We've all seen the legendary Bullitt car chase I'm sure, I'm guessing both version of Gone In Sixty Seconds have passed your eyes at some point. How about the lesser known but cult movies? Vanishing Point, yup seen that, how about Two Lane Blacktop? Sure you have. Car chases and action sequences are one of the markers of 'car films'. However car chases are spread liberally around Hollywood to provide that bit of extra spice to movies, here are a couple you might not have seen and the reasons they are great.
Against All Odds
I'll not hear a word said against the mighty Phil Collins title track, it is genius, FACT! However this movie sticks in my head for different reasons. Growing up I remember seeing a "How Stunts Work" TV show which featured this chase/race scene, my mind was blown by the frantic weaving in and out of traffic, the swerving of on coming vehicles and the great growl the Ferrari made, all in the days before they just CGi'd it together. It left an impression, I've still never seen the whole movie though.
Cobra
Sly Stallone shoots people and swears in this clip from 80's rebel cop film, apparently originally intended to be Beverly Hills Cop, but this script went for a more explosive, serious approach. Most importantly it features a 1950 Mercury Monterey sled, which is a touch unusual for a movie of any era, let alone the 80's. The chase has everything that you expect from a car chase, cardboard boxes, plenty of needless skidding, a car that seems to repair itself between cuts, a car park, it is all in there somewhere, and no one can shoot straight.
The Gumball Rally
Now this is hardly an unknown movie, the prototype for The Cannonball Run, Charles Bail delivers a coast to coast car race based on the original legendary Gumball event. Whilst a lot of people have heard of this movie not a huge amount of people have seen it, so in order to pique your interest check out the clip above, it is almost as much fun spotting the background cars as it is watching the main action.
Of course there are loads more car squences out there, so it may be a subject we revist, what are your favourites?
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