armco down from Casino to Mirabeau, but it is not present in this film.

As for during the MC Rally, I note RS2000 suggests that the race track wasn't used after 1964, but I am not sure that is so. I wasn't following rallying back then, but I am fairly sure I can remember the rally using the race track far more recently. However, I think it looks too spring-like to be mid-winter (even on the Med coast) so I think they must have got the roads closed specially. I doubt if it would have been a very big deal - note that there are parked cars in some shots, so maybe a closure for an hour or so on a Sunday could have been arranged, again for a certain payment. After all, it is speeded up, so wouldn't have meant driving very fast or incurring much risk. 'Elf 'n Safety wouldn't allow it now, of course!

And what is that hideous red thing driven by a Tom Selleck look-alike?

[adamcooperf1]

Most of the circuit filming in the Herbie movies was done at Laguna Seca, dressed in 'Goes to Monte Carlo' to look like France.

Edited by adamcooperf1, 16 January 2012 - 12:47.

[arttidesco]

And what is that hideous red thing driven by a Tom Selleck look-alike?

That would be the Laser 917 not the only 'Quasimodo' of 917's as visitors to last years Race Retro may recall

[BRG]

That would be the Laser 917 not the only 'Quasimodo' of 917's as visitors to last years Race Retro may recall

It looks better semi-derelict! As for the other one..... as an 'evocation', it evokes bad memories of early E93A based kit cars , rather than the hallowed 917.

[RS2000]

AAGR will know when the GP circuit test was last used on the rally - he's written a book on it after all - although he's not likely to read a thread about Herbie.
....I still can't believe I did...

There may have been a one off use in more recent years? - and rally man Jean Ragnotti stuffed a Clio or some such into the back of a towed FI car on one GP weekend also in more recent years. You have to think of the rally cars you've seen on the GP test - and I can't recall anything more modern than Hopkirk in his winning year (and Lungfeldt in the Falcon "winning" that year's rally on scratch).

[Tim Murray]

AAGR will know when the GP circuit test was last used on the rally - he's written a book on it after all ...

... which agrees that the GP circuit test was scrapped after 1964.

[Glengavel]

It looks better semi-derelict! As for the other one..... as an 'evocation', it evokes bad memories of early E93A based kit cars , rather than the hallowed 917.

Where's a can of petrol and a match when you need one?

[WillHenderson]

It's the first time I've seen this since I was a kid. All of the shots in the Youtube sequence were shot in and around Monaco. I think the first shots were in La Turbie in France which is just up the hill from Monaco. Then the cars descend on the road from La Turbie village towards Monaco. At 1 min 43 seconds the film shows the cars crossing the Route Moyenne Corniche. (The road they come down from is as far as i know a dead end). They cross the main road and down The Boulevarde de La Turbie which leads into Beausoleill and the next clip shows them going down the main street in Beausoleil. This is one way to get into the Monte Carlo area of Monaco and the shots here are in the correct order. There follows a clip of the cars entering the Casino Gardens area and then two shots from different angles at the Loews/Grand Hotel hairpin. At 2mins 24secs the cars come into Casino Square and then are seen coming from Lowes to Portier. The Tunnel they use is not the F1 track tunnel.

[arttidesco]

I wasn't following rallying back then, but I am fairly sure I can remember the rally using the race track far more recently.

I was sure I had seen Loeb tackling part of the GP track in a C4, this link seems to suggest my hard drive is not completely shot

[RS2000]

That was what was at the back of my mind - something fairly recent - but that was the sort of silly "Superspecial" the WRC in the modern era has inflicted on true enthusiasts in an attempt to entertain the uninformed masses. The full GP track run as a lapping "circuit" stage went after 64. Pity really, as a mass of blue Alpine 110s, 911s, Fulvias etc. thrashing round would have been quite a spectacle.

[Vitesse2]

That was what was at the back of my mind - something fairly recent - but that was the sort of silly "Superspecial" the WRC in the modern era has inflicted on true enthusiasts in an attempt to entertain the uninformed masses. The full GP track run as a lapping "circuit" stage went after 64. Pity really, as a mass of blue Alpine 110s, 911s, Fulvias etc. thrashing round would have been quite a spectacle.

Less well-known is that in both 1938 and 1939 the cancelled Coupe Rainier - a full-blown race - was intended to be the culmination of the Paris-Nice Rally and would have formed part of the overall classification. Interesting prospect, as you'd have had everything from Simca Huits to Delahaye 135s, Renault Juvaquatres, Ford V8s and big Hotchkisses on course!

[arttidesco]

That was what was at the back of my mind - something fairly recent - but that was the sort of silly "Superspecial" the WRC in the modern era has inflicted on true enthusiasts in an attempt to entertain the uninformed masses. The full GP track run as a lapping "circuit" stage went after 64. Pity really, as a mass of blue Alpine 110s, 911s, Fulvias etc. thrashing round would have been quite a spectacle.

Not to forget street racing featuring the Stratos, Maxi Turbo, RS 1600, Audi Quattro (S1 ) and Mini Metro models !

[Zippel]

That would be the Laser 917

Apparently its a rebodied VW Beetle which makes it appropriate for the film.

It's the first time I've seen this since I was a kid. All of the shots in the Youtube sequence were shot in and around Monaco. I think the first shots were in La Turbie in France which is just up the hill from Monaco. Then the cars descend on the road from La Turbie village towards Monaco. At 1 min 43 seconds the film shows the cars crossing the Route Moyenne Corniche. (The road they come down from is as far as i know a dead end). They cross the main road and down The Boulevarde de La Turbie which leads into Beausoleill and the next clip shows them going down the main street in Beausoleil. This is one way to get into the Monte Carlo area of Monaco and the shots here are in the correct order. There follows a clip of the cars entering the Casino Gardens area and then two shots from different angles at the Loews/Grand Hotel hairpin. At 2mins 24secs the cars come into Casino Square and then are seen coming from Lowes to Portier. The Tunnel they use is not the F1 track tunnel.

Thanks for that. Nice to know they weren't shooting entirely random locations during the last bit of the race. They could have easily said 'who cares, its a kids film.'

[raceannouncer2003]

a Tom Selleck look-alike

Eric Braeden

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000967/

Vince H.

[RS2000]

Not to forget street racing featuring the Stratos, Maxi Turbo, RS 1600, Audi Quattro (S1 ) and Mini Metro models !

There's a story of Timo Makinen, having retired his RS1600 from the rally, arriving at a Ford tyre point manned mainly by Ford Germany personnel, and demanding:
"Racers, schnell schnell !".
After the mechanics had leapt into action immediately, someone asked:
"But Timo, we understood you'd retired. Why do you need racers?"
Makinen:
"To drive more quickly to TipTop Bar".