Timeless Car Movies That Made History
Vehicles make such an impact on everyday life that their existence even seeps into popular culture. One way this is shown is through movies, on small and big screens. These films highlight the different aspects of cars and car ownership and even go so far as to show how devoted some people are to these machines. Here is just a taste of some important car movies in history.
Mad Max
Though it received negative reception, Mad Max is great example of the impact of vehicles on popular culture and a cross between that and consumers’ love for dystopian stories. The story takes place in a future Australia, where a vengeful policeman gets involved in a motorcycle gang feud. “Mad Max” is played by Mel Gibson. This film, in addition to two others and the most recent Mad Max: Fury Road, have inspired writers, musicians, and other artists.
Taxi Driver
Considered one of the greatest films of all time, Taxi Driver is a physiological thriller by Martin Scorsese. It has an all-star cast, including Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel and Peter Boyle. The main character, Travis Bickle, becomes a taxi driver in New York City to cope with chronic insomnia, among other things. It was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, and De Niro’s “You talkin’ to me?” catchphrase is well-known in pop culture.
The Fast & The Furious
Starting off from the inspiration of an article, The Fast & the Furious franchise draws in lovers of fast cars. The first film, released in 2001, kicks off a series of action films that center around illegal racing and heists. Since the first, there has been six sequels and two short films, making it Universal’s biggest franchise of all. The cast has rotated, but mainstays include Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Paul Walker (who died before finishing the latest film.)
Duel
Vehicles can be frightening, as well. Steven Spielberg collaborated with author Richard Matheson to create this 1971 television thriller, which was later made into a full-length film. The story follows David Mann, a salesman who is driving on a business trip. In the middle of the California desert, Mann is stalked by a mostly unseen driver of a tanker truck. The vehicles were very carefully chosen and even given “make-up” in order to give them personas.
Gone in 60 Seconds
Before The Fast & the Furious, there was Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie. Giovanni Ribisi plays an aspiring car thief who takes an offer to steal 50 expensive cars, and his brother, played by Cage, is asked to help out. The cars range from the 1950 Mercury Custom to the 2000 Cadillac Eldorado STS. Each was given a female codename, including the cursed “Eleanor.” Though the film received poor ratings and lost millions in expenses, it is a well-known movie.
Smokey And The Bandit
Who among us didn't want a TransAm when we first watched Smokey and the Bandit? In a way, we were all Burt Reynolds, looking cooler than a mid-December day in Greenland with a keen eye for Smokeys on the horizon. In another way, we were all Burt Reynolds because TransAm sales went through the roof after this movie came out and everyone wanted one. Even the Corvette couldn't compete with the TransAms allure between '77 and '81, at least in sales. Just, stay away from the Mulberry Bridge, these cars were meant to be kept on the ground.
The James Bond Series
Bond just wouldn't be Bond without some sort of militarized spy car. The most famous of James' cars is hands down the Aston Martin DB5. The British super-spy has driven a number of different manufacturers over the years, including Bentley, BMW, and Audi, but the DB5 remains as the icon - so much so that the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C. has one on display. Bond has also been behind the wheel of the V12 Vanquish, the DBS V12 and the DB 10. A few years ago, Aston Martin marketed a special James Bond edition of the DB9 GT to mark the release of Spectre, though it didn't have an ejector seat or machine guns. There were only 150 of the special editions made, so we do hope they all made it back in one piece.
