World famous speed films
(VOV) - Speed films such as “Speed”, “Gone in 60 Seconds” or “Fast & Furious” are considered the masterpieces of the world, which are most favourite all time.
1. Grand Prix (1966)
Grand Prix is a 1966 American action film with an international cast. The picture was directed by John Frankenheimer.
The story follows the fate of four Formula One drivers through a fictionalised version of the 1966 Formula One season.
Sub-plots in the film revolve around the women who try to live with or love the racers with dangerous lifestyles. The married Sarti begins an affair with a magazine writer, Louise Frederickson (played by Saint), while Aron has a brief romance with Stoddard's unhappy wife Pat (played by Walter).
A race day accident at Monaco involving Jordan-BRM teammates Pete Aron and Scott Stoddard leaves Stoddard critically injured. During Stoddard's recovery, Aron becomes involved with his wife who seems determined to leave Scott. At the same time, drivers Jean-Pierre Sarti and Nino Barlini also have chronicled love affairs with Louise Frederickson, an American journalist, and Lisa.
2. The Italian Job (1969)
The Italian Job is a 1969 British caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Peter Collinson. Subsequent television showings and releases on video have made it well known in the United Kingdom.
Charlie Croker (Michael Caine), a Cockney gangster, is released from prison with the intent of doing a 'big job' in Italy. He soon meets with the widow (Lelia Goldoni) of his friend and fellow thief Roger Beckermann (Rossano Brazzi), who was killed driving a Lamborghini Miura in a prearranged car crash in the Italian Alps by the Mafia. She gives Croker her husband's plans for the robbery that attracted the hostile attention of his killers, and which detail a way to steal US$4 million worth of Chinese gold in Italy, and escape with it to Switzerland.
3. Le Mans (1971)
Le Mans is a 1971 action film directed by Lee H. Katzin, starring Steve McQueen. It features footage from the actual 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race in June 1970.
Released in June 1971 and given a G rating, the film is still popular today among race fans, as it is a relatively accurate depiction of the era. It features lots of racing but very little dialogue (there is brief dialogue approximately 6 minutes into the film, then the PA announcer at 11 minutes, more PA announcements at 14 minutes, with McQueen's first dialogue at 36 minutes into the film).
Due to this, and to the American market's obliviousness towards the Le Mans 24-hour race and foreign auto racing in general, it was a flop at the box office in the US. It followed in the wake of the similar but much more successful 1966 film Grand Prix (for which McQueen had turned down the starring role, given afterwards to James Garner).
4. Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)
Gone in 60 Seconds is a 1974 American action film written, directed, produced by, and starring H.B. “Toby” Halicki. It centers on a group of car thieves and the 48 cars they must steal in a matter of days.
The film is famous for having wrecked and destroyed 93 cars in a 40-minute car chase scene. This film stars Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie.
5. Days of Thunder (1990)
Days of Thunder is a 1990 American auto racing film. The cast includes Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
The film also features appearances by real life NASCAR racers.
This is the first of three films to star both Cruise and Kidman (the other two being Far and Away and Eyes Wide Shut).
6. Speed (1994)
Speed is a 1994 American action film directed by Jan de Bont in his directorial debut.
A surprise critical and commercial success, it won two Academy Awards, for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing at the 67th Academy Awards in 1995.
The film is about a Los Angeles Police Department cop who tries to rescue civilians on a city bus rigged with a bomb programmed to explode if the bus slows down or if civilians tries to escape.
7. Ronin (1998)
Ronin is a 1998 American spy thriller action film directed by John Frankenheimer.
The film is about two of several former special forces and intelligence agents who team up to steal a mysterious, heavily guarded case while navigating a maze of shifting loyalties and alliances.
The film is noted for its car chases through Nice and Paris.
8. The Fast & Furious (2001)
The Fast and the Furious is an American franchise including a series of action films, which center on illegal street racing and heists, and various other media portraying the characters and situations from the films.
Distributed by Universal Pictures, the series was established with the 2001 film titled The Fast and the Furious; followed by six sequels, two short films that tie into the series, and a video game series.
The film is loosely based on a magazine article, titled "Racer X", about street clubs that race Japanese cars late at night.
9. The Transporter (2002)
The Transporter (French: Le Transporteur) is a 2002 French action thriller film directed by Louis Leterrier and Corey Yuen and written by Luc Besson, who was inspired by BMW Films' The Hire series.
It is the first film in a series also consisting of Transporter 2 and Transporter 3. A television series premiered in 2012 on October 11 in Germany on RTL and on December 6 in France on M6.
10. Rush (2013)
Rush is a 2013 biographical sports drama film centered on the rivalry between race car drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 Formula One motor-racing season.
James Hunt and Niki Lauda are two highly skilled race car drivers who first develop a fierce rivalry in 1970 at a Formula Three race at the Crystal Palace circuit in England, when both their cars spin out and Hunt eventually wins the race.