Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1683 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-07-07
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Dutch, English, French, Greek, Portuguese
• Dubbed in: French, German, Italian, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 106 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A classic auto-racing movie starring Steve McQueen, Le Mans puts the audience in the driver's seat for what is often called the most gruelling race in the world. McQueen plays the American driver, locked in an intense grudge match with his German counterpart during the 24-hour race through the French countryside even as he wrestles with the guilt over causing an accident that cost the life of a close friend. McQueen is his usual stoic magnetic self, and the racing sequences are among the best ever committed to film. A solid character-driven story combines with raw visceral power to make Le Mans a rich tapestry of action and thrills. --Robert Lane

Special Features
2.35 Anamorphic Wide Screen
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1

Synopsis
An American race car driver (Steve McQueen) returns to competition a year after an accident leaves him badly injured. As he prepares to face his chief rival in the famous Le Mans race, he also begins a new romance with the wife of a driver who died in the same accident that nearly killed him. Often considered the best racing film ever, LE MANS captures on film the personal intrigue and death-defying sportsmanship of the world's most famous and dangerous racing competition. Steve McQueen did most of his own driving on the 8.5 mile course, often exceeding 200 mph.

Customer Reviews

A film for the boys...
Is there a better film made about motor racing? I doubt it. Due to it's age, it is a fascinating snapshot of the period of LeMans racing before daft chicanes where put into the Mulsanne Straight, and racers were real heroes putting their life on the line. Forget all about the weak love interest story that pops up now and again, this is a high octane fuel, retro cool, boys movie. None of the actors in the film actually speak anything for the 1st half an hour or so, (the cars engines do the talking) until McQueen at his 1st pitstop mentions to his co-driver "watch out for the red Lola". The sound of the Porsche 917 and Ferrari 512 engines has to be heard to be believed. The sight and sound of the leading longtail 917 heading past maison blanche as the camara pulls back just after the start of the race, is awsome. McQueen is of course peerless whose style and screen presence defined an era. By the end of this film you will want to be Steve himself, just don't try to emulate his driving in your Mondeo! Slip the disc in the player, turn up the volume and send the partner down the pub. This film is so cool it hurts.

The DVD I've been waiting for.
Steve was an accomplished racing driver and his Porsche 908 was entered in le mans '70 to gain the on board driving sequences at the start (although he was not allowed to drive). When the film was made in '71 Steve drove another Porasche against 41 international drivers filming for 5 months on location. There is little story, its about a race and the people in it such as Steve who is playing a driver injured the year before. Non race fans may not like it, but cleaned up with 5.1 sound, the music, the cars, some real footage and fantastic filmed driving sequences, no other film has ever or will ever capture the emotion and atmosphere of racing let alone '71 le mans with Porsche 917K's and other cars of that era. I have been waiting for this movie for a long time. (its been out on video in the states for years).
I recommend the book "A French Kiss With Death", it covers Steve's career, Le Mans history, the cars and how this movie was made. In fact, I think I'll put it on again....

At last McQueen�s Seminal race movie 'Le Mans' on DVD
If you like pure speed without Hollywood's over the top car stunts there are only two movies that count; Steve McQueen's 'BULLITT', and Steve McQueen's 'LE MANS'.

Now at long last McQueen's Seminal movie of the 24hour race 'Le Mans' joins 'Bullitt' on DVD. It was never as far as I know on vhs so this is the first time we have been able to get our hands on it apart from taping off the telly. This is however in glorious 2.35:1 panavision, and not old tv square vision.

Sound is Dolby 5.1.The print has been cleaned up and is fantastic.
It would have been nice to have had a 'making of' and maybe a history of the Le Mans 24hour race. But then the lower price takes this into account.
There are no extras other than extra sound tracks for Italian, French, German & Spanish. Subtitles are in English, Dutch, Portuguese, French and Greek.

My advice is BUY IT, draw the curtains, get a couple of cans, slouch in an armchair, put on the headphones and hit the volume to hear those glorious Porsche engines and wrap yourself up in an on the limit high speed run through the french countryside for 1hour 44minutes ( includes time for a tea break while Steve chats-up the lovely Elga Andersen).

Le Mans should carry a public heath warning its such a breath taking thrill:
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR CAR AFTER WATCHING THIS MOVIE. You will: a/ get a speeding ticket, b/have an accident, c/end up in jail, D/a,b & c will happen.
You have been warned.