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Automotive Lifestyle
AUTOS: Hollywood’s Hottest Car Chases - Vanishing Point (1971)
Would you go for a ride with Kowalski in his 70 Challenger...
Kowolski would have had to average 83.3 mph to complete his attempt to drive a 1970 Dodge Challenger (like his one) from Denver to San Francisco in 15 hours. (Photo: Barrett-Jackson.com)
Director Richard Sarafian’s Vanishing Point is the definition of a cult classic. Critically panned in its initial 1971 release, the feature became a household favorite once network television presented it to the masses in 1976. Actor Barry Newman, selected over Gene Hackman, was the mysterious Kowalski (no first name was ever mentioned) and his mission (for Argo’s Car Delivery) was to drive a brand new 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T from Denver to San Francisco (1,250 miles). He had plenty of time to actually complete the task, but an innocuous bet that he could do it in 15 hours became an irrational obsession.
Grand-scale cinematography was combined with wide-open western roadways, which further positioned his challenge as daunting. Inspired by KOW radio deejay ‘Super Soul’ (played by Cleavon Little) who coined him ‘The Last American Hero,’ Kowalski, an already odd character who spent some of his trip battling flashbacks (race car driver, motorcycle racer, Vietnam vet and law enforcement officer), also encountered eclectic souls along the way as he was challenged to a highway race with a Jaguar E-Type, met a desert prospector, a snake charmer and the now famous naked woman on a motorcycle.
The Kowalski adventure was awe-inspiring for many, yet abruptly became a tragic double entendre when inexplicably head-longing the Challenger into the blades of two Caterpillar bulldozers set as a roadblock. Killing Kowalski, engulfing the Challenger into a ball of flame, and providing a fitting end to what could have been best described as a mild dystopia. One best described in the title.
What to look for… Back in 2007, SPEED’s Gregg Leary reviewed the DVD for SPEED.com and found a couple of interesting tidbits. When the Jaguar driver asks, ‘got any balls in that mother?’ notice if anyone on-screen actually delivers that line. Also, the car that actually crashes into the bulldozers may not be a Challenger at all, look at the badge on the destroyed hood.
The chases…
Watch Vanishing Point Chase Scene 1
Watch Vanishing Point Chase Scene 2
Watch Vanishing Point Chase Scene 3
Watch Vanishing Point Chase Scene 4
Watch Vanishing Point Chase Scene Finale
Great Edmonds.com Piece…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RpPRFkiFzo&feature=fvw
Trailer…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sn1w1yJKKE&feature=related
Buy the Movie
Everyone has their favorite car chase scene… and many have multiple ones. On Thanksgiving Night (Nov. 25), SPEED enters the conversation with a two-hour special called, Hollywood’s Hottest Car Chases, premiering at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
New York City’s Pangolin Pictures looks at the last 40 years of cinematic car chases, re-living many great scenes through the eyes of those who created, shot and played out what has become one of Hollywood’s greatest creative contributions. Broken out in themes, this feature presentaion is produced to be the most comprehensive look at how this genre has evolved from Steve McQueen’s Bullitt to Matt Damon’s Bourne Identity.
Through Thanksgiving, SPEED will roll out some of our favorites from around the studio here in Charlotte. This not a countdown per se, and we want to hear from you, as we’ll introduce a new car chase scene every Monday through Thursday. Let the Chase Begin…
Here’s What They Are Saying over at Autoblog.com…
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/11/speed-announces-hollywoods-hottest-car-chases-with-mega/
Grand-scale cinematography was combined with wide-open western roadways, which further positioned his challenge as daunting. Inspired by KOW radio deejay ‘Super Soul’ (played by Cleavon Little) who coined him ‘The Last American Hero,’ Kowalski, an already odd character who spent some of his trip battling flashbacks (race car driver, motorcycle racer, Vietnam vet and law enforcement officer), also encountered eclectic souls along the way as he was challenged to a highway race with a Jaguar E-Type, met a desert prospector, a snake charmer and the now famous naked woman on a motorcycle.
The Kowalski adventure was awe-inspiring for many, yet abruptly became a tragic double entendre when inexplicably head-longing the Challenger into the blades of two Caterpillar bulldozers set as a roadblock. Killing Kowalski, engulfing the Challenger into a ball of flame, and providing a fitting end to what could have been best described as a mild dystopia. One best described in the title.
What to look for… Back in 2007, SPEED’s Gregg Leary reviewed the DVD for SPEED.com and found a couple of interesting tidbits. When the Jaguar driver asks, ‘got any balls in that mother?’ notice if anyone on-screen actually delivers that line. Also, the car that actually crashes into the bulldozers may not be a Challenger at all, look at the badge on the destroyed hood.
The chases…
Watch Vanishing Point Chase Scene 1
Watch Vanishing Point Chase Scene 2
Watch Vanishing Point Chase Scene 3
Watch Vanishing Point Chase Scene 4
Watch Vanishing Point Chase Scene Finale
Great Edmonds.com Piece…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RpPRFkiFzo&feature=fvw
Trailer…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sn1w1yJKKE&feature=related
Buy the Movie
Everyone has their favorite car chase scene… and many have multiple ones. On Thanksgiving Night (Nov. 25), SPEED enters the conversation with a two-hour special called, Hollywood’s Hottest Car Chases, premiering at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
New York City’s Pangolin Pictures looks at the last 40 years of cinematic car chases, re-living many great scenes through the eyes of those who created, shot and played out what has become one of Hollywood’s greatest creative contributions. Broken out in themes, this feature presentaion is produced to be the most comprehensive look at how this genre has evolved from Steve McQueen’s Bullitt to Matt Damon’s Bourne Identity.
Through Thanksgiving, SPEED will roll out some of our favorites from around the studio here in Charlotte. This not a countdown per se, and we want to hear from you, as we’ll introduce a new car chase scene every Monday through Thursday. Let the Chase Begin…
Here’s What They Are Saying over at Autoblog.com…
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/11/speed-announces-hollywoods-hottest-car-chases-with-mega/
Goodwood Festival Of Speed
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