Robert Redford Talks About Downhill Racer’s Bumpy Run

By Chris Decker
November 13, 2009
09:45 AM

I remember "Downhill Racer" playing at the Elmwood Theatre in Berkeley when I was a kid. (To this day, I'm so grateful that my only neighborhood theatre was an art theatre.) Skiing was always a big thing for UC Berkeley-ites because the Sierras were only several hours drive away, and skiing was of course the ultimate in being cool. It was the students that kept this movie going -- mostly because after "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," it was the perfect date movie because it had Robert Redford. It was also the time when Jean-Claude Killy was the heartthrob of the world from the 1968 Winter Olympics. And you always knew whoever talked about "Downhill Racer" at a party was either a skiier or a student -- or both. It lost a lot in translation when it was shown on television, which was too bad. Nice to see it re-released again.
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By bill theobald
November 23, 2009
01:32 PM

Thanks for putting this movie on a DVD. I agree with Roger Ebert that this is the greatest sports movie ever made. The sensation of speed is really portrayed well. As a pretty high caliber skier and former racer I really appreciated the effort that was made. The interview with Redford is classic.
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By Danny Gallagher
December 07, 2009
01:27 PM

Sometimes you wait so long for something it loses its cache....not this. As a teenager in 1969 who had only been skiing once and was beginning to be disillusioned by sport (as manipulated by television), this film was a surprise and a delight. Finally, a character with real human flaws, put center stage and challenging our conditioning to Like the main character. What's Dave Chappelett doing these days? Pumping gas or teaching skiing?
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By Paul Kapustka
January 16, 2010
02:28 PM

Too bad nobody copy-edited the review in the booklet... starts out by claiming that Dave Chappelett said "it's not a team sport" when in fact that quote was said by Dabney Coleman's character (when he confronts Creech for bad-mouthing Chappelett). Otherwise, all the new stuff and the interviews add depth to an old favorite. Wonder what a remake would look like, with the Bode Millers and the new circus ski racing has become.
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By Rezaul Hasan
January 23, 2010
03:39 PM

Another terrific addition to my collection of Criterion DVDs, and the best part was that I won this one in a contest on a website. Great movie and great DVD. Keep up the great work.
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By Liz Helfgott
January 24, 2010
05:21 PM

Dear Paul, Thank you for pointing out that error in the opening of the essay, for which we apologize. You’re correct, of course, as another reader pointed out when we posted the essay online. We were able to make the fix there, as you can see here: http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1297. Unfortunately, it was too late to change it for the first printing of the booklet. It will be corrected in the next printing, I assure you. Please keep keeping us on our toes. We hope we don’t make another mistake like that again—and haven’t made too many in the past, thank goodness—but it’s good to know that if we ever do, readers like you will alert us! Thanks again for your note. Liz
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By John Woods
July 13, 2010
09:33 PM

Robert Redford has made three movies that I love. This is one of them. There is an atmosphere and an understated feel to this that almost makes the characters real. It just an amazing movie. The other Redford movies are Jeremiah Johnson, another mood piece that focuses on characters. And finally there is The Natural. The acting in all of them is restrained. The stories are great. All of them capture me. I can relate and empathize with Redford's character in each of them. Great work.
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By Linda Edwards
August 18, 2011
05:48 PM

Listened to Bob's interview. Bob, you DID get it right. The Dave Chappelette character is what makes this movie. Your development of, and performance of this multi-dimensional character was absolutely perfect. Flawless. You nailed it right on the head. He is the subject of the movie, but not the focus. The focus is the battle going on inside this lost individual with the crude exterior. One feels as if they're being allowed to see into his psyche. He achieves success, yet he is left unsatisfied because he can't seem to understand why he is still so alone. His self righteous attitude comes from his self doubt. He is unable to make an emotional connection to anyone. The cinematography, sound and editing only add to the mood of the film I've loved this movie for years. Probably my favorite Redford film. It is a thinking mans movie. Someone who appreciates cinema, not just a movie. I would love to have seen the finished product if Mr Redford had been able to do what he wanted. I can't imagine it being any more perfect, however.
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