Once Upon a Wheel: Difference between revisions
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'''''Once Upon a Wheel''''' is a 1971 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television documentary on the history of auto racing. It was hosted by [[Paul Newman]], and was directed and produced by [[David Winters (choreographer)|David Winters]]. The production house behind it was Winters/Rosen, and the project was sponsored by [[Coca-Cola]]. |
'''''Once Upon a Wheel''''' is a 1971 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television documentary on the history of auto racing. It was hosted by [[Paul Newman]], and was directed and produced by [[David Winters (choreographer)|David Winters]]. The production house behind it was Winters/Rosen, and the project was sponsored by [[Coca-Cola]]. |
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The documentary is split in four sections the man, the machine, the spectator, and the race. "The man" is about the motivation and characteristics needed to win a races it includes interview with racers [[Al Unser]], [[Jackie Oliver]], [[Richard Petty]], [[Stirling Moss]], [[Mario Andretti]], [[John Surtees]], [[LeeRoy Yarbrough]], [[Denny Hulme]], [[Bobby Allison]], [[Pedro Rodríguez (racing driver)|Pedro Rodríguez]], and [[Bobby Isaac]]. "The machine" explains the importance of speed when getting your car serviced in the middle of race, as well as converting the history of the automobile in society and the various improvements it had to go through. "The spectator" presents the experience of being a race car spectator, the experience of the wives while their husbands are racing, and Newman's experience going to spectator to racers for celebrity charity races. In the final segment "the race" start off with the human nature behind the sport, and continues with conversations with champions and the competitions they aim to win. |
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The project came about when the production house Winters/Rosen had financial difficulties. Winters suggested to his partner Burt Rosen, that he could grab some footage at a celebrity race car event to pitch a racing special. Newman who attended, signed a release memo for the event. Afterwards Rosen pitched special to Coca-Cola starring Newman instead of a cameo, leaving Winters having to convince Newman to star in it, who at the time didn't want to do television. Once Winters explained to his vision, Newman joined both to spend more time doing his racing hobby and as a passion project. It marked Newman's first appearance as a lead in a television project. While in the US the film was released on television, Newman suggested to Winters to add some footage and release it theatrically internationally. |
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== Summary == |
== Summary == |
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Newman continues the segment with the history of the automobile, comparing modern cars with those from the early days, and he points to the subsequent generation that had the bug to drive. Despite being an object of mockery in cinema, automobiles moved to mass production, and many people wanted to modify them for racing. The segment ends by presenting the [[land speed record]] from the oldest to the newest. |
Newman continues the segment with the history of the automobile, comparing modern cars with those from the early days, and he points to the subsequent generation that had the bug to drive. Despite being an object of mockery in cinema, automobiles moved to mass production, and many people wanted to modify them for racing. The segment ends by presenting the [[land speed record]] from the oldest to the newest. |
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The third segment, "the spectator", starts with Newman explaining various racing events that millions of spectators attend. He explains that even spectators can be tired at the end of a race, but they are still sad to leave the arena where all the drama took place. A spectator may also wish to drive, which is made possible at the Ontario Motor Speedway, where the Celebrity Pro-Am Race for charity takes place. Famous attendees included [[Wilt Chamberlain]], [[Pete Conrad]], [[Kirk Douglas]], [[Stephen Boyd]]. |
The third segment, "the spectator", starts with Newman explaining various racing events that millions of spectators attend. He explains that even spectators can be tired at the end of a race, but they are still sad to leave the arena where all the drama took place. A spectator may also wish to drive, which is made possible at the Ontario Motor Speedway, where the Celebrity Pro-Am Race for charity takes place. Famous attendees included [[Wilt Chamberlain]], [[Pete Conrad]], [[Kirk Douglas]], [[Stephen Boyd]], etc. |
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Newman talks with wives of the racers, who tell about the anxieties they face when their husbands are racing at such high speeds. |
Newman talks with wives of the racers, who tell about the anxieties they face when their husbands are racing at such high speeds. |
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During post-production, Winters said that Newman, who liked what he saw, gave him the idea to add some additional footage to sell it as a theatrical film worldwide.<ref name=":0" /> |
During post-production, Winters said that Newman, who liked what he saw, gave him the idea to add some additional footage to sell it as a theatrical film worldwide.<ref name=":0" /> |
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Winters also explained that Coca-Cola wanted to do a giant ad campaign with Newman, which Rosen accepted without his or Newman's knowledge. So he had to explain this to Newman, who collaborated without making a fuss.<ref name=":0" /> Newman appeared in magazine ads wearing a Coke racing jacket. Viewers could order special collectibles related to the show: [[8-track tape|8-track cartridges]] or [[cassette tape]]s of music from the show, a cooler that held Cokes and ice, a jacket similar to Newman's and racing jacket style patches. |
Winters also explained that Coca-Cola wanted to do a giant ad campaign with Newman, which Rosen accepted without his or Newman's knowledge. So he had to explain this to Newman, who collaborated without making a fuss.<ref name=":0" /> Newman appeared in magazine ads wearing a Coke racing jacket. Viewers could order special collectibles related to the show: [[8-track tape|8-track cartridges]] or [[cassette tape]]s of music from the show, a cooler that held Cokes and ice, a jacket similar to Newman's and racing jacket style patches.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} |
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|url= http://www.coca-colaconversations.com/my_weblog/2008/09/paul-newman.html |
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|title= Coca Cola Conversations |author= The Coca-Cola Company| work=We'll miss Mr. Newman's love of racing, and of course his great acting and his philanthropy. |
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}}</ref> |
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== Reception == |
== Reception == |
Revision as of 19:40, 20 June 2023
Once Upon a Wheel | |
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![]() Once Upon a Wheel original Poster | |
Directed by | David Winters |
Starring | Paul Newman (host), Mario Andretti, Hugh Downs, Dean Martin, Cesar Romero |
Country of origin | Vereinigte Staaten |
Original language | Englisch |
Production | |
Producers | David Winters, Burt Rosen |
Running time | 60 min |
Original release | |
Network | ABC |
Release | April 18, 1971 |
Once Upon a Wheel is a 1971 ABC television documentary on the history of auto racing. It was hosted by Paul Newman, and was directed and produced by David Winters. The production house behind it was Winters/Rosen, and the project was sponsored by Coca-Cola.
The documentary is split in four sections the man, the machine, the spectator, and the race. "The man" is about the motivation and characteristics needed to win a races it includes interview with racers Al Unser, Jackie Oliver, Richard Petty, Stirling Moss, Mario Andretti, John Surtees, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Denny Hulme, Bobby Allison, Pedro Rodríguez, and Bobby Isaac. "The machine" explains the importance of speed when getting your car serviced in the middle of race, as well as converting the history of the automobile in society and the various improvements it had to go through. "The spectator" presents the experience of being a race car spectator, the experience of the wives while their husbands are racing, and Newman's experience going to spectator to racers for celebrity charity races. In the final segment "the race" start off with the human nature behind the sport, and continues with conversations with champions and the competitions they aim to win.
The project came about when the production house Winters/Rosen had financial difficulties. Winters suggested to his partner Burt Rosen, that he could grab some footage at a celebrity race car event to pitch a racing special. Newman who attended, signed a release memo for the event. Afterwards Rosen pitched special to Coca-Cola starring Newman instead of a cameo, leaving Winters having to convince Newman to star in it, who at the time didn't want to do television. Once Winters explained to his vision, Newman joined both to spend more time doing his racing hobby and as a passion project. It marked Newman's first appearance as a lead in a television project. While in the US the film was released on television, Newman suggested to Winters to add some footage and release it theatrically internationally.
Summary
The film is divided into four segments: the man, the machine, the spectator and the race. "The man" segment begins with Paul Newman driving a race car and narrating his relationship with the sport. He explains that a race track is similar to a theatre, with an audience, an array of situations from tragedy to comedy, as well as heroes and villains. It cuts to various clips of race car drivers Al Unser, Jackie Oliver, Richard Petty, Stirling Moss, Mario Andretti, John Surtees, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Denny Hulme, Bobby Allison, Pedro Rodríguez and Bobby Isaac. They explain their motivation and the qualities needed to excel at the sport.
After covering the champions, Newman talks about racers who never win but always come back to race. Racer Butch Sheer, for example, works in junkyard, has a wife and children, races every weekend in order to fulfill his dream of being in the upper echelons of racing.
In the second part, "the machine", Newman explains the necessity of speed in the service pit during a race, explaining that even a minute can be too long in certain circumstances.
Newman continues the segment with the history of the automobile, comparing modern cars with those from the early days, and he points to the subsequent generation that had the bug to drive. Despite being an object of mockery in cinema, automobiles moved to mass production, and many people wanted to modify them for racing. The segment ends by presenting the land speed record from the oldest to the newest.
The third segment, "the spectator", starts with Newman explaining various racing events that millions of spectators attend. He explains that even spectators can be tired at the end of a race, but they are still sad to leave the arena where all the drama took place. A spectator may also wish to drive, which is made possible at the Ontario Motor Speedway, where the Celebrity Pro-Am Race for charity takes place. Famous attendees included Wilt Chamberlain, Pete Conrad, Kirk Douglas, Stephen Boyd, etc.
Newman talks with wives of the racers, who tell about the anxieties they face when their husbands are racing at such high speeds.
The fourth segment, "the race", begins with Newman talking about the human nature behind the concept race. He then explains that competitiveness starts very young, and that car racing often starts with kids at the soapbox derby. Interviews with racing champions convey the emotions they go through while racing and pursuing the championships.
Production
The documentary, hosted and narrated by Paul Newman, was made by the production house Winters/Rosen, with David Winters directing and producing.[1]
Winters explained that the project came about when his production company Winters/Rosen had financial difficulties, and if the company didn't come up with $100,000, it would go bankrupt. At the time, Winters had been invited to a celebrity race car event that Newman, with whom he had a friendship, was also attending. Winters suggested the idea of making a racing special to his partner Burt Rosen, to which Rosen replied that if he had Paul Newman's name on it, he could pitch it to Coca-Cola as a sponsor. With footage that Winters shot at the event, he got Newman's name on a release form for that specific event. To much of his frustration, Rosen went on to pitch the project with Newman as the star, not a cameo. So it was left to Winters to convince Newman, who had publicly stated prior disinterest in television. A meeting was organized, but Newman initially turned down the project because it was for TV. Winters, who studied car racing, decided to give Newman the book he used, which Newman read and adored. This allowed Winters to detail how the project was envisioned, and Newman accepted.[2]
The project marked Newman's return to television after a decade-long absence,[3] and his first time as the host of a program.[4]
Newman, a race car enthusiast, said, "The show gives me a chance to get close to a sport I'm crazy about, I love to test a car on my own, to see what I can do, but racing with 25 other guys is a whole different thing. There are so many variables, the skill demanded is tremendous."[5]
Racecar driver Bob Bondurant, Newman's instructor who appears in the film,[6] explained that Once Upon a Wheel was a passion project for Newman "because he wanted to learn how to drive", and that he refused projects that would have paid him a much larger salary.[7]
During post-production, Winters said that Newman, who liked what he saw, gave him the idea to add some additional footage to sell it as a theatrical film worldwide.[2]
Winters also explained that Coca-Cola wanted to do a giant ad campaign with Newman, which Rosen accepted without his or Newman's knowledge. So he had to explain this to Newman, who collaborated without making a fuss.[2] Newman appeared in magazine ads wearing a Coke racing jacket. Viewers could order special collectibles related to the show: 8-track cartridges or cassette tapes of music from the show, a cooler that held Cokes and ice, a jacket similar to Newman's and racing jacket style patches.[citation needed]
Reception
Ben Gross of the Daily News explained the documentary "provided action plus human interest" and that delivered presenting the "excitement, glamor, glowing exhilaration and dark despondency" of the race car world. He felt that the most interesting aspects were related to the human elements such as "the personal lives, the hopes, the triumphs, and disappointment of the pro drivers."[8]
In her Pottsville Republican review Cynthia Lowry called it a "successful effort." She noticed the use of slow motion to show the franticness of changing a tire mid-race, and the way they edited the shots of cars crashing look like a ballet. At times, she found the music obstructive, but overall the documentary held her attention.[9]
Dwight Newton of the San Francisco Examiner said that Once Upon a Wheel is "compiled with old film clips, latter day outtakes, fascinating new material and excellent background music." He went on to praise the syncopation of the black and white archival footage used in the film. [10]
Rick Dubrow in his review published in The Windsor Star found Once Upon a Wheel to be entertaining and said that director "Winters always manage to lot of handsome visual image on the home screen." He also felt that the music elevated the racing scenes.[11]
See also
References
- ^ "Paul Newman explores race car drivers' dangerous fast lives". The World: TV: 7. April 9, 1971.
- ^ a b c Winters, David (2018). Tough guys do dance. Pensacola, Florida: Indigo River Publishing. pp. 2582–2670. ISBN 978-1-948080-27-9.
- ^ "'Once upon a wheel' Newman hosts program exploring facets of racings". Press-Telegram. 20: Tele-Vues: Five. April 18, 1971.
- ^ "'Once Upon a Wheel' is a first". The Town Talk. LXXXIX: Section B: Eleven. April 18, 1971.
- ^ "Paul Newman in 'driver's seat'". Longview News-Journal. 41: Sunday: 3. April 18, 1971.
- ^ Hamilton, Judy (April 18, 1971). "And it's pro Bob Bondurant who put him behind the wheel". World-Herald: Entertainment:11-12.
- ^ Shull, Richard K. (April 17, 1971). "Teaches Stars to Drive". The Ithaca Journal: Showtime: 21.
- ^ Gross, Ben (April 19, 1971). "The Diana Ross special tops weekend TV shows". Daily News. 52: 35.
- ^ Lowry, Cynthia (April 19, 1971). "'Once Upon a Wheel' is successful effort". Pottsville Republican. CLXXI: 19.
- ^ Newton, Dwight (April 19, 1971). "A career in crescendo". San Francisco Examiner: 19.
- ^ Dubrow, Rick (April 19, 1971). "Diana Ross, a complete act". The Windsor Star: 22.
Works cited
- Winters, David (2018). Tough guys do dance. Pensacola, Florida: Indigo River Publishing. ISBN 978-1-948080-27-9.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Overview on New York Times Website
- Once Upon a Wheel at IMDb
- Motorsport in the United States
- 1970s American television specials
- American Broadcasting Company television specials
- American documentary television films
- Promotional campaigns by Coca-Cola
- American auto racing films
- Documentary films about auto racing
- 1971 films
- 1971 television specials
- 1971 in American television
- Films directed by David Winters
- 1970s American films