Movie Trivia -- Answers to: 

This Pie Fight Takes the Cake!! 

As I reported this past Sunday, Lonestar Mike answered Movie Trivia correctly. All his answers hit the mark perfectly. Lonestar commented:

"Was it The Great Race? I remember it was Jack Lemmon who played as Prince Hoepnick (that's the one in the union suit). Also, he played as Professor Fate. Natalie Wood was the female co-star I believe. I know the movie was released in the mid 60's.... Lonestar Mike."

Great job Lonestar, a terrific union suit fan and blog participant in his own right!

Here's more takes from this fun-filled film. Viewing these will probably make you want to find this film in some streaming service to see why Prince Friedrich Hapnick is running around his French village in faded union suit underwear and lands head first into a giant cake!!

 

 

The 1965 film, The Great Race, was the most expensive comedy movie ever made up to that time. The entire cost was twelve million dollars back then, equivalent to over $100 million in today's dollars. The film was produced by Lemmon's Jalem Productions, Edwards' Patricia Productions and Curtis' Reynard Productions, and distributed by Warners Brothers.

 The most famously epic scene was the pie fight in the royal kitchen. More than 4,000 pies had been prepared, arranged and subsequently thrown. Movie fans had never witnessed such a mess. This pie fight eclipsed the iconic Laurel and Hardy film, the 1927 The Battle of the Century, when a mere 3,000 pies were thrown in the actors' faces!

The cost of making the pies in The Great Race was $18,000 which would be over $150,000 today. This one scene cost $200,000 ($1.5 million today) to make and took five days to film. The pie fight lasted less than five minutes! That makes one wonder how many union suits the prince had to change into to finally complete the scene.

Director Blake Edwards believed the pie throwing scene was critical for the movie which earned five Academy Award Nominations. And, won one for Best Sound Editing. Jack Lemmon played a dual role as Professor Fate and Prince Friedrich Hapnick. He's the one running around the village and castle in his long, button-down underwear. Tony Curtis was The Great Leslie, Peter Falk was Maximillian (Max) and the gorgeous and very talented Natalie Wood played Maggie DuBois. Music was by the great Henry Mancini.

Leslie and Professor Fate play turn of the 20th century race car drivers, taking great chances as they raced from New York to Paris. Other drivers entered the race which totaled seven cars taking part. At least that is how many started out. Due to sabotage, only three continued. This film is two shades beyond silly, drags in places and is out dated. Yet it's still fun to watch these incredibly gifted actors make fools of themselves.