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Robert Redford stars in this excellent 1969 film about a selfish and ambitious athlete who wants to break records at the Olympics but not participate in the teamwork emphasized by his coach (Gene Hackman). Redford comes across as a rare heel, and the film's understated tone keeps the focus on characters and sundry themes important to director Michael Ritchie (
The Candidate): the sacrifices of the race, the price of winning, the fear of losing.
--Tom Keogh
Video Description
Astonishing Alpine location photography and a young Robert Redford in one of his earliest starring roles are just two of the visual splendors of Michael Ritchie’s visceral debut feature,
Downhill Racer. In a beautifully understated performance, Redford is David Chappellet, a ruthlessly ambitious skier competing with an underdog American team in Europe for Olympic gold, and Gene Hackman provides tough support as the coach who tries to temper the upstart’s narcissistic drive for glory. With a subtle screenplay by acclaimed novelist James Salter,
Downhill Racer is a vivid character portrait buoyed by breathtakingly fast and furious imagery that brings the viewer directly into the mind of the competitor.
Stills from Downhill Racer (Click for larger image)