by Claude Lelouch (1976)35mm, 9 min, colour, stereo
The godfather of car racing: C'ÉTAIT UN RENDEZ-VOUS shows an nine-minute drive through Paris in the early hours of the morning (5:30), accompanied by sounds of a high-reving engine, gear changes and squealing tires.
Shot in a single take, it is an example of cinéma-vérité. The length of the film was limited by the short capacity of the 400 foot 35mm film reel, and filmed from a gyro-stabilised camera mounted on the bumper of a Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9. Until recently, there was no confirmation of who was driving or what car he was driving. Over the years, various sources claimed an F1 driver was at the wheel of a Le Mans Matra 675, Ferrari 275 GTB, or an Alpine A110. However, Claude Lelouch confirmed on his official website in March 2006 that he was driving, and it was a 6.9 litre Mercedes.
The route taken in the film is 10.42 km long (6.48 mi). It takes the driver 7:57 to cover that distance, giving him an average speed of 78.64 km/h (48.86 mph). According to recent claims by Claude Lelouch, he later dubbed over the sound of a Ferrari 275GTB to give the impression of much higher speeds. Calculations made by several independent groups using the film show that the car never exceeds 140 km/h (85 mph), which seems to lend credence to his recent comments.
One observer was posted, with a walkie talkie, close to the Louvre palace at the only blind junction (archway) to assist the driver, however Lelouch has revealed that the radios failed, and if the assistant had tried to warn him of a pedestrian the message would not have been received. Lelouch was arrested shortly after the film was screened but was later released without charge.
To start the insanity, simply click on the link below. Enjoy.
http://vimeo.com/757553
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