THE GREAT RACE
The Great Race is a 1965 American Technicolor epic slapstick comedy film directed by Blake Edwards, starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Natalie Wood, written by Arthur A. Ross (from a story by Edwards and Ross), and with music by Henry Mancini and cinematography by Russell Harlan. The supporting cast includes Peter Falk, Keenan Wynn, Arthur O’Connell and Vivian Vance.
The movie cost US$12 million (equivalent to $98.36 million in 2020), making it the most expensive comedy film at the time.[2] The story was inspired by the actual 1908 New York to Paris Race.[3] It was co-produced by Lemmon’s Jalem Productions, Curtis’ Reynard Productions, and Edwards’ Patricia Productions.[4]
It is known for one scene that was promoted as “the greatest pie fight ever”.[5] It was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning the Academy Award for Best Sound Effects.