Professional daredevil and white-suited hero, The Great Leslie, convinces turn-of-the-century auto makers that a race from New York to Paris (westward across America, the Bering Straight and Russia) will help to promote automobile sales. Leslie's arch-rival, the mustached and black-attired Professor Fate vows to beat Leslie to the finish line in a car of Fate's own invention.
Practical Effects
The Hannibal 8 car actually worked and nearly killed the crew
Acting
Jack Lemmon plays 4 roles including a drunken prince
Production
Most expensive comedy ever made at the time ($12M)
Director
Blake Edwards
Jack Lemmon
Professor Fate
Tony Curtis
The Great Leslie
Natalie Wood
Maggie Dubois
Peter Falk
Max
Keenan Wynn
Hezekiah
Arthur O'Connell
Henry Goodbody
Vivian Vance
Hester Goodbody
Dorothy Provine
Lily Olay
Larry Storch
Texas Jack
Ross Martin
Rolfe Von Stuppe
George Macready
General Kuhster
Marvin Kaplan
Frisbee
Hal Smith
Mayor of Boracho
Denver Pyle
Sheriff
William Bryant
Baron's Guard
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The legendary pie fight was cut down from an even longer version; actors were genuinely slipping on cream for days.
Blake Edwards made this to recover from Pink Panther backlash, spending so much the studio nearly collapsed. It basically invented the modern blockbuster comedy budget.
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