Thankfully I've been to Paris back in August 1990. Who says it's a Mercedes? The engine sound is classic Ferrari V12, and the shifts and tire screeching are exactly spot on for the corners, and completely matches up with the driving. Ferrari GT's would also have softer suspension than the sportier mid-engined cars. It would take a lot of time and effort to dub in the right engine and tire sounds back in the 70's. This is such a classic film. It never gets old. Thank you.
William Norman This is the Paris of my youth. I was 16. What a treat this short film is. I drove all these streets at one point or another. I just wish I could take my Camaro there and do the same thing :-) For those who don’t know the video starts at Porte Dauphine. Dauphine in French refers to a royal princess. It also has another reference as one of the popular cars in the 60’s. But considering the end and the historical location of Porte Dauphine I will go with the royal princess reference; Porte Dauphine, the gate that will lead this man to the love of his life and the princess of his heart. Naturally, he drives by the Opera house and other landmarks. But the Opera house is where many a man has declared his love to a woman (Romeo and Juliet, La Boheme etc...). The video ends at the Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart) a Basillica, a special church designated by the pope for special ceremonies. The basillica of the sacred heart is the place where this man meets the Dauphine of his heart. A sacred place for two lovers. Lots of profond meanings in this short video. The speed is dizzying as love is....... He drives like a madman because he is madly in love. This was the Paris of my youth.
Hi Richard, although I do appreciate your positive outlook of Rendezvous. There is way to much I care to comment in length with all the vast controversy that surrounds the film and director/producer claud lelouch's. Assuming the film was his original idea alone and not his wife thats apparently (in the film) or some friend of his. The idea along is what he can be greatly credited for. But if you read the title in the very beginning claiming that (nor the sound or camera speed was altered in the film your about to see) which by the way was distributed in both French & English back in the day. The film it's simply an based on an outright lie which makes his film a total disappoint in my book!!. I suggest you do more research and you'll find out much more interesting stuff about this film ie: For instance his apparent win for best short film at Cannes Film Festival. Anyway I became so fascinated about the original but fake concept of the short film. I sought out to recreate direct and produce my real version of the film as it was truly meant to be. With no lies, cons or false pretenses. Not filmed ont the French Rivera, but on Santa Barbara California's Rivera titled "A Santa Barbara Rendezvous" Trailer- vimeo.com/stormprooffilms/asantabarbararendezvous
It was a Mercedes 450 SE 6.9 used which is a 3 speed automatic, and also why it has the overdubbed sound of a Ferrari engine for the gear changes. He does reach up to 120mph. It was filmed at 5-30 on a Sunday morning.
Regardless of what car was used for the actual trip, the film depicts a very high speed early morning run through the streets of Paris. You must notice that there are no cuts in the video, and the sound track is impeccably matched to the action on screen. Also you see minimum tilting on the curves, due to the active suspension that was available back then on the 450 SEL High-performance sedan. (not just ANY big Mercedes) I was luck to have seen this film in it's original 16MM form in the mid 70s. I'm pleased to have found a copy of it again.
I was in Paris as a kid, 9 years old, and rode on and walked these same streets. One of my all time favorite videos. Don't care if it's a Ferrari overdubbed on a Mercedes driven camera shot. It is STILL the ultimate in illegal fun on city streets. Ol' Claude Lelouche did himself proud, and it can't be replicated now because of the damn I.M. Pei Pyramid at The Louvre.
@Zero Cool I've had quite a few of those big old Mercs and honestly I think it's MORE impressive that he could maintain the speed than had they done it in an exotic sportscar, things were very different back then, even a modern cheapo shopping car handles better than those big old barges did. I have an E55 and it struggles to keep up with hot hatchbacks round corners, you have to use the brute force straight line speed to make up the difference and thats from a car built 30 years after this was filmed..
..... very late onto the brakes into the arc de trumphie !!!!!! .... this is almost on par with the "fast" and the furious' for over geared cars pulling silly revs but only doing 60mph tops !!!!!! ..... and missing those gears is gonna be expensive ....... I'll stop now 🤐
