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$14.95 - Downhill Racer [VHS]
Product DescriptionRobert Redford stars in this excellent 1969 film about a selfish and ambitious athlete who wants to break records at the Olympics but not participate in the teamwork emphasized by his coach (Gene Hackman). Redford comes across as a rare heel, and the film's understated tone keeps the focus on characters and sundry themes important to director Michael Ritchie (The Candidate): the sacrifices of the race, the price of winning, the fear of losing. --Tom Keogh
Most Recent Customer ReviewsDate : 2010-01-31
Summary : Robert Redford on skis
this review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.
In Downhill Racer, Robert Redford plays David Chappellet, a skier hoping to compete in the Winter Olympics. His coach is portrayed by Gene Hackman.
The music in the film is also pretty good.
The film has many good scenes of skiers and of the Alps. It is a dated film but still is impressive. I wonder if its Criterion release was timed for the Vancouver Olympics which are scheduled for 3 month after the November 2009 release.
The supplements include a 12 minute promo for the film, interviews with Robert Redford, and other crew, and audio of an AFI seminar.
Date : 2010-01-27
Summary : Downhill Racer
Stunning scenery, fabulous heart stopping skiing, beautiful people and a great story. This is a movie that be watched over and over!
Date : 2009-12-16
Summary : The best (and only) major film about downhill ski racing
"Downhill Racer" stars Robert Redford in his prime as David Chappellet, a taciturn loner from Colorado, who competes with an underdog American team for Olympic gold in Europe. Gene Hackman co-stars as the coach who tries to temper Chappellet's narcissistic and reckless drive for glory.
"Downhill Racer" came out late in 1969 hot on the heels of Redford's success with "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." Unfortunately it wasn't marketed properly and failed at the box office, but don't let that deter you 'cause this is a great film well worthy of your time.
Although the movie is from '69 and therefore has obvious dated aspects, "Downhill Racer" was very innovative in it's time and holds up amazingly well to this day. In fact, aside from the ski paraphernalia, I don't find the film dated at all. It somehow has a fresh quality and plays out like a docudrama similar to, say, "Saving Private Ryan," which was made nigh three decades later(!).
"Downhill Racer" is reminiscent of 1966's "The Blue Max" in that both films are about an unlikable loner who is ruthlessly ambitious in his area of skill and functions as a fish out of water in the social circles to which he's thrust. It goes without saying that if you liked "The Blue Max" you'll probably like this one too. Both rank with my favorite films of all time.
Downhill racing is an insanely hazardous sport in that the skier can reach speeds of 80-90 mph(!). Needless to say, one bad fall could take you out for life. Downhill is also an extremely individualistic sport, which is well pointed out in the story when a teammate criticizes Chappellet for not being a team player and another guy responds, "Well, it isn't exactly a team sport, is it?" Needless to say, it takes a very certain kind of individual to be successful at downhill -- someone who's ultra-daring and bold; someone with a wild, reckless edge balanced by the necessary discipline to train and compete. Redford effectively plays such a person here. He rises up in the ranks to become the American team's only true hopeful; the coach attempts to somewhat keep him under reigns and criticizes his individualism and recklessness even while he knows these are the very qualities that makes him a winner. Throughout the picture Chappellet and the coach act like they don't like each other at all, and it's true because Chappellet is a loner in the truest sense, but ultimately the coach is squarely on the young racer's side: When it comes time for the vital Olympic run the coach looks into Chappellet's eyes and confidently states, "You can win this."
Take note of the stark contrast of Chappellet's plain hometown in Colorado and the glitz of the European ski resorts where he races. Also contasted is Chappellet's throw-away hometown girl ("Do ya have some more of that gum" -- LOL) and the glamorous self-absorbed babe he hooks up with in Europe (Camilla Sparv of "Mackenna's Gold" fame); she gives him a good taste of his own bad self, if you know what I mean. Also of interest is his 'relationship' with his distant father, a simple country man who doesn't understand his son's preoccupation with skiing and the lack of financial gain thereof.
While watching I couldn't help but think of Bill Johnson, the unlikely downhill gold medal winner for the USA in the '84 Olympics. Like Chappellet he was cocky & reckless and irked the European snobs with his bold predictions of Olympic victory. I have no doubt that "Downhill Racer" was one of Bill's favorite films. Unfortunately Mr. Johnson staged an improbable comeback bid for the 2002 Olympics that ended abruptly with a horrible downhill crash in March, 2001, leaving him permanently brain-damaged and in need of constant care. How the mighty have fallen!
One cavil I have with "Downhill Racer" is that Redford is playing a person in his early 20s while he was 32 years-old during filming and looks it. But this is just nitpicking.
Highly recommended.
Date : 2009-12-06
Summary : The Best Ski Movie - Ever!
I first saw this film when it was released in 1969. I was a graduate student and part-time ski instructor in western New York, a time when my professional and avocational skiing interests were in full development. I loved it then, and I still love watching it now! It captured the essence of the ski racing scene and gave me touchpoints to use with my student skiers. Much later when I was at the University of Colorado (Redford's daughter was a CU student at the time), I got involved in the World Cup races in Aspen and saw much of the same behavior with the top competitors (many of whom were absolute jerks). Redford and Hackman are superb in refecting these dynamics and the attitudes of world-class athletes. I already have two VHS copies of the the film and am purchasing the new DVD version. Enjoy!
Date : 2009-11-22
Summary : Stein Eriksen / Alf Eugen
From early days of skiing I always admired and copied Stein Eriksen's style and grace on skis. He dances with the mountain better than anyone else I have ever seen. The essence of this is captured in the Alpine style of the skiers in this movie. Their equipment is classic, everything is classic. I'm still skiing on my Volkl Reintigers and will continue to do so until ski manufactures rediscover the beauty and grace of skiing with ankles locked together in a waltz with the mountain. Stein if you read this review I'm sure you know what I mean.
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