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Rush

FEATURE BY MIKE LAWRENCE
16/09/2013

The first thing to say about Rush is that it is the best motor racing movie ever made. The racing sequences are outstanding and Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl are James Hunt and Niki Lauda to the life, they are uncanny in appearance, mannerisms and voice.

The significance of the 1976 season is not only that it was a great human story, with Niki being given the last rites and racing six weeks later, in considerable pain. It was a story which captured the public's imagination and elevated Formula One from a minority sport into the mainstream. Full television coverage followed in 1978, largely a result of the Hunt/Lauda battle.

All Pitpass readers will know the general story, but not all lived through 1976. Director, Ron Howard has caught the period precisely, the pits and the paddock are how they were. Everything was much more informal than today. There were far fewer mechanics and engineers. There was no pit to car radio or banks of computers. Nobody then had thought of using computers, the first instance came a couple of years later when Karl Kempf was employed by Ken Tyrrell.

The sport was dangerous, safety harnesses had only become mandatory in 1972. There was no crash testing, drivers relied on their designers and they worked, often alone, with pencils and slide rules. The film emphasises the danger not to be sensational, but to remind a modern audience how things were.

You had these contrasting personalities and this is the meat of the film. In fact, James and Niki were friends off the track. James was the great babe magnet and Niki picked up the collateral. Niki stayed in James's flat in London. Rush, however, is a drama, not a documentary and drama needs conflict. The script takes liberties with the literal truth to serve a greater end.

Richard III never said, 'A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse', but the cry encapsulates Richard's desperation. Within six years of Shakespeare writing that, the verse satirist, John Marston, began a section of a long poem with, 'A man, a man, my kingdom for a man.' Shakespeare wrote a drama, not a documentary. A dramatist is allowed to take liberties with details to serve the bigger picture.

James Hunt did win the 'Driver of the Year' trophy awarded by the Guild of Motoring Writers. The movie suggests that it was in 1970 when it was in 1973 after James had raced a private March in some F1 races, a season missing from the film. The Guild's dinner is shown filled with glamorous women, as a Guild member, I wish. It is for members only, not their spouses. I know that, fellow members know that and so do guests from manufacturers who look after hacks.

The award is not that important, few members of the Guild have expert knowledge of motor racing, they are more concerned with the motor industry and the latest Korean import. I have only ever voted once.

None of that matters, it's a drama on film. This detail merely goes to show James emerged from being 'Hunt the shunt', he was pretty wild, to being a respected driver.

Of course, there are going to be geeks who pick up on minor details, which they will inevitably call 'mistakes'. They do this to make themselves appear more important, and more knowledgeable than they are. A geek is only a geek, unless he is also a nerd.

It is clear that the final version of Rush has been subjected to editing. An actor portrayed Stirling Moss, he is in the credits, but his performance ended on the cutting room floor. In a better world the editor would be burned at the stake for blasphemy for cutting Sir God, even represented by a mere player.

More seriously, after James's McLaren was disqualified from victory in Spain (it caused a furore in England) McLaren modified the M23 and moved the oil cooler. That simple act upset the aerodynamic balance and James was uncompetitive for a spell. We hear about the oil cooler, but not about the aerodynamic balance, or how McLaren solved the problem. That is down to the editor who was probably under pressure to make the movie a certain length.

Cinemas make their money by so many screenings per day and the opportunity to sell popcorn (it doesn't make a noise) and ice cubes mixed with cola.

Aerodynamics were not well understood in 1976, the McLaren was never in a wind tunnel, that sort of testing arrived a couple of years later. Among other things, the 1976 season was on the cusp of technical development. McLaren had a vague idea that under-car airflow was important, but had not worked out why.

At Lotus, Peter Wright was working on the problem and the last race of 1976, when Hunt secured the title, was won by Mario Andretti in a Lotus employing ground effect.

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READERS COMMENTS

 

1. Posted by Craig Iedema, 17/10/2013 4:17

"Just came back from seeing this movie, loved it, I had read this review before seeing the movie, so was somewhat aware of the bits that were fictionalized for the movie. But it was still a great movie.

BTW they did mention the aero dynamic problems with shifting the oil cooler."

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2. Posted by francis-n, 26/09/2013 23:44

"Great film. I was lucky to watch some of the filming at Blackbushe.

I took my wife who doesn't really like motor racing but she really enjoyed the film which says something about it as a film. I of course loved the motor racing action.

OK - so it slightly distorts the Lauda/Hunt relationship, and misses out bits of the season, but it is good drama and does give a good impression of both of them as people and above all a sense of what F1 was like in the 70s, I can live with that. I doubt we'll ever get a better rendition than this."

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3. Posted by kraut, 26/09/2013 18:30

"Sightly OT but I read a week ago that in the wake of the movie premiere in the US, Niki Lauda was asked for an interview with an US Breakfast TV host at the very spot on the old Nordschleife were he had his horrific accident in 76. Just before the interview Niki secretly placed a typical German half moon shaped cookie into the high grass:
"So Mr. Lauda, how is it to be here"; "Just a moment" while walking into the grass; "What are you doing ?"; "Oh look, here is my ear !"
The TV Host almost fainted and the interview needed to be taped later."

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4. Posted by blackdog, 24/09/2013 6:57

"I was 24 in 1976, I was an avid fan and on friendly terms with many of the great and the good in Grand Prix racing at the time. They were friends of my Father.
I have always thought that Grand Prix and Le Mans were excellent films which captured, very accurately, what motor racing was like in those days. Bloody dangerous!
I am not going to watch Rush because there are quite a few inaccuracies and I don't understand why. If you are going to do it, tell it like it was, or don't bother!
So I prefer to draw on my personal memories of the time, in much the same way as I hate going to funerals I prefer, quite simply, to remember the person and the times shared.
As it happens I am getting ready to go to the funeral of a dear friend at this precise moment.
"

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5. Posted by The Rumble Strip, 22/09/2013 21:25

"In much the same way as Senna before it, one has to congratulate the makers of Rush for bringing F1 to the big screen and producing a thoroughly entertaining and accurate portrayal of the time.

Although perhaps lacking in a little of the finer political details of the season, such as the British Grand Prix furor, the character exploration of both Hunt and Lauda and their different approaches to racing is more than believable.

The only slight criticism that I had is what appears to be a slightly contrived ending and whilst this scene may have happened in real life, it could have been played out earlier in the film, leaving the scene where Lauda expresses that he has no regrets from his season finale withdrawal as a more fitting denouement.
"

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6. Posted by JackTheCat, 17/09/2013 11:30

"Thanks for the review. I have been worried about this movie's portrayal of the events and of F1 in general for a while sickened by the thought of the possibility of another 'Driven' so it is reassuring to hear how good this movie is.

It also sounds like the opportunity for a genuine extended director's cut is there.... that will be even better for us hardcore F1 fans!

Now about Ted..... ;-)"

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7. Posted by Editor, 17/09/2013 11:23

"I cannot entirely vouch for Dr Mike's taste in movies...

I am still recovering from an afternoon watching TED.

I kid you not."

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8. Posted by Redphyve, 17/09/2013 11:16 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 17/09/2013 11:23)

"Well worth the viewing and the review amply backs up my comments to friends and family that Rush is the best racing movie ever.

Umm, I wonder if we should put together a petition to request that Dr Mike reviews other movies, usch as perhaps the Fast 'n Furious franchise...or perhaps that excellent movie "Driven" by Sly "the Driver" Stallone!

Before the stoning commences, let me just say my tongue is firmly in my cheek!"

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9. Posted by Gilles27, 17/09/2013 10:20 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 17/09/2013 11:23)

"According to imdb Alistair Petrie played Stirling Moss. I remember seeing him in the film. He interviewed James after a race in a re-creation of an interview I have heard before. I think it's the one where Stirling says "What are you going to do now James?" and James replies "I'm going to get drunk!".

The film is fantastic. It was a shame the Brands Hatch crash/disqualification/re-start/disqualification was not included, but I suppose they only had limited time. The scene where James attacks a journalist at Monza was quite poor as I couldn't imagine James actually doing that. It is the only part where I wasn't totally engrossed and immersed. Can't wait to see it again!"

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