HOW FAST MUST A MAN GO TO GET FROM WHERE HE’S AT?

When a young downhill skier (Robert Redford) arrives in Switzerland to join the U.S. team, his unorthodox attitude rubs the coach (Gene Hackman) the wrong way.

The director’s film debut found inspiration and knowledge among actual skiers and high-stakes competition in the Alps. At heart, it’s a portrait of a restless young talent, aiming for the Olympics, who’s an attractive womanizer and knows how to draw attention to himself. He also has a streak of ruthlessness.

Redford and Hackman are well cast as two opposites. Not much of a story, but a finely wrought study of this world.

1969-U.S. 101 min. Color. Directed by Michael Ritchie. Screenplay: James Salter. Novel: Oakley Hall (”The Downhill Racers”). Cinematography: Brian Probyn. Cast: Robert Redford (Dave Chappellet), Gene Hackman (Eugene Claire), Camilla Sparv (Carole Stahl), Karl Michael Vogler, Jim McMullan, Dabney Coleman. 

Trivia: Roman Polanski was first offered to direct.

BAFTA: Best Actor (Redford).