44 replies to this topic

[gerry nassar]

I dont post alot in here but i thought you guys may find this interesting - or it may just make you shudder in fear at the thought of Hollywood interfering with F1 history. I'll just post it for your information and discussion.

There is a possibility of a film based on the life of Tazio Nuvolari. Not sure what you all think about this. These are still early rumours and early script review:

(from www.aintitcoolnews.com)

The Tazio Nuvolari Project
I received the script (which was written by David Baxter and Michael Hamilton-Wright) from an anonymous european source. He told me that it's going out to financiers as we speak and it seems that Nicolas Cage is very interested to produce the movie and play the part of Nuvolari. Philip Kaufman could be behind the camera. What did Nuvolari do to become more of a hero than a simple sportsman?

He started his career as a motorcycle driver in 1920 and he competed randomly in car races. Of course, even if he didn’t get the great results he will obtain with the four wheels, he was very popular in our country and was called “two wheeler Campionissimo”. In 1924, Nuvolari meets the man who will be very important in his activity, Enzo Ferrari. Ferrari, in his memories, wrote: “met Nuvolari for the first time in front of the Basilica di S. Apollinare in Classe, near Ravenna, during the 2nd "Circuito del Savio". At the start I did not take into consideration that small, thin man; but during the race I realized he was the only one who could threaten my success”.

Between 1927 and 1928 Tazio made his choice: in order to intensify his own activity as a car driver, he started his own racing team in Mantua. In 1930, he obtained his first triumph at 4th Mille Miglia. This is the point where the movie begins to tell the Nuvolari story. I took this information from the official site of TAZIO NUVOLARI This is the english version of the site, take a look at it if you want to know more about the Flying Mantuan, but consider that the facts of Nuvolari’s life are depicted very faithfully in the script, so if you won’t know anything, it's better to avoid reading.

When I started reading the script, I was worried it could contain all the stereotypes usually connected to Italians. Also, I was afraid it could be a usual and banal tale of a car racer, concentrating too much on the competitions and forgetting the other characters (Days of Thunder, anyone?). Instead, I had the pleasure to read a very good screenplay, which could be the basis for a great Oscar contending motion picture.

- First, as an Italian it’s great to see Hollywood describing one of our national heroes with respect. This could be for my country what Braveheart was for Scotland. In fact, this is a classic tale of a man who never gave up and overcame all the difficulties to achieve his goals. And the ending reminded me of the last thirty minutes of Escape to Victory (even if it’s a bit strange to see a fascist disappointing Hitler…). If the audiences worldwide loved the John Huston flic making it a classic, I suppose it could be the same with “Nuvolari”.

- I really enojoyed the characters. And not only the Nuvolari character as I could imagine, but also the other ones, like Ferrari, Carolina (Tazio’s wife), Tazio's childrens, Varzi (one of the most important rival of Nuvolari and not only in car competitions…). In fact, I adored that we can't divide these people into good and bad stereotypes. For example, Ferrari at first seems much more interested to his machines than in their drivers’ lives. But during the script we can see him make difficult and dangerous decisions to follow his ideals, helped sometimes by his cunning to achieve his goals. And even the Carolina character is more than the champion’s babe and could be a very good role for an Italian actress (the first name I have in mind is of course Monica Bellucci, but why not Valeria Golino, who is very well known also in the States for her work in Rain Man and Hot Shots! and who recently made a great performance in the Italian movie Respiro, which received a prize in Cannes). Even the parts of Italian poet Gabriele D’Annunzio and Tazio’s mechanic Decimo are well described, even if it would have been very easy to fall into the ridicolous. I just hope that this deepness will stay even in the finished movie...

- The dialogue is almost perfect. I think the audience will love the conversations between Tazio and Ferrari or Tazio with Varzi. There are funny moments and dramatics ones and the words the characters are saying are never out of place. And the exchanges between Tazio and his wife are deep, without being ridiculous as many recent Hollywood romances are.

- Even if there is so much stuff to tell, it seems to me that the screenwriters worked very well, passing easily and clearly from a race to Hitler's offices. In fact, one of the most original ideas in the screenplay is to tell how much the political influences of Mussolini and Hitler could influence the competitions. Since the beginning, we are easily introduced in the world on the ’30 and even if there are plenty of speaking parts it’s quite simple to follow the facts. Of course, there are some differences with the actual events (for example, Tazio’s second driver in the Mille Miglia wasn’t his mechanic Decimo and a very important moment of Varzi’s life doesn’t occur in the thirties but in the 1948), but this is absolutely normal in such a project and doesn’t seem to me that these changes could offend anyone.

- I found great (and very modern) the dualism between the man and the machine. This is what makes Nuvolari a real hero, to defeat the power of the German machines. Nowadays, the supremacy of the Ferrari team is so evident that the championship races have lost much of their interest. But there was a time when a man could make the difference. Curiously, in one of the first races described in this project, Ferrari asks Nuvolari to give up winning in favor of another pilot. Even if the Ferrari team didn’t exist then (it was in fact the Alfa Romeo team), I immediately thought (as I suppose everyone who is interested in formula 1) at the recent controversy about a very similar fact, when Barrichello had to leave passing Schumacher during a competition. Will this scene stay in the movie? We’ll see…

- I found very interesting the power of the objects (for example, the tortoise pin that D’annunzio gives to Nuvolari) in the script. It will work very well in the movie.

There is also something that I didn’t appreciate, but I’m sure it could be fixed in the final script.

- I really enjoyed the fact that there are not stereotypes about Italians. But there is a small thing that (I assure you) is very annoying for Italians (but I suppose is the same for French or German people when there is a movie about them). I can of course understand that Italian people are talking in English for productive reasons. Then, why use sometimes the words "Signore" (which means “Mister”) or "Ciao"? The risk (mostly for Decimo's character) is to look a bit ridicolous. I'd prefer they speak entirely in English.

- I would extend the Ferrari character. Not only because he's a too powerful figure to have a second role, but because it's been a longtime since Hollywood promised a film about "Il Duca". I suppose it would be easier to find the budget selling it as a movie about "Ferrari and Nuvolari".

- Even if I don't consider it as a flaw, reading the script I had the impression (if it will be transposed faithfully) it will cost a lot of money, mostly because they have to recreate the Tripoli, Monaco, Adenau circuits and also the Mille Miglia towns. Probably somethings will miss the final script, but I hope it won’t ruin the project.

Just a last opinion of my own. If I was a screenwriter, I would be excited to have Nicolas Cage as the star of my movie. But if I were Nicolas Cage (and I’m unfortunatelly not ) I absolutely wouldn't miss this chance. First, because it seems to me that he’s more skilled playing these kind of troubled and uncontrollable characters than cardboard cutout heroes as in Windtalkers. I heard he could be in the next John Woo movie, but I think that it’s too early to recreate this team after the Windtalkers flop.

The second important reason for Nicolas Cage to accept this role and to be involved in the project is to make Italian (and worldwide) audiences forget his performance in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (“Ciao, bella bambina…”, sic…). To say that Italian people HATED to be represented that way, is a simple euphemism….

Anyway, I reckon that this is a perfect screenplay to make a very good movie about racing. Considering that the next announced project about this subject is a movie with Britney Spears, I’m praying to everyone involved with it (Nicolas Cage, Philip Kaufman and the executives) to make this pic. They won’t regret this decision…

[dgsg]

After screwing up code talkers, we now bring you "Driven" as told by Nicolas Cage.

[JohnS]

Nicolas Cage must be about 6'2" and 16 stone. And he's going to play Nuvolari?!

John

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by gerry nassar
This could be for my country what Braveheart was for Scotland.

I hope not. I'd far rather see a Nuvolari movie based on at least some historical fact

[jrosenzweig]

Hollywood do a movie based on racing... HHAHA I think it will be a steaming pile of

[David M. Kane]

Hollywood doesn't have a great record in this area. HOWEVER, if it spreads the word and increases interest in motorsport and sparks one kids interest
in racing, then its well worth it.

Typically Cage's movies are at least well photographed. Hopefully a lot of it will be shot in Italy.

[Doug Nye]

Nuvolari by Mel Brooks - now THERE might be a movie ... Hmmm, and is there ANY Hollywood actor short enough and slight enough properly to portray Nuvers????

DCN

[Gary Davies]

Originally posted by Doug Nye
Nuvolari by Mel Brooks - now THERE might be a movie ... Hmmm, and is there ANY Hollywood actor short enough and slight enough properly to portray Nuvers????

DCN

Tom Cruise ... nah! sorry I said that. De Vito?

Ah, I know ... Sly! He does a great racing driver!

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Doug Nye
Nuvolari by Mel Brooks - now THERE might be a movie ...

"Springtime for Tazio and Italy-y-y ....."

Yep - it could work!!

Originally posted by Doug Nye
Hmmm, and is there ANY Hollywood actor short enough and slight enough properly to portray Nuvers????

DCN

Dustin Hoffman? He's a bit of a shortarse isn't he?

[dretceterini]

How about Leonardo di Caprio for Nuvolari? At least he is kind of Italian

If Stalone plays the part, I will PERSONALLY blow up the studio!!!

Speaking of Nuvolari, does anyone have photos of one of the last cars he raced, simply called a Fiat 1100 "special" (circa late 1949-early 1950) NOT the Abarth 204 Spider Sport...

Thanks,
Stu

[Foxbat]

it will cost a lot of money, mostly because they have to recreate the Tripoli, Monaco, Adenau circuits and also the Mille Miglia towns.

:drool: now wouldn't that be great, but I'd say that even I could think of cheaper ways to fix this. And I bet the people in the studios can too.

[Cobra]

Nicolas Cage playing the part of the little giant from Manchua? I think he would look too tall in Nuvolari's yellow jersey I was hoping it would be an Italian production.

[dretceterini]

No one has ever heard of creating scenery in a computer and making scale model cars for the scenes?

I have contacts with virtually every model buider in the world capable of making proper models with as much or as little detail needed in any scale (most are in Italy or France, but I know many people in the US capable of making the models, including MYSELF)!

One of my businesses is importing models by these makers to the US...the producers do not have to pay $50,000 per model...I can get detaled models made for 1/5th of that in 1/12 scxale, and for around $500 (or maybe even less, without engine and chassis detail) in 1/43rd scale!!!

Steve Tillack, here in Southern California has access to the proper Abarth 204A spider sport for Nuvolari's last race, the hillclimb in 1950..many of the cars needed to do the film still exist...

I can help with the Nuvolari-Lurani link, as my mother was a 3rd or 4th cousin to Lurani..

I REALLY want to get involved in this project; anyone have a contact address (snail-mail or e-mail) for David Baxter or Michael Hamilton-Wright? I want to see this movie done, but done RIGHT!!!



Stu

[Wolf]

Don't you hate it when the Hollywood pefers to reincarnate scenery rather than the air? I think the best film about Tazio would put actual racing into the second plan (if not further back). I have always felt that Nuvolari 'story' is about the man, not his racing exploits (which I admire as the next guy, if not even more).

I might be a overly-sentimental old Fart (capital 'f' is no accident ;)), but the Enzo-Tazio quote, I used as a sig some time back, after the '48 MM always gave me goose pimples and I don't see how it could be done any justice on the celuloid. I don't see how a filmmakers would/could do the justice to the old man Tazio and the era he lived in. And I'm not talking just about Holywood but filmmakers in general.

Caveat, most fans reading scripts and 'picturing the movie in their heads' usualy end up sorely disappointed. I fear this might be the case with Tazio as well and the whole thing might do more harm to his reputation than good. :

[David M. Kane]

Martin Short...he did a great Lincoln amongst others.

[josh.lintz]

So what if Cage is too tall? Come now, some people aren't happy until you have every last detail. I say, as long as many of the historical bases are covered, I'll see it on the day of it's release. Too bad Nuvolari is about as well-known in America as, uh.....present-day F1 drivers?

[Wolf]

Josh, would it be better if someone (me for instance) said that there is some serious doubt that Cage's acting would do Ol' Man any justice? For that one would need a character (drama) actor, IMHO. Maybe if it was Tim Burton film... And with someone of the stature of ol' Burton to portray the man there would be some hope. BTW, from what I gather the dialogues might revive some of the qualities that Holywood lost from the age of film noir and 'Big Sleep', for example but I would find it inappropriate in such a film (maybe they should get vintage Wenders for dialogues ;))...

[dretceterini]

deleted

[dretceterini]

There are 4 incidents that are a MUST in the film...

1) The P3 win at the German GP

2) The 1947 MM, when he was pulled out of the car in Brescia and carried into bed after finishing 2nd O/A in the Cisitalia 202 SMM. He only lost to the 8c2900B coupe because the electrics got swamped and it took 15 minutes to dry them out.

3) The Cisitalia D-46 race, where the steering wheel broke off, and he drove the car by by the steering shaft!

4) the 1948 MM 166 Ferrari incident, where Ferrari got PO'ed at Nuvolari. The car fell apart around Nuvolari..one of the rear springs broke, a weld cracked at the other spring attachment point, and the car was sliding all over the place. In addition, the seats became detached from the floor, and the engine bonnet fell off..not exactly Nuvolari's fault
Ferrari also blaimed Gilco, the chassis maker and not the people at Ferrari who put the car together.

Stuff like this is part of the reason I am NOT a big Ferrari fan...IMO the man was an egomanicial ass, just like MS is today!!

Stu

[Wolf]

Stu, what do You mean Enzo got PO'd at Tazio? All I heard was that 'Don't worry we shall win next year' to which Tazio replied 'At our age, there aren't many days like this left.'... But definitely neither line could be attributed to a PO'd man.

To tell the truth, there should be another race where he ignored black flag and stuff...;) Maybe not representative or complimentary moment but needed for the big picture. But we shall not go into details (not only because I don't know which race it was ;) but) because with this lynhing mob after Moss (in RC) and the incident where Collins was dragged by the hair (screaming and kicking, needless to say) out of his car to allow Fangio take a undeserved win/C'ship... :

[scheivlak]

Great idea, but perhaps Cage should play Varzi, the tragic lover. As for Nuvolari's role - perhaps Roberto Benigni ?

[Roger Clark]

Originally posted by dretceterini


3) The Cisitalia D-46 race, where the steering wheel broke off, and he drove the car by by the steering shaft!

I've seen references to this so many times. for the benfit of newcomers and me; what really happened?

[Wolf]

Needless to say, it wasn't detachable...

[Roger Clark]

I've seen that picture before but I can't believe that he could steer the car by the steering shaft. He couldn't get sufficient leverage. I can believe that the mechanism holding the wheel in place became broken, but that he managed to hold the wheel in place and steer that way, and that as the car coasted slowly into the pits he held up the wheel to show the mechanics what had heppened.

I'm sure that the hollywood version will seek out the truth.

[Wolf]

Roger, it was my assumption too, he could've steered with one hand whilst pressing the steering wheel with other on the shaft. But I'd think this 'alone' was no small feat since he had to shift gears with one hand or be careful when accelerating, braking and cornering since he couldn't have 'braced' himself to steering wheel. And I presume he did it at full racing speed... But this photo gives me an idea what it must've looked like when Moss was waving brake pedal at Ugolini...

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Wolf
To tell the truth, there should be another race where he ignored black flag and stuff...;) Maybe not representative or complimentary moment but needed for the big picture. But we shall not go into details (not only because I don't know which race it was ;)

Grand Prix des Nations 1946

[Turbo]

Interesting Gerry thanks for posting this.

If they do the film I just hope they do it with some semblance of integrity and it doesn't become another piece of Hollywood nonsense. When I think of all the wasted resources, especially access to teams and drivers, and the resulting pathetic product of "Driven" it makes we want to track down Stallone and Harlin and strangle them both.

Le Mans remains for me still the only truly great racing film. Grand Prix has great racing scenes, but a ton of soap opera nonsense. Days of Thunder and Driven are totally ridiculous. There are some good documentaries out there (On Any Sunday, Wheels of Fire), but for feature films the number of racing film failures is truly discouraging.

I'd really like to see this Nuvolari pic done well. It's a terrific story. I agree with the poster who says they wish it was an Italian production. I'd rather have everyone speaking their actual language and read subtitles. Of course that would kill the popularity of the movie in many other locations so I understand going with English as the language. Nick Cage is an interesting choice. He doesn't really fit physically but he is an excellent actor so maybe he'll be okay.

[SeanValen]

Its about time to see a quality racing film:up: Just because recent attempts have failed, does not mean they all will, just some care and respect needed firstly, as racing has passion, stories, life and death, excitement, great characters, based on true events, just need the right people fusing everything together.

[Wolf]

Pray tell, Richard, how do You as Ol' Man's admirer view the whole shambles?

[dretceterini]

Wolf: the version of the story I head is that Enzo was upset at both Nuvolari and the chassis builder, Gilco.

Kind of like the story I heard about the Cunningham Ferrari with the water cooled brakes and Ferrari blaming the problems on others and not on his company.. :

Of course, I wasn't there, so I have no idea what REALLY happened.

Stu

[Roger Clark]

Originally posted by Wolf
And I presume he did it at full racing speed...

THat, I think, is the point.

[Option1]

Originally posted by Roger Clark
.....

I'm sure that the hollywood version will seek out the truth.

Beautifully understated and the funniest thing I've read here for yonks Roger.

Neil

[Brian O Flaherty]

Originally posted by dretceterini
Speaking of Nuvolari, does anyone have photos of one of the last cars he raced, simply called a Fiat 1100 "special" (circa late 1949-early 1950) NOT the Abarth 204 Spider Sport...

Something like this Stanguellini-Fiat 1100 ?



If so then here is a bit about it

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Wolf
Pray tell, Richard, how do You as Ol' Man's admirer view the whole shambles?

Frankly, I'm not a great movie watcher - certainly not of current stuff - but recent experience of what Hollywood has done to modern history doesn't leave me particularly hopeful: "Pearl Harbor" and "U-538" come to mind here.

"U-538" was a particular bugbear - the entire story was rewritten to make it appear that the US Navy captured the German codebooks: it was only acknowledged that it was a Royal Navy ship which achieved this in a tiny note at the end as the credits rolled:mad: I've yet to see "Enigma" - I enjoyed the novel, which was reasonably historically accurate, but whether the film will live up to that I don't know.

And apart from "Le Mans" and "Grand Prix" I don't think Hollywood has served motor sport well in the last forty years or so.

If the Nuvolari movie does get made I'm sure I shall go to see it, but the thought of Cage as Tazio frankly horrifies me! Although I mentioned it almost in jest, a young Hoffman could have made a good fist of looking like him; sadly, he's too old now ....

[Foxbat]

Originally posted by dretceterini

Steve Tillack, here in Southern California has access to the proper Abarth 204A spider sport for Nuvolari's last race, the hillclimb in 1950..many of the cars needed to do the film still exist...

And this appears to be a genuine 'Tazio' Alfa 8C: Alfa 8C2600: Symbolic Motor Car Company put up for sale in California, and recently sold.

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Foxbat

And this appears to be a genuine 'Tazio' Alfa 8C

You obviously didn't read the car's history notes, FB. No mention of TN ever having had anything to do with the car
So OT on two counts

[Foxbat]

Originally posted by David McKinney

You obviously didn't read the car's history notes, FB. No mention of TN ever having had anything to do with the car
So OT on two counts

I didn't notice the notes, so maybe I got a little overexcited at seeing the TN plaque still it is a period car that looks to be in ok condition and that is presumably located somewhere in the US. It would make a good prop or even 'acting vehicle' (if it is in good enough condition) for the movie, so somewhat OnT ;)

[dretceterini]

No, not like the Stanguellini-Fiat that was owned by Mark Mitchell in Sourthern California and sold about a year ago. IMO the car Mark had is a "recreation" and not a "period" car. The car behind it in the other photo IS a real car and I want it, but Mark doesn't seem to be too keen on selling it, and I can't afford it right now anyway. It is MUCH better looking too!

The Nuvolari Fiat 1100 "special" is SIMILAR to these, but I don't know EXACTLY what it looks like.. :

Stu

[josh.lintz]

Originally posted by scheivlak
Great idea, but perhaps Cage should play Varzi, the tragic lover

Cage had no trouble getting liquored-up for Leaving Las Vegas, doing a fantastic job in the process. I would fear for his life if he should go as far practicing Varzi's role! And I doubt he'd play a role in which he was to die well before the movie's conclusion.

Whoever plays Tazio will have some large shoes to fill...

[David M. Kane]

I sure as hell would rather see a project like this than another sequel like Lethal Weapon 29!

We should be thanking the gods that the guy is EVEN considering doing a project like this rather than pooh-pooh him.

[David M. Kane]

I sure as hell would rather see a project like this than another sequel like Lethal Weapon 29!

We should be thanking the gods that the guy is EVEN considering doing a project like this rather than pooh-poohing him.

[fines]

Originally posted by David M. Kane
I sure as hell would rather see a project like this than another sequel like Lethal Weapon 29!

We should be thanking the gods that the guy is EVEN considering doing a project like this rather than pooh-poohing him.

I'd also like to see this happening... but, please, NOT in Hollywood!!!! :

[dretceterini]

What, you DON'T want Cher as Mrs.Nuvolari and Britney Spears as Mrs.Ferrari??

Stu

[dretceterini]

Maybe we should get the singer Analis Morisette...after all she played God in the film Dogma...

Stu

[dmj]

I'd like to see any film with Monica Bellucci or Valeria Golino - it doesn't have to be about Tazio at all...