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‘Rendezvous’: Claude Lelouch’s insane sprint across Paris


By Sama Team | January 29, 2010


Today is Friday, some of us have already left the office and when we read Max Dana's latest post published on her blog yesterday, we thought it would make a perfect Friday update. Max talks about a great short movie directed by Claude Lelouch in 1976. And we agree, if you have never seen it before, go buy or rent the DVD!

 

"How did I forget to mention ‘Rendezvous’? I enjoy gun scenes in movies (From Scarface to Smokin’ Aces: the art of the gun scene) and also car chases in movies (Car chases in movies: Bullitt, Terminator 2, Mad Max 2…). That was two years ago, when I shared with you my favorites car chases scenes in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Thelma & Louise, The Blues Brothers, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, The French Connection, Grindhouse/Death Proof but also in The Fast and the Furious, Ronin, Taxi, Gone in 60 Seconds. And last but not least, Bullitt (Steve McQueen: Bullitt chase scene GPS tracked). In fact I didn’t really forget to mention Claude Lelouch’s ‘Rendezvous’ short movie because it doesn’t really feature a car chase scene, although it’s definitely one of the most famous motoring footage of all time.

If you have never heard of this movie before, maybe you would be interested by a little introduction to it. In 1976, French director Claude Lelouch (the maker of ‘A Man and A Woman’) made a short movie: ‘C’était un rendez-vous’ known as ‘Rendezvous’in the U.S., a high-speed drive through the empty streets of Paris. No dialogue, no script, no plot, no special effects, no editing… The film was shot in a single take, and shows an eight-minute drive through Paris at dawn, from Porte Dauphine to the Sacré Coeur. The speed of the car (a Mercedes-Benz 450SEL driven by Lelouch himself) is said to be over 150mph, and it was filmed from a camera mounted on the front of the car, with an added sound track (exhaust note and missed gear changes) coming from the director’s own Ferrari 275 GTB. All sorts of questions surrounded this insane sprint across Paris, such as: who was driving the car? Was the speed really over 150mph?

Whatever are the answers, it doesn’t change the fact that ‘Rendezvous’is an amazing piece of film footage and an absolute must see for any racing fan. The film has been re-mastered and released on DVD in 2003 by SpiritLevel; buy it to fully enjoy the speed, images and sound. So yes it could have put in danger pedestrians, many red lights were crossed and the speed was insane. Don’t ever do that even if I wish the traffic in Paris could be as smooth all day long. But it became a masterpiece of cinéma vérité and since I already talked about the car chases scenes, I couldn’t not mention ‘Rendezvous’.

Watch the movie and you will know why the driver was going so fast (very Lelouch’ style) ;)

"

Video has been removed from Youtube, sorry.



#1


Sama Reader Thomas

I have seen this movie when I was young and that’s why I became a movie journalist……… So much souvenirs! :P

Friday, January 29, 2010 at 1:37 pm

#2


Sama Reader Yull

This is a CRAZY movie!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 2:53 pm

#3


Sama Reader Moshuo

That’s very cool we can read Max’s posts on the Sama Gazette. I check her blog everyday but the fact the comments are off is a little frustrating. Good idea to publish some of her posts here ;)

I didn’t see this movie but I like Claude Lelouch movies. They are all very romantic, and I’m sure the driver goes fast to meet a woman :)

Bises
Moshuo
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 4:22 pm

#4


Sama Reader eGlobeR

eGlobeR

Yeah this is insane………… But also so exciting! :mrgreen:

Friday, January 29, 2010 at 6:06 pm

#5


Sama Reader Wanka

Very dangerous indeed. I don’t get the interest of such speed in the streets, even if they are empty… I’m puzzled.
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 6:55 pm

#6


Sama Reader J.T. Brown

It’s Art. It couldn’t be done today so it’s even more valuable ;)

Friday, January 29, 2010 at 9:30 pm

#7


Sama Reader Meddi

Paris didn’t change in 30 years, it’s always the same city, that’s fascinating to see.

I always knew it was Lelouch driving and that the speed was exagerated (less than it was shown in the movie).

Anyway, it’s still great! Thanks Max!

-Meddi
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 11:14 pm

#8


Sama Reader Mark

It’s a GTA-like movie from the 70s, I love it! :twisted:

Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 5:42 am

#9


Sama Reader JBKaval

I’m like you Thomas. This movie impressed me so much when I saw it, I wanted to do the same and once I was with a friend and it was 4am and we crossed Paris (Place d’Italie to Chatelet) within 10 minutes. We didn’t speed but the place was empty and we got all the green lights. It was great to be in Paris like anyone else was there, like if we were alone.

C’était un rendez-vous is my favorite short movie. Max knows what she talks about ;)

Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 10:51 am

#10


Sama Reader Darun-Wi

I can cross the whole city I live in in less than 2 minutes… By foot :P

Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 12:08 pm

#11


Sama Reader Josh

LOL Darun :mrgreen:

Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 12:36 pm

#12


Sama Reader Pilar

Going so fast in a town in insane! I understand it can be taken as art but seriously, this is too dangerous! At that speed you can’t avoid anything……. :oops:

Max will always surprise me ;)

Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 1:12 pm

#13


Sama Reader CaptainMoore

Moshuo is right, it’s very cool we can comment Max’s posts on the Gazette. And we should thank the lazy people from the Sama Team: ” Today is Friday, some of us have already left the office and when we read Max Dana’s latest post published on her blog yesterday, we thought it would make a perfect Friday update. ”

You should be ashamed to use your boss’ work as an excuse not to publish your own post! :P

Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 4:25 pm

#14


Sama Reader Moshuo

Don’t say that Captain, I want them to keep doing it!! I think that’s what the Sama Gazette should be aimed to, communicate more about Max and her work. I’m going to send them an email with me requests :)

Bises
Moshuo
Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 7:07 pm

#15


Sama Reader Gino

Darun, you must live in a small village with a central main road like I do ;) There are plenty of villages like that in Italy.

Moshuo, I’m with you! :)

Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 8:59 pm

#16


Sama Reader Thomas

I was tempted to do it too JB but I’m a wuss :oops:

Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 11:44 pm

#17


Sama Reader Juliette

Max Dana is a mystery. She is always where we don’t expect her. I read her previous posts about car chases scenes and gun scenes in movie but she always finds a way to surprise me. Maybe because I am a woman and because I don’t know any other woman like her ;)

Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 1:11 am

#18


Sama Reader Dittta

The more I know Max and the more I appreciate her so singular personality. Not everyone is so special, I agree Juliette.

Hey Thomas, you’re not a wuss you are a cautious man. Don’t do it we don’t want to lose you ;)

Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 4:36 am

#19


Sama Reader Muzzi

I found a site to order the Dvd, I’m eager to watch it :)

Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 6:09 am



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