MovieChat Forums > Le Mans (1971) Discussion > Please name for me this enigma mysteriou...

Please name for me this enigma mysterious racing film

posted 17 years ago by Volken
12 replies | jump to latest

Yesterday after almost… 16 years watched Le Mans movie.

This reminded me of racing film enigma. One I never tried to recall with right data to match. This be good place for racing movie fans to help me with some hints.

The movie I'm looking for starts with some promising race driver who seems to progress successfully in the opening race. Suddenly he starts to see some light flashes in his sights and he can no longer drive his car.

Now this is where I barely construct the story : He wakes in some strange place where mysterious persons explain, why they drugged him or something of that nature. I have image of somebody like James Garner, but this is just guessing.
Very mysterious opening. I've never seen the rest of the movie, but this plot always remained as intrigue.

I hope I gave you enough to locate this movie with the right link.
I appreciate your help.

[–] quaddo 17 years ago

I think you have a bigger chance of getting an answer if you post your question here:
http://imdb.com/board/bd0000001/threads

RIP Ian....

[–] Volken 17 years ago

Thanks for your note Quaddo,

Exactly what I did just now.

Strange that I never even grasped of dedicated Message Boards on IMBD.

regards

[–] gavinmills90 17 years ago

Did you find out what film it was you were thinking of because you've got me intrigued as to what film it is now lol

Nobody intends to be a hero. It just turns out that way.

[–] Volken 16 years ago

Yes, with the help from IMDB message board members, I've found two movies and wither could be 99% the one I was looking for. I wanted to find that message and send you the link. For some reason looking at my message board history there is no longer presence of that topic?? Very strange, I thought those posts never get erased?

[–] sxales 16 years ago

So what was this mysterious film?

[–] chester-copperpot-1 16 years ago

Sounds like the opening of the first eoisode of "The Prisoner".

The new design of the IMDb site sucks big time. Bring back the old design, now!

[–] THOMASSU 12 years ago

Sounds like Freejack with Emilio Estevez.

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe..." - Roy Batty, Blade Runner

[–] Volken 12 years ago

by THOMASSU > 8 hours ago (Wed Jul 10 2013 20:33) IMDb member since December 2001 Sounds like Freejack with Emilio Estevez.

Hello Thomassu and others,

Five years ago (I can't believe, five years already?) when I raised the same question on Message Bords, both The Prisoner TV Series and Freejack, among others were suggested. The Prisoner certainly fitted "timeframe" and the mood perceived. But after watching the first episode, it was clearly not my movie. As for Freejack, that would be, almost a decade too late.

My movie, at the latest, belongs to early 80's. When he was awoken, sensation he experienced with his sight while racing, is again recreated by his nemesis. In fact they showed him the exact sensation on some screen, just to prove him all this was their doing. Then conveying their reasons, trying to explain why they need him for something.

I was in elementary school, I remember we had so many sports activities that day, that I was really exhausted. So I started watching and, much like the main character, I was also ready for bed :-)

[–] dannieboy20906 10 years ago

Your reference to James Garner makes me think that you are conflating two movies, "36 Hours" and something else, perhaps "Grand Prix."

In "36 Hours" is set just a few days before Operation Neptune (Operation Overlord, or D-Day, depending on how you know it), the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. James Garner plays an American major on the G-2 (intelligence) staff who has knowledge of the invasion plans. He is kidnapped by the Germans from the roadside in England and spirited away to Germany where they try to convince him that the war is over, he has amnesia, and is recovering in a hospital.

It may be that since you saw only the beginning moments and remember James Garner that you are conflating it in your mind with "Grand Prix," a very different, but much more famous James Garner film made about the same time.

[–] Volken 10 years ago

Thanks for your comment dannieboy20906,

Your reasoning makes sense, but I will have to confirm whether I have seen "36 Hours" and "Grand Prix" before.

Even without looking "Grand Prix" is very good possibility, but intriguing and very interesting description of "36 Hours" is less possible, as I would surely remember such original idea.

But, will let you know as watch those movies.

If only Garner was driving a race car in the beginning of "36 Hours" then this would surely be my movie ;)

[–] dannieboy20906 10 years ago

He definitely was not in a racing car. The beginning is foggy in my memory, but I think he was driving through the woods in England in a roadster, something like an MG TC (though I don't think they were built during WW II). Then he crashes and wakes up in the German hospital disguised an a post-war American hospital.

Grand Prix starts with Garner's character causing a crash during the Monaco Grand Prix. His gearbox locks up while his team mate is trying to pass him. Afterwards he is fired by the team manager and he goes in search of a team to drive for.

The common link is car crashes, but it is definitely a stretch.

[–] Volken 9 years ago

@Dannieboy20906,

Sorry for the late reply. Indeed, right you are, sadly none of those movies resemble mysterious opening of what is continuing to be rather mysterious racing opening.

Perhaps less known B movie, but, with rather intriguing opening