34 replies to this topic

[thomasbrianwright]

Hey All! As we know the book Go Like Hell is being turned into a movie, what is everyone's thoughts or concerns about this story being captured on the big screen? What cars do you hope to be featured and of course how does everyone feel about Tom Cruise playing the role Carroll Shelby?

 

 

http://www.autoblog....y-go-like-hell/

 

 

- Thomas B. Wright

[AAGR]

Tom Cruise as Carroll Shelby ? It's a very bad joke ....

[D-Type]

Hmmmm!  I thought Carroll Shelby was quite tall and Tom Cruise, well, isn't.

 

I hope this won't turn into another Hollywood re-inventing history to what they perceive their [US] audience want - like Braveheart or Enigma.  I can see the director's problem - eg Gurney and AJ spraying champagne would make a great finale, but the Kiwis had done it the year before.  Ferrai being beaten by Shelby and a bunch of hot-rodders (the Cobra) is far more of a story than by the mighty FoMoCo (GT 40), but facts are facts.

[elansprint72]

From memory Mr Shelby was around 6 foot 3 inches, maybe a little more. I read that Cruise is 5 foot 7 inches, however, he seems to be able to find plenty of boxes to stand on:

 

http://www.collegehu...uise-being-tall

[Vitesse2]

That seventh picture is somewhat ... er ... worrying ...

[kayemod]

Isn't there another thread somewhere on this?

[Tim Murray]

I don't think so. There was some discussion about it in the 'Rush' thread, starting here.

[Bloggsworth]

Thetans can shape-shift...

[fbarrett]

To paraphrase someone whose name I cannot presently recall, "I knew Carroll Shelby. Tom Cruise is no Carroll Shelby."

[D-Type]

It can work.  Peter O'Toole was over 6ft while TE Lawrence was about 5ft 4in.  The film still got a handful of oscars even if it had to gloss over any "Short man syndrome" issues.

[kayemod]

It can work.  Peter O'Toole was over 6ft while TE Lawrence was about 5ft 4in.  The film still got a handful of oscars even if it had to gloss over any "Short man syndrome" issues.

 

Yes, but very easy to dig a small trench in sand.

[Garagiste]

Thetans can shape-shift...

 

*SPANG!* Whooo!

[RStock]

To paraphrase someone whose name I cannot presently recall,

 

That would be US Senator LLoyd "I knew Jack Kennedy and you are no Jack Kennedy" Benson.

[Bob Riebe]

Tom Selleck could do a good Shelby.

[raceannouncer2003]

Lots of actors from Texas.  Here are a few…take your pick:

 

Josh Brolin

Dabney Coleman

Woody Harrelson

Tommy Lee Jones

Kris Kristofferson

Steve Martin (?)

 

Bill Cosby could do a pretty good impression of Shelby…but probably not right for the part l  

 

Vince H.

[Duc-Man]

Tom Selleck could do a good Shelby.

OK we stupid friggin' Germans dub each and everything that is in foreign language. But: doesn't Tom Selleck sound like a girl when he speaks?

[rl1856]

Mathew McCanaughey (sp?)   Texan I believe, and he has the height, lanky build and drawl to pull it off.  Good actor too.

[Bob Riebe]

OK we stupid friggin' Germans dub each and everything that is in foreign language. But: doesn't Tom Selleck sound like a girl when he speaks?

No

[P.Dron]

From the film of The Big Sleep:

 

Carmen: You're not very tall, are you?
Marlowe: Well, I, uh, I try to be.

 

In the novel, it is something like this:

 

Carmen: You're very tall.
Marlowe: I try not to be.

 

This change was made because Chandler's Marlowe was described as slightly over 6ft tall, whereas Bogart was only an inch or so taller than Cruise (and presumably refused to stand on boxes). Bogart could get away with that kind of character transformation, because he was a great actor...

[R.W. Mackenzie]

I don't disagree with anything said here. But, in spite of all of his failings on and off screen, I have to confess that I have enjoyed almost every movie Tom Cruise has ever made. Although it wasn't a great stretch, I feel he nailed Claus von Stauffenberg in 'Valkyrie'. I'm at a loss to think of who should really play Shelby (Tom Selleck is a definite 'maybe'.) but if Cruise could pull it off, it would definitely be a potential Oscar.

 

Since I don't expect my viewpoint will be too popular, I'm going to hide in my basement until things cool off.

 

Anonymously yours,

 

John Doe

 

(No really, that's my real name!)

[Snakedriver]

My vote would be for Tom Selleck, then Mathew McCanaughey.

 

Leo

[RStock]

Mathew McCanaughey (sp?)   Texan I believe, and he has the height, lanky build and drawl to pull it off.  Good actor too.

He'd be a good choice, from the same area of Texas as Shelby (and me!)

 

 

But I don't know why someone would have to be from Texas to pull it off. I was stunned to learn Kelly MacDonald is Scottish.

 

She was great with that Texas accent, the "I knowed you was crazy when I saw you sittin' there" was spot on.

 

 

 

Her natural voice.

 

 

Edited by RStock, 20 December 2013 - 21:16.

[P.Dron]

I don't disagree with anything said here. But, in spite of all of his failings on and off screen, I have to confess that I have enjoyed almost every movie Tom Cruise has ever made. Although it wasn't a great stretch, I feel he nailed Claus von Stauffenberg in 'Valkyrie'. I'm at a loss to think of who should really play Shelby (Tom Selleck is a definite 'maybe'.) but if Cruise could pull it off, it would definitely be a potential Oscar.

 

Since I don't expect my viewpoint will be too popular, I'm going to hide in my basement until things cool off.

 

Anonymously yours,

 

John Doe

 

(No really, that's my real name!)

 

We'll call you back when it's safe to emerge. Until then, stay underground and remain silent.

[kayemod]

I don't disagree with anything said here. But, in spite of all of his failings on and off screen, I have to confess that I have enjoyed almost every movie Tom Cruise has ever made.

 

 

Even Days of Thunder?

[raceannouncer2003]

Mathew McCanaughey (sp?)   Texan I believe, and he has the height, lanky build and drawl to pull it off.  Good actor too.

 

Good choice

 

Vince H.

[R.W. Mackenzie]

Even Days of Thunder?

 

It was a shitty movie but I still liked Cruise in it. Like 'Top Gun' it was mindless entertainment.

 

Oops! I was told to stay underground and keep quiet!

[kayemod]

It was a shitty movie but I still liked Cruise in it. Like 'Top Gun' it was mindless entertainment.

 

 

 

Oh come on, it was dire, and we don't do mindless entertainment on TNF. I've probably missed many others, but for me the best NASCAR film, even one of the best racing films ever, yes seriously, was The Last American Hero starring Jeff Bridges among others. Well acted with a believable story, the film was based on the true tale of Junior Johnson. For anyone who hasn't seen it, strongly recommended, none of the usual silliness beloved of Hollywood like close-ups of the driver's foot stamping on the pedal as he makes a move on another car. Do they expect us to believe that some race using only part-throttle much of the time?

[RA Historian]

 but for me the best NASCAR film, even one of the best racing films ever, yes seriously, was The Last American Hero

If only for the fact that Valerie Perrine had a nude scene in it.

[kayemod]

If only for the fact that Valerie Perrine had a nude scene in it.

 

True, but it was 1973 in the US of A remember. As far as I can remember a few seconds of side-on buttock was about all they dangled in front of us, even Mary Whitehouse wouldn't have been shocked.

[RA Historian]

I do recall a spread in Playboy that showed Perrine and Bridges in a bed scene where Perrine was topless. I cannot say if this was in all versions of the movie, or just some.

[Emery0323]

From memory Mr Shelby was around 6 foot 3 inches, maybe a little more. I read that Cruise is 5 foot 7 inches, however, he seems to be able to find plenty of boxes to stand on:

 

http://www.collegehu...uise-being-tall

I recall that after she divorced him, Nicole Kidman went on the David Letterman show. 

Letterman asked her what post-Tom Cruise life was like.

Her response:  "Well at least I can wear high heels now."

[Glengavel]

From the film of The Big Sleep:

 

Carmen: You're not very tall, are you?
Marlowe: Well, I, uh, I try to be.

 

In the novel, it is something like this:

 

Carmen: You're very tall.
Marlowe: I try not to be.

 

This change was made because Chandler's Marlowe was described as slightly over 6ft tall, whereas Bogart was only an inch or so taller than Cruise (and presumably refused to stand on boxes). Bogart could get away with that kind of character transformation, because he was a great actor...

 

I think he used built-up shoes for his scenes with Ingrid Bergman in 'Casablanca'.

[P.Dron]

I think he used built-up shoes for his scenes with Ingrid Bergman in 'Casablanca'.

 

I stand corrected.

[GMACKIE]

Go?......Like Hell.

[eldougo]

Tom Cruise  .........you lost me that bloke is a complete KNOB.

Edited by eldougo, 23 December 2013 - 04:29.