Written by Jim Salter. I met him in Aspen once and we talked for a couple of hours at a bar before he told me he was a classmate of my father's and my father was one of the few cadets he knew who were not anti-Semitic. I told him I had been a Jew at West Point because I hated the protestant chaplain so much -- these were in the days when going to church was mandatory. You were supposed to be able to choose which church you went to, but the Deputy Commandant made me write to my parents and get permission to attend Jewish services. This became a major issue in federal court when the lawsuit was filed that overturned what we called mandatory chapel. Jim was a great guy. I knew him when he lived in Sagaponack, and I lived in Sag Harbor. Used to have him over for dinner. One of the smartest people I ever met, and I've met quite a few smart people.
He's also the author of the great Korean War novel, "The Hunters," tied on my list with Michener's "The Bridges at Toko-ri." Both are among the most honest war stories ever written, and both are based on real events.
Salter always hated the movie (which has nothing to do with the novel other than it's about F-86 pilots in Korea) but as my screenwriting mentor Wendell Mayes, who did the "adaptation" once told me, there was no way the Air Force was going to give support (all those airplanes) to a story that was that truthful about the way things really were in the fighter squadrons over there (Salter was so pissed at the Air Force that he wrote the novel under the name of Salter, which he later legally took as his own). "We had a hard enough time getting them to let us tell the story we did," as Wendell recalled.
I enjoyed "The Hunters" also, and gave it to my father to read. He remarked that in the mid-1950's, he flew the Navy version of the F-86, called the FJ-3M Fury, and he felt that it was the most fun of any airplane he flew.
I was learning to ski in 1969 and loved "Downhill Racer!"
I was on our high school ski team when that movie came out and our coach had the entire boys and girls alpine ski teams bussed to the theater where it was showing. Fabulous movie. I'd love to see it again--I'll check our cable menu!
Yes, that film deserved some nominations at least, if not rewards, for Michael Ritchie. As movie directorial debuts go I would rank it right up there with Steven Spielberg's "Duel" (as seen here at cinema theatres in New Zealand & Australia, early 1970s).
Thanks for the heads up. I love this movie and haven’t seen it for a long time. Look forward to watching it. But will have to change my cat’s favorite channel.😹 I know it’s not Friday but can’t help myself.
Way back when airline flights ran movies in the cabin, we got "Downhill Racer" on a flight to San Francisco from Houston. I remember how cynical Robert Redford's character was, but yes, that was prescient of all sorts of "me, me, me" sports "heroes" to come.
Good picture indeed. Ritchie seemed to be fascinated with video monitors, often using them to show the action in the distance and coverage of the action in the foreground.
Written by Jim Salter. I met him in Aspen once and we talked for a couple of hours at a bar before he told me he was a classmate of my father's and my father was one of the few cadets he knew who were not anti-Semitic. I told him I had been a Jew at West Point because I hated the protestant chaplain so much -- these were in the days when going to church was mandatory. You were supposed to be able to choose which church you went to, but the Deputy Commandant made me write to my parents and get permission to attend Jewish services. This became a major issue in federal court when the lawsuit was filed that overturned what we called mandatory chapel. Jim was a great guy. I knew him when he lived in Sagaponack, and I lived in Sag Harbor. Used to have him over for dinner. One of the smartest people I ever met, and I've met quite a few smart people.
He's also the author of the great Korean War novel, "The Hunters," tied on my list with Michener's "The Bridges at Toko-ri." Both are among the most honest war stories ever written, and both are based on real events.
Salter always hated the movie (which has nothing to do with the novel other than it's about F-86 pilots in Korea) but as my screenwriting mentor Wendell Mayes, who did the "adaptation" once told me, there was no way the Air Force was going to give support (all those airplanes) to a story that was that truthful about the way things really were in the fighter squadrons over there (Salter was so pissed at the Air Force that he wrote the novel under the name of Salter, which he later legally took as his own). "We had a hard enough time getting them to let us tell the story we did," as Wendell recalled.
I enjoyed "The Hunters" also, and gave it to my father to read. He remarked that in the mid-1950's, he flew the Navy version of the F-86, called the FJ-3M Fury, and he felt that it was the most fun of any airplane he flew.
I was learning to ski in 1969 and loved "Downhill Racer!"
I was on our high school ski team when that movie came out and our coach had the entire boys and girls alpine ski teams bussed to the theater where it was showing. Fabulous movie. I'd love to see it again--I'll check our cable menu!
Good for the coach - that he saw "the lesson" was important.
Yes, that film deserved some nominations at least, if not rewards, for Michael Ritchie. As movie directorial debuts go I would rank it right up there with Steven Spielberg's "Duel" (as seen here at cinema theatres in New Zealand & Australia, early 1970s).
Absolutely agree.
Thanks for the heads up. I love this movie and haven’t seen it for a long time. Look forward to watching it. But will have to change my cat’s favorite channel.😹 I know it’s not Friday but can’t help myself.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZzXOqjkrBy9VN_HiWftfhPKw-DJJdHkx/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17dyrya7CzHdQLxZ0h5fdX-ZkVKhtqb6P/view?usp=drivesdk
Way back when airline flights ran movies in the cabin, we got "Downhill Racer" on a flight to San Francisco from Houston. I remember how cynical Robert Redford's character was, but yes, that was prescient of all sorts of "me, me, me" sports "heroes" to come.
Really? OK! I've never seen it, and your recommendation is GOLDEN. Can't wait to see it. xo
Good picture indeed. Ritchie seemed to be fascinated with video monitors, often using them to show the action in the distance and coverage of the action in the foreground.