Yes that really is star of Godfather actor Al Pacino sat in a Brabham BT45, why? The F1 Movie Bobby Deerfield of course… no, I’ve never heard of it either. The 1977 Movie was actually based on the book Heaven Has No Favorites by Erich Maria Remarque, a romantic drama about a racing driver who falls with a terminally ill woman.
While the film featured real F1 footage, racing scenes were minimal and the film was criticised for it’s over-the-top story.
Footage came from the 1976 F1 season and much like Grand Prix: The Movie some familiar faces make an appearance during the film. James Hunt, Mario Andretti, Carlos Pace, Patrick Depailler, Tom Pryce and Bernie Ecclestone to name a few.
So yeah, it was basically ‘Rush’ with a romantic story line.
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Bobby Deerfield – I was at the circuits when they shot the racing sequences. You’ll note the grand prix footage is Jarama but the on board footage was done at Zolder.
They chose the Martini Brabham as Carlos Pace looked a lot like Al Pacino so from a distance could double up.
For the on board footage at Zolder Pace and Jody Scheckter in the 6 wheel Tyrell had cameras on their cars and drove a couple of laps doing about 20mph and ducking and diving as if racing flat out.
You’re right though, the film was crap.
Cheers
Peter Maynard
Well, americans have a habit of taking great programs from everywhere else, missing the point entirely, and destroying the franchise in the US, like Kath and Kim, Red Dwarf, Shameless.
No doubt in my mind what so ever that americans couldnt even come close to making an interesting story about formula one.
I can imagine it being something like a cross between Top Gun’s high speed antics and Back to the Future’s invented technologies.
“I cant shake him, i cant shake him!” (whilst looking everywhere but the road in front whilst speaking through the in car telephone system)
“Turn up the Flux Capacitor Al!”
“I cant, the flywheel on the turbo gearbox is discombobulated”
“Make sure you hit one of the star boxes on the next lap, youll either get a boost or a blue mushroom”
…”you’ve never heard of”.. ? Talk for yourself! :)) I watched “Bobby Dirfield” in 1979 and watched it again.. a month ago ;-))