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The Great Race ()

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In the early 20th century, two rivals, the heroic Leslie and the despicable Professor Fate, engage in an epic automobile race from New York to Paris.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 14 nominations.
  • See more »
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

309 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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Professor Fate / Crown Prince Frederick Hoepnick
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The Great Leslie
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Maggie Dubois
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Maximilian Meen
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Hezekiah Sturdy
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Henry Goodbody
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Hester Goodbody
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Lily Olay
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Texas Jack
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Baron Rolfe Von Stuppe
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General Kuhster
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Frisbee
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Mayor of Boracho
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Sheriff of Boracho
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Baron's Guard (as Bill Bryant)
Ken Wales ...
Baron's Guard
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Barfly (uncredited)
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Barfly (uncredited)
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Townsman (uncredited)
Walter Bacon ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Observer at Start (uncredited)
Paul Baxley ...
Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
Brandon Beach ...
Man in Hallway at Sentinel (uncredited)
Herman Belmonte ...
Barfly (uncredited)
Shirley Blackwell ...
Observer at Start (uncredited)
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Townsman (uncredited)
George Boyce ...
Executive Board Member (uncredited)
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Policeman (uncredited)
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Vice Chairman (uncredited)
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Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
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Auto Worker (uncredited)
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Observer at Start (uncredited)
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Observer at Start (uncredited)
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Guy with Moustache (uncredited)
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Barfly (uncredited)
Joe Evans ...
Executive Board Member (uncredited)
Joe Ferrante ...
Barfly (uncredited)
Bob Folkerson ...
Barfly (uncredited)
Fritz Ford ...
Cowboy (uncredited)
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Man in Hallway at Sentinel (uncredited)
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Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
Jack Gordon ...
Observer at Start (uncredited)
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Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
Duke Green ...
Barfly (uncredited)
Silver Harr ...
Barfly (uncredited)
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Man in Hallway at Sentinel (uncredited)
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Executive Board Member (uncredited)
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Barfly (uncredited)
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Man in Bear Suit (uncredited)
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Soldier (uncredited)
Jack Henderson ...
Executive Board Member (uncredited)
Lars Hensen ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Palace Guard (uncredited)
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Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
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Texas Jack's Henchman / Baker in Pie Fight (uncredited)
Clegg Hoyt ...
Man in Saloon (uncredited)
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Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
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Townsman (uncredited)
Patricia King ...
Woman in West (uncredited)
Frank Kreig ...
Starter (uncredited)
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Bettor (uncredited)
Jeff Lawrence ...
Observer at Start (uncredited)
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Man in Hallway at Sentinel (uncredited)
King Lockwood ...
Executive Board Member (uncredited)
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Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
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Barfly (uncredited)
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Observer at Start (uncredited)
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Townsman (uncredited)
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Russian (uncredited)
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Barfly (uncredited)
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Chairman (uncredited)
King Mojave ...
Reporter (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan ...
Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
Richard Mosier ...
Boy Eating Popcorn (uncredited)
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Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
Joyce Nizzari ...
The Crown Prince's dance partner (uncredited)
Daniel Nunez ...
Observer at Start (uncredited)
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Soldier (uncredited)
Joe Palma ...
Conductor (uncredited)
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Cowboy Shooting Gun in Saloon (uncredited)
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Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
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Texas Jack Henchman (uncredited)
Charles Perry ...
Townsman (uncredited)
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Barfly (uncredited)
Raoul Retzer ...
Mayor-Domo (uncredited)
Greg Rhinelander ...
Man in Hallway at Sentinel (uncredited)
John Rice ...
Observer at Start (uncredited)
Hal Riddle ...
Baker (uncredited)
Christopher Riordan ...
Cowboy / Dancer (uncredited)
Robert Robinson ...
Barfly (uncredited)
Clark Ross ...
Reporter (uncredited)
Danny Sands ...
Barfly (uncredited)
Maria Schroeder ...
Woman in Tobelsk (uncredited)
Jerry Schumacher ...
Auto Worker (uncredited)
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Freight Agent (uncredited)
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Townswoman (uncredited)
Alex Sharp ...
Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
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Baker (uncredited)
Leslie Sketchley ...
Executive Board Member (uncredited)
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Townsman (uncredited)
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First Employee (uncredited)
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Barfly (uncredited)
Cap Somers ...
Observer at Start (uncredited)
Paul Stader ...
Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
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Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
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Bishop at Coronation (uncredited)
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Observer at Start (uncredited)
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Townsman (uncredited)
Art Stewart ...
(uncredited)
Frank D. Strong ...
Trombonist in Marching Band (uncredited)
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Townsman (uncredited)
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Observer at Start (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey ...
Reporter (uncredited)
George Tracy ...
Barfly (uncredited)
John Truax ...
Prison Guard (uncredited)
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Driver-Contestant in Green Car, #3 (uncredited)
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Barfly (uncredited)
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Barfly (uncredited)
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Townsman (uncredited)

Directed by

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Blake Edwards

Written by

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Arthur A. Ross ... (screenplay) (as Arthur Ross)
 
Blake Edwards ... (original story) &
Arthur A. Ross ... (original story) (as Arthur Ross)

Produced by

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Dick Crockett ... associate producer (as Richard Crockett)
Tony Curtis ... executive producer (uncredited)
Martin Jurow ... producer

Music by

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Henry Mancini

Cinematography by

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Russell Harlan ... director of photography

Editing by

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Ralph E. Winters

Editorial Department

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John F. Burnett ... additional editor (uncredited)

Production Design by

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Fernando Carrere

Art Direction by

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Fernando Carrere ... (uncredited)

Set Decoration by

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George James Hopkins

Costume Design by

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Donfeld ... (as Don Feld)

Makeup Department

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Gordon Bau ... makeup supervisor
Sugar Blymyer ... hair stylist: for Natalie Wood
Sydney Guilaroff ... hair styles creator: Miss Wood
Jean Burt Reilly ... supervising hair stylist

Production Management

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Clem Beauchamp ... unit production manager
Chuck Hansen ... unit production manager (as Charles Hansen)
Jack McEdward ... unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Jack Cunningham ... assistant director
Richard Landry ... assistant director (as Dick Landry)
Mickey McCardle ... assistant director

Art Department

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Reg Allen ... decorative consultant
Jack Stevens ... decorative consultant
Bill Gold ... poster designer (uncredited)
Mentor Huebner ... conceptual artist (uncredited)
Tyrus Wong ... art department (uncredited)

Sound Department

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M.A. Merrick ... sound
Robert J. Miller ... sound recordist
Treg Brown ... sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Johnny Borgese ... special effects (uncredited)
George Brown ... special effects (uncredited)
Danny Lee ... special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

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Linwood G. Dunn ... photographic effects (as Linwood Dunn)
James B. Gordon ... photographic effects (as James Gordon)
Albert Simpson ... matte artist (uncredited)

Stunts

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Odile Astié ... stunts (uncredited)
Paul Baxley ... stunts (uncredited)
Joe Canutt ... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Catching ... stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Catron ... stunts (uncredited)
Philip Crawford ... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Crockett ... stunt coordinator (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited)
Howard Curtis ... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Dial ... stunts (uncredited)
Stephanie Epper ... stunts (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth ... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Geary ... stunts (uncredited)
Sol Gorss ... stunts (uncredited)
Duke Green ... stunts (uncredited)
Johnny Hagner ... stunts (uncredited)
Donna Hall ... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward ... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron ... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Hickman ... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hicks ... stunts (uncredited)
Charles Horvath ... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Hoy ... stunt double: Tony Curtis in pie fight (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins ... stunts (uncredited)
Roy Jenson ... stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin ... stunts (uncredited)
Sharon Lucas ... stunts (uncredited)
Troy Melton ... stunts (uncredited)
John Moio ... stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan ... stunts (uncredited)
Hal Needham ... stunts (uncredited)
Harvey Parry ... stunts (uncredited)
Regis Parton ... stunts (uncredited)
Gil Perkins ... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Perkins ... stunts (uncredited)
George Robotham ... stunts (uncredited)
Ronnie Rondell Jr. ... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Rose ... stunts (uncredited)
Wally Rose ... stunts (uncredited)
Alex Sharp ... stunts (uncredited)
David Sharpe ... dive into moat (uncredited) / stunt double: Tony Curtis/Ross Martin (uncredited)
Dean Smith ... stunts (uncredited)
Paul Stader ... stunts (uncredited)
Mary Statler ... stunts (uncredited)
Tom Steele ... stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Summers ... stunt double Larry Storch (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited)
Helen Thurston ... stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel ... stunt double Keenan Wynn (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited)
Jack Verbois ... stunts (uncredited)
Al Wyatt Sr. ... stunts (uncredited)
Joe Yrigoyen ... stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Harold E. Wellman ... photographer: second unit (as Harold Wellman)
Richard Doran ... assistant camera (uncredited)
Bobby Greene ... first assistant camera (uncredited)
Michael A. Jones ... rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Frank Stanley ... first assistant camera (uncredited)
Jack Whitman Sr. ... camera operator (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby ... special still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Edith Head ... clothes: Natalie Wood

Music Department

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Richard Nash ... musician: trombone soloist
Robert Bain ... musician: guitar (uncredited)
Wilfred Burns ... composer: stock music (uncredited) / orchestrator (uncredited)
Vince De Rosa ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Leonard A. Engel ... music editor (uncredited)
Carl Fortina ... musician: accordion soloist (uncredited)
Kenneth Hall ... music editor (uncredited)
Harry V. Lojewski ... music supervisor (uncredited)
Henry Mancini ... conductor (uncredited) / musician: piano (uncredited) / orchestrator (uncredited)
Shelly Manne ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
Arthur Morton ... orchestrator (uncredited)
Emil Richards ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
William Saracino ... assistant music editor (uncredited)
Ray Sherman ... musician: piano (uncredited)
Vinton Vernon ... score mixer (uncredited)
Dan Wallin ... score mixer (uncredited)
Jackie Ward ... singing voice: Natalie Wood (uncredited)
John Williams ... musician: piano (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Betty A. Griffin ... script supervisor (as Betty Abbott)

Additional Crew

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Hermes Pan ... choreographer
Ken Wales ... dialogue supervisor
Dean Jeffries ... car designer (uncredited)
Ken Mundie ... title designer (uncredited)

Thanks

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Oliver Hardy ... dedicatee (as Mr. Hardy)
Stan Laurel ... dedicatee (as Mr. Laurel)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Professional daredevil and white-suited hero, The Great Leslie, convinces turn-of-the-century auto makers that a race from New York to Paris (westward across America, the Bering Straight and Russia) will help to promote automobile sales. Leslie's arch-rival, the mustached and black-attired Professor Fate vows to beat Leslie to the finish line in a car of Fate's own invention. Written by Jeanne Baker

Plot Keywords
Taglines THE GREAT LAUGH SHOW OF ALL TIME! See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Blake Edwards' The Great Race (United States)
  • Blake Edwards' The Great Race (United Kingdom)
  • La Grande Course autour du monde (France)
  • Das große Rennen rund um die Welt (Germany)
  • La carrera del siglo (Spain)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 160 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $12,000,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia The pie fight scene lasts four minutes and was shot in five days. It is the longest pie fight sequence in movie history. At first, the cast had fun filming the pie fight scene, but eventually the process grew wearisome and dangerous. Natalie Wood choked briefly on a pie which hit her open mouth. Jack Lemmon got knocked out a few times: "a pie hitting you in the face feels like a ton of cement". At the end of shooting the fight, when Blake Edwards called "Cut!" he was barraged with several hundred pies that members of the cast had hidden, waiting for that moment. See more »
Goofs Set in 1908, TV antennae visible on the Eiffel Tower. See more »
Movie Connections Edited into Lo schermo a tre punte (1995). See more »
Soundtracks The Sweetheart Tree See more »
Crazy Credits Jack Lemmon is only credited as Professor Fate and not for his second role as Crown Prince Hapnik. See more »
Quotes [On a melting iceberg]
Leslie: [measures the base] 37 inches to go.
Fate: Oh, 37 inches to go. Huzzah! At the rate we've been melting, that's good for about one more week!
Leslie: You'd better keep it to yourself.
Fate: Oh, of course I'll keep it to myself.
[Leslie walks away]
Fate: [muttering] Until the water reaches my lower lip, and then I'm gonna mention it to SOMEBODY!
See more »
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