# Ford v Ferrari -- I haven't seen it yet. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 9, 2019, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192 "2019-11-09T00:17:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/21 "2019-11-13T22:52:37Z")
My benchmark for auto racing movies is [**Grand Prix**](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060472/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) from 1966. Sure, it had a sappy love story (stories) tacked on but the racing sequences are spectacular because they were actual race cars, filmed at speed, on the real tracks and the filmed cars were driven by the actors in a lot of the scenes. I last watched it five or more years ago and felt like the racing scenes really held up. It was for me, the golden age of Formula 1. I am definitely going to watch **Ford vs. Ferrari** but probably not until it comes to streaming. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/22 "2019-11-14T00:03:35Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > My benchmark for auto racing movies is [**Grand Prix**](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060472/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) from 1966. Sure, it had a sappy love story (stories) tacked on but the racing sequences are spectacular because they were actual race cars, filmed at speed, on the real tracks and the filmed cars were driven by the actors in a lot of the scenes. I last watched it five or more years ago and felt like the racing scenes really held up. It was for me, the golden age of Formula 1. Between that movie and _Le Mans_, you’ve got me covered. Maybe add Ron Howard’s _Rush_, which also notably used a lot of the actual period cars in filming. I want to go back and watch \*Grand Prix \*again now, just because it’s been a while and because Wikipedia reminds me of the overflowing wealth of driving talent that appears on screen… > [@](#): > > The film includes real-life racing footage and cameo appearances by drivers including Formula One World Champions Phil Hill, Graham Hill, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt and Jack Brabham. Other drivers who appeared in the film include Dan Gurney, Ludovico Scarfiotti, Richie Ginther, Joakim Bonnier, Bruce McLaren and Jo Siffert. Just look at this [_one_ scene](http://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mai8viEjo11qfahc0o1_1280.jpg). Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, James Garner, Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren, Antonio Sabato, Jo Siffert! ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/23 "2019-11-14T00:38:45Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Between that movie and _Le Mans_, you’ve got me covered. Maybe add Ron Howard’s _Rush_, which also notably used a lot of the actual period cars in filming. > > I want to go back and watch \*Grand Prix \*again now, just because it’s been a while and because Wikipedia reminds me of the overflowing wealth of driving talent that appears on screen… > > Just look at this [_one_ scene](http://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mai8viEjo11qfahc0o1_1280.jpg). Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, James Garner, Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren, Antonio Sabato, Jo Siffert! I’ve never seen Rush, I need to check it out sometime. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/24 "2019-11-14T00:47:48Z")
Another fun fact about Grand Prix, all the actors that played drivers went to a real race car driving school and James Garner was very, very good at it. Brian Bedford was not very good and that is why his face is obscured by goggles and a balaclava in his “driving” scenes. It’s actually a stunt driver. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/25 "2019-11-14T01:46:19Z")
Fun fact about _Ford v Ferrari_: [Alex Gurney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Gurney) plays Dan. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/26 "2019-11-14T03:14:04Z")
I’m fully aware of the story and I’m still very excited to see this on opening night. I got my tickets a few weeks ago so we could get our preferred seats in our favorite theater. Flix Brewhouse… great food and beer brewed on site. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/27 "2019-11-14T05:55:06Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > My benchmark for auto racing movies is [**Grand Prix**](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060472/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) from 1966. Sure, it had a sappy love story (stories) tacked on but the racing sequences are spectacular because they were actual race cars, filmed at speed, on the real tracks and the filmed cars were driven by the actors in a lot of the scenes. I last watched it five or more years ago and felt like the racing scenes really held up. It was for me, the golden age of Formula 1. > I am definitely going to watch **Ford vs. Ferrari** but probably not until it comes to streaming. Yep, still have a copy of that. Great racing movie. I might drag my wife out to the theater for this one. She’s enough of a gearhead that she’d know what’s going on. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/28 "2019-11-14T12:05:04Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > I’ve never seen Rush, I need to check it out sometime. You do. I’m more of a racing fan than a movie buff, but I’d say it succeeds as a movie in its own right (even if you know the ending). Very good performances by the lead actors. For a car nut, it’s great. Surprised I’m the first to mention _Senna_, which also deserves a place in the Pantheon of great racing movies. Bit different from the others in that it’s much more of a true documentary, largely using period footage rather than recreating it. But it’s none the worse for that, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/29 "2019-11-14T12:26:12Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Just look at this [_one_ scene](http://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mai8viEjo11qfahc0o1_1280.jpg). Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, James Garner, Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren, Antonio Sabato, Jo Siffert! Is it just me or does Rindt look about 12? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/30 "2019-11-14T12:28:54Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > You do. I’m more of a racing fan than a movie buff, but I’d say it succeeds as a movie in its own right (even if you know the ending). Very good performances by the lead actors. For a car nut, it’s great. > > Surprised I’m the first to mention _Senna_, which also deserves a place in the Pantheon of great racing movies. Bit different from the others in that it’s much more of a true documentary, largely using period footage rather than recreating it. But it’s none the worse for that, of course. Agree with all of this and I’d also recommend (again…I’ve said it before) the BBC documentary “[Grand Prix - the killer years](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VtQ9Uc062M)” I don’t think anyone’s F1 education is complete without it, but it is a tough, tough watch. Not overly gruesome, but brutally honest. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/31 "2019-11-14T12:40:01Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Just look at this [_one_ scene](http://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mai8viEjo11qfahc0o1_1280.jpg). Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, James Garner, Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren, Antonio Sabato, Jo Siffert! And considering the last link that I posted it is a sobering thought to realise that out of the 5 drivers in that scene, 4 died before their time. 3 died whilst racing and Graham Hill in a plane crash. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/32 "2019-11-15T02:09:44Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Fun fact about _Ford v Ferrari_: [Alex Gurney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Gurney) plays Dan. That \*is \*a fun fact! ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/33 "2019-11-15T02:15:06Z")
I heard an interview with Matt Damon about the movie on NPR today. He talked a little about the insurance companies influence on filming. When Fankenheimer was filming Grand Prix in '66, the actors personal auto policy was probably considered enough coverage. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/34 "2019-11-16T13:23:24Z")
I saw it last night… great movie! If you are a car person or into racing history at all you will love it. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/35 "2019-11-16T15:58:33Z")
A quick heads up. My wife knew that I knew the story and asked me not to spoil it for her… until the movie was in progress. She wanted to know if Ken died and actually started to leave because I wouldn’t tell her and was going to be very upset if he did. I thought it would just go through the race so I eventually assured her that he didn’t… but the movie continued until when he died during testing ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/36 "2019-11-16T23:51:46Z")
Just got back from it. Of course they altered some things. Not as many as I expected, so that’s something.\* Question: can no one make a race movie anymore without innumerable closeup shots of gear shifts? At least (unlike the Daytone 500 scenes in _Days of Thunder_) Le mans drivers actually do shift a lot. For a good companion piece, read [Go Like Hell](https://www.amazon.com/GO-like-HELL-J-Baime/dp/B011T796ES/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=go+like+hell&qid=1573948512&sr=8-2) by A. J. Baime. \*Miles didn’t crash the Ferrari, its gearbox went out. Miles didn’t burn to death (“sometime you don’t get out of the car”) but was thrown clear with so much force the seat belts ripped out. [The finish was more spread out,](https://www.turnology.com/image/2017/10/blue-oval-icons-ford-gt40-0001-640x481.jpg) and the officials were both in on the tie and realized McLaren would win even before the finish. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2019, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/37 "2019-11-17T01:02:52Z")
Saw it and really enjoyed it. I don’t know anything about the world of cars/racing so I have one question (not really a spoiler): what was the significance of the photographer? Who did he show those pictures to and why? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2019, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/38 "2019-11-17T01:39:00Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Saw it and really enjoyed it. I don’t know anything about the world of cars/racing so I have one question (not really a spoiler): what was the significance of the photographer? Who did he show those pictures to and why? He showed them to the head of Fiat, who was vying to buy Ferrari. Ford was just there to make Fiat up their bid - it’s implied Ferrari never intended to sell to Ford. incidentally, Fiat still owns 90% of Ferrari. The rest is by Enzo’s (illegitimate\*) son. \*those wacky, romantic, passionate Italians! ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/39 "2019-11-17T02:27:17Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Ford was just there to make Fiat up their bid - it’s implied Ferrari never intended to sell to Ford.! Do you mean Ford was in on it? If that’s true, I totally missed it. I thought the Ford guys were sincere about the deal. ---
**Author:** ![sps49sd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@sps49sd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sps49sd)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2019, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192/40 "2019-11-17T05:46:55Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Strange this one, I was brought up on such motor-racing stories and should be champing at the bit but I’m not. > > It is a plucky British success story (OK, American-British but you can’t use plucky so easily if the USA is involved) against the arrogance of uber-tosser Enzo Ferrari. > Trouble is, Miles was as big a knob as Ferrari so I’m not sure I’d be propoerly bought into it. Does the movie mention it was mostly BritFord, not USA Ford? Although nothing says 'Murican like a V-8. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-v-ferrari-i-havent-seen-it-yet/843192.md?page=3)