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C'était un Rendezvous [Thu, 10-Nov-2005 12:56 PM]
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[music |Front 242 -- Operating Tracks]

C'était un Rendezvous:

On an August morning in 1978, French filmmaker Claude Lelouch mounted a gyro-stabilized camera to the bumper of a Ferrari 275 GTB and had a friend, a professional Formula 1 racer, drive at breakneck speed through the heart of Paris. The film was limited for technical reasons to 10 minutes; the course was from Porte Dauphine, through the Louvre, to the Basilica of Sacre Coeur.

No streets were closed, for Lelouch was unable to obtain a permit.

The driver completed the course in about 9 minutes, reaching nearly 140 MPH in some stretches. The footage reveals him running real red lights, nearly hitting real pedestrians, and driving the wrong way up real one-way streets.

It has just been remastered and released on DVD.

Quicktime here. It's absolutely terrifying, despite looking a lot like a video game. "Red light! Red light! Red light! GARBAGE TRUCK!!!" The only thing it's missing is a woman pushing a baby carriage, and a couple of guys carrying a plate-glass window.

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Comments:
[User Picture]From: [info]specialagentm
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 9:08 PM (UTC)

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That video is wild as hell. I've seen some similar motorcycle videos out of Greece and Paris, and they are insane. I always have this desire to go buy a PS2 racing game after seeing these, but then I realize it just won't be the same. What I really want is one of those arcade games where you can at least sit on a real faux crotch rocket.
[User Picture]From: [info]jsbowden
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 9:52 PM (UTC)

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I've got one of those as an AVI file archived somewhere. I'll have to dig it out and post a link.
[User Picture]From: [info]nerak_g
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 9:09 PM (UTC)

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The buses, the BUSES!!!

~much enjoyed, though~
[User Picture]From: [info]spikenheimer
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 9:11 PM (UTC)

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those pigeons are good at avoiding the cars...
[User Picture]From: [info]jerronimo
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 9:11 PM (UTC)

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ho. ly. crap.

damn.
[User Picture]From: [info]kungfupolarbear
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 9:15 PM (UTC)

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Don't forget the cart full of watermelons. Ya need a cart full of watermelons in the road, too. (thanks to Wayne's World)
[User Picture]From: [info]cow
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 9:17 PM (UTC)

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So, apparently, all vehicles in Paris are buses, garbage trucks, or VW hippie vans.

(Then again, it was 1978.)
[User Picture]From: [info]ioerror
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 9:45 PM (UTC)

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And now you never have to go to Paris. Win win.
[User Picture]From: [info]soulrefraction
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 9:50 PM (UTC)

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This inspired many similar films. Search for the "Getaway in Stockholm" series, there are at least three of them that I've seen.

It's a shame I sold the NSX as I used to give rides like this to friends (140 mid day through Cupertino, the 20 minute drive from SF to San Jose chasing a Lamborghini, the 20 minute drive from San Leandro to San Jose, averaging 70MPH one night going up 9, catching air on the way back down, etc.). This is why I'm not allowed to get a Lotus Elise.
[User Picture]From: [info]capitalfellow
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 10:09 PM (UTC)

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jebuss christ. Try searching for "gumball" on video.google.com. The homemade clips from the gumball rally are what you want.
[User Picture]From: [info]cavorite
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 10:26 PM (UTC)

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I am pretty sure this was the inspiration for the inner-city chase scene in the movie Ronin, which was pretty insane and a feat of filmmaking in and of itself, even with a closed set.
From: [info]tongodeon
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 10:30 PM (UTC)

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just been remastered and released on DVD

Just released? I bought my copy 2 years ago.
[User Picture]From: [info]no_brakes23
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 10:36 PM (UTC)

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Thanks, I have been trying to find this for 3 years.
[User Picture]From: [info]nightrider
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 10:44 PM (UTC)

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Muchas gracias for the car-porn.

Now I have to change my pants.

----

I, too, used to love doing the 20-minute commute down 280, but alas... my baby has gone and left me.
From: [info]jon
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 11:42 PM (UTC)

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[User Picture]From: [info]raindrift
Thu, 10-Nov-2005 11:46 PM (UTC)

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[User Picture]From: [info]grumpy_sysadmin
Fri, 11-Nov-2005 12:20 AM (UTC)

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If memory serves, there's a sequel, with two cars, made much more recently... in Nice? maybe. Regrettably, the front-end cam on one of the two gets nailed by a pebble early on. That one's been out on DVD for a while. Mysteriously, I've yet to acquire either, which will be rectified soon.
[User Picture]From: [info]korgmeister
Fri, 11-Nov-2005 4:12 AM (UTC)

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Wow, it's like a hi-poly version of a 'Burnout' game :D
[User Picture]From: [info]ugg_the_wandere
Fri, 11-Nov-2005 6:12 PM (UTC)

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The only thing it's missing is a woman pushing a baby carriage, and a couple of guys carrying a plate-glass window.

quicktime not there anymore. wahhh. :(

i wanted to see a fruit cart get knocked over.

[User Picture]From: [info]fantasygoat
Fri, 11-Nov-2005 7:08 PM (UTC)

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God I love that sound. The downshifting especially.

I'm surprised no one has done the obligitory quote:

"It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."
[User Picture]From: [info]doktorzee
Sat, 12-Nov-2005 5:27 PM (UTC)

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The requested URL /public/rendezvous20_04.mov was not found on this server.
From: [info]cykovisuals
Sat, 10-Dec-2005 7:53 AM (UTC)

Oops, .WMV version available here!

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[User Picture]From: [info]toastywithbeer
Mon, 2-Jan-2006 6:34 PM (UTC)

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What ever the truth about this short film. It's a cracker, that's for sure. I have to have a 'fix' every now and then.

[User Picture]From: [info]dare_ga
Sat, 14-Jan-2006 3:42 PM (UTC)

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sorry can't see any evidence for 140mph 70-80 yes but no faster. the cars that are passed arn't going by at a high enough rate.the sound dubing has one or two mistakes in it as well if you listen to it.where are the infamous french horn and other car noises eg noise from the diffent surface changes and building proximity?nice but not real.