Downhill Racer

After many years of catching brief scenes of this now semi-cult film, I finally watched it in its entirety. It is not a great film, but for film students, and fans of both Gene Hackman and Robert Redford, it's a must. The opening credits are delivered over scenes of a Super G skier flying down the mountain and feature a combination of stop action and over-cranked footage. The film quality is beautiful, and although the techniques now seem dated, they stand for what was cutting-edge editing at the time. Watching the opening, you feel like you're in for a great ride but are sadly let down by a staid script. Having said that, the film can sort of get a way with this (at least to a certain extent) because you've got such great actors playing the main roles of skier (Redford) and coach (Hackman). Both know how to exploit the economy of language and show a lot simply with body language and expression. (They must have realized they had to with this script.) Add to that fact, that the character Redford is playing - a vainglorious Super G racer named David Chappellett, probably wouldn't have much to say.

Ultimately, the film serves as cinematic commentary on how fleeting success is in a sport like skiing, as well as the shallowness shown by both the press that cover the sport, and the women that covet the skiers.

For anybody who follows international sports, the characters and organizations in this movie ring true. Whether you follow skating, gymnastics, skiing, or any other essentially solo international sports, you have seen the loners, the chosen stars, the politics, fund raising, and everything else that goes on behind and in front of the scenes.

This movie captures those people and circumstances exceptionally well. As has been noted in the coverage of the Olympics, the parallels to the 2006 US downhill team are stunning. The fact that this movie was made in 1969, with the film style of the day, makes it quite dated. But it is exactly the dated fashions, music, cinematography, skiing equipment, and attitudes that make it a keeper.

Downhill Racer remains the seminal skiing movie (unless one prefers the slob humor of Hot Dog: The Movie), but it's also about bigger themes. Redford is the quintessential American loner, out for his own goals and not interested in serving the needs of his sport, his team, or the international press. It's a character we've seen a thousand times in real life, and it's one who gets deified or demonized depending on his success in the field of sport.

So, view this very dated movie in today's context. You'll be surprised how relevant it is.

In this film, Robert Redford plays David Chappellet a young man training on a ski team with hopes of making the Olympics. The film is basically a character study of a somewhat narcissistic, shallow, self-centered guy from a simple rural background who dreams of attaining fame and fortune by entering the Olympics as a downhill racer. Throughout the film we see examples of his failure to connect with people. He visits his dad on his ranch and is received with complete coldness and indifference. He pulls into town and picks up an old girl friend, takes her for a ride and they have sex. Afterwards, he completely ignores her when she tries to tell him about her life. He pursues Camilla Sparv who plays the beautiful Carole Stahl. In her, he has met his match. She seems to be someone who also uses people, never lets them get very close and always has an agenda to get what she wants. She works for a ski manufacturer who seems to use her to bait the young up and coming skiing stars that he seeks to groom for product advice and future endorsements. She is narcissistic, shallow and self-centered like him but she is also elusive. This plays to the competitor in him and she knows that. Throughout the film we see Gene Hackman who plays the skiing coach Eugene Claire. We witness numerous scenes where Chappellet ignores his advice and counsel, where the coach calls him on his arrogance and selfish attitude. But in the end, they triumph and seem to be headed for the Olympics. But in the last brief scene, victory and fame seems so fickle, elusive, short lived, it all seems superficial. Redford is wonderful in this and of course, Gene Hackman is just as good. Seeing these two early in their careers, that alone makes this a film worth watching.

In this country, every four years, our nation participates in the Winter Olympics. The finest athletes from every state strive to be chosen as part of the U.S. Olympic Team. Together they represent America. The pride of our nation accompanies these men and while abroad, our hopes and our dreams go with them. The scenic Winter Olympics are the idyllic backdrop for this film which is called " Downhill Racer. " The title role for this movie went to Robert Redford who plays David Chappelet. He is arrogant in his abilities, his performances and his skills which promise the future. Few doubt he will win a Gold Medeal. However, Eugene Claire (Gene Hackman) his coach is concerned Chapplet is a 'Hot Dog' racer, fast, but prone to accidents and unpredictable. Furthermore, he is not a team player. Instead he believes he can win without the rest of his companions. This presents a problem for Claire and America's top athletes who work to be a cohesive unit. At home and on the slopes, he must decide if he's capable of winning the Gold, but for whom, himself, his teammates or his country? The speedy downhill action sequences are beautifully crafted and the storyline is followed faithfully. An exceptional movie for the wishful, armchair athlete in all of us. ****

In 1969's Downhill Racer, Robert Redford is skier David Chappellet who wants to win at all costs. In fact he takes advantage of another skier's misfortune to get onto the American Olympic team.

He's arrogant and not very likable, but we see in a scene with his father where his closed-off attitude comes from. He's not a team player by any stretch.

He blames others - particularly the team's head coach (Gene Hackman) for not being more help to him. However, he has talent, he wins races, and becomes a personality that can bring in funding.

Unfortunately, he creates problems in the team, and he doesn't treat women well . When he meets Carol Stahl (Camilla Sparv) he's met his match. She's a female David.

Michael Ritchie's first film, and it's very good. Redford is so darn good looking it's a sin. He's wonderful and believable even without a ton of dialogue.

The film has a documentary style to it, with stunning skiing sequences.