Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

My family just loves this movie. The characters are wonderfully played up by the top notch cast. As noted by others, Professor Fate is just a hoot. Then there's the sight gags like the sun glinting off Leslie's teeth in one shot. After you watch the movie the gag line, "Push the button Max," will stay with you forever *grin*.Of course the most fabulous scene in the movie is in the confectionery near the end of the movie. I suppose others have given more of a description, but I'll just say it is the absolute best scene of its type ever done. I can't imagine what it would be like if they'd had to do a retake, ha ha. While there are just too many great scenes in this movie this scene makes watching the movie worth every minute.It even has one of the better endings as well. Certainly a movie worth watching. And again. And again. *smile*

Blake Edwards was a reigning king of comedy during the 1960s with the immense success of "The Pink Panther" films. The director outdid himself with this zany comedy about two competing stuntmen (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) who enter an around-the-world race to prove who is the better man. The competing racers have to deal with the numerous booby traps set by one of them, the natural elements of the global terrains their vehicles traverse and a persistently pesky suffragette reporter (Natalie Wood) who soon falls in love with the good guy stuntmen.The film's leading players are all hilariously entertaining from Tony Curtis as the straight-man (similiar to his role in "Some Like It Hot") 'The Great Leslie', Jack Lemmon as the outlandish and hysterically wacky Professor Fate, Peter Falk as Lemmon's bumbling assistant Max and a lovably snarky Natalie Wood as persistent and pretty Maggie DuBois. A colorful set of supporting characters like Keenan Wynn as The Great Leslie's friend and assistant, there's Maggie's newspaper boss who is reluctant to hire a woman but does due to his suffragette wife as well as wildly eccentric minor characters along the global race. Henry Macini's zany musical score fits perfectly with the film's humor. It is cartoonish at times, but is complimented with lush melodies for tender moments. The score is boosted by Johnny Mercer's Oscar nominated 'Sweetheart Tree' which is sung by Maggie (sung by another actress, not star Natalie Wood) after a zany escape. The best comedic lines from the film are uttered by comedy legend Jack Lemmon as Professor Fate as his schemes humorously fail and he constantly berates Peter Falk's Max. There are memorable exchanges between straight-man Tony Curtis and the snarky Natalie as they spar in a verbal battle of the sexes (just watch the 'duel' scene). You can't walk away from this film without quoting certain lines, particularly Jack Lemmon's iconic "Push the button, Max!"

Blake Edwards has one of the most overblown reputations among critics and film buffs, and this lavishly produced, star and cameo studded, box office smash is long, loud and tedious. Seemingly inspired by the success of Kramer's It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), The Great Race, 2 hours and 40 minutes long, is a seemingly endless series of elaborate set pieces populated by annoying characters played by Curtis, Wood, Lemon and Falk who are one-note and overbearing. Since the outcome of the race doesn't matter, the race lacks any excitement; there's no one to root for and it becomes sidetracked with songs and an elaborate pie throwing fight while all of the other participants in the race apparently fall off the map. Edwards' films The Days of Wine and Roses, Experiment in Terror, S.O.B. and Ten are all over rated and Darling Lili like The Great Race is almost impossible to underrate. Breakfast at Tiffany's is probably his best film even though it turns sentimental in the last third.

This film is a perfect classic! Straight from the impeccable A-list cast! Natalie Wood was great in this film! And of course Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon fit their roles perfectly also! This is just the type of film that I love! A big road trip adventure movie, with a great cast, humor, and well written along with a good story line. The costumes are fantastic too, I'm sure it was tough to gather all those different costumes, for all the different settings in the movie, especially for 1965, they did do a great job though! This movie is just pure fun!! Very fun, adventurous, funny, well acted, well done. The sets are very pretty and elaborate looking. The bottom line is this movie is just so enjoyable and fun to watch! I 100% suggest the great race (1965) 10/10! Some people don't even know it exists, and it's really a shame, because it's better than some movies that come out today.