Just seen The World's Fastest Indian

[Beemer]

We went to a Rotary fundraising screening of this movie tonight and have just got home. Verdict? Don't miss it, the two hours went by so fast I was amazed when the credits rolled. It's one of the most enchanting movies I've seen in a long while and has some genuinely funny and touching moments.

I for one didn't know the full story behind the record and I think it's a shame it's taken so long for a movie like this to be made.

Roger Donaldson has done a great job, and apart from Anthony Hopkins sounding a tad like an Australian in parts, he did us kiwis proud.

Go and see it as soon as you can, it's a very realistic portrayal of the number eight wire mentality and any niggles are minor. The shots of mid-60s America are worth the ticket price alone for the cars! And your heart will be in your mouth when the record attempt is made. It's a great movie, one I'd happily watch again. :niceone:

[MD]

Good write up Beemer. I'm looking forward to seeing it. Aint little ole NZ pumping out some top movies these days.

[outlawtorn]

Thanks for the review, I'll look forward to seeing it......

Any moving that can raise awareness for bikes, in any way shape or form is good for the cause.....

[metric]

Thanks for the review, I'll look forward to seeing it......

Any moving that can raise awareness for bikes, in any way shape or form is good for the cause.....

totally lookin' fwd to it too...

[Wolf]

It's already a "must own" - it was before I even saw the trailer - loved the bit in the trailer when he says "I'm from New Zealand" and the yank says "Where?"

I'd read elsewhere that Hopkins doesn't do too bad a job of the Kiwi accent. I thought he sounded a bit "Aussie" in that brief bit I saw in the trailer, but it beats the usual pommy-sounding voices "New Zealanders" have in most American movies.

[Oakie]

Mrs Oakie and I saw it last night and we both loved it. There were no slow boring bits and the story just kept flowing from scene to scene. Yep. The two hours just flew.
Quite funny in various places throughout and a lot of it was just typical kiwi and easily identified with. The way he put his bike together is just typicial kiwi .. and actually reminded me a lot of my late father-in-law who loved to 'tinker with engines'. The story leads up to what happens at Bonneville but the real triumph is what it took just to get to Bonneville.
Hopkins is great. Got the accent done reasonably well and I even heard a few rolled RRRRs as they do in Southland. See it. You won't regret it.

[R6_kid]

i loved it. Specially seeing all the common NZ actors. Also the mayor of invercargil - that was a real WTF moment.

"why do you piss on your lemon tree"

"whos confucious?... He's a guy that lives up in dunedin" :lol:

[Oakie]

i loved it. Specially seeing all the common NZ actors. Also the mayor of invercargil - that was a real WTF moment.

"why do you piss on your lemon tree"

"whos confucious?... He's a guy that lives up in dunedin" :lol:

My favourite ... "Brakes? ... I want to go, not stop"

[R6_kid]

"when i first got my bike its top speed was 50mph, im hoping to improve on that today" :niceone:

you really think he was that much of a playboy? :whistle:

[Dafe]

"when i first got my bike its top speed was 50mph, im hoping to improve on that today" :niceone:

you really think he was that much of a playboy? :whistle:

I was thinking he went back to the USA 9 times for other reasons. The Saltlakes were just his excuse for local funding of his annual porn escapades! :rofl:
Burt Does Utah!!!

[crashe]

Yep a great movie.... Highly recommend it.

Yep for a older fella.. he sure could pull the birds...
He could charm anyone, even the cop after speeding the bike on the open road.
Those oneliners sure cracked me up.

Seeing Tim Shadbolt on the screen was a hoot.

[oldrider]

Just home from watching Bert Munro film.
Having lived through the time and being very aware of Bert Munro's activities but not part of it, the film really tied it all together for me.
A great film even without it being fact, it would still be a great film.
People like Bert and Ivan Mauger(sp) and a whole lot of other NZ achievers have never received enough accolades and recognition in this country.
Though rugby gets more share than it deserves in comparison I wouldn't want to take anything away from them either.
This film is bloody good. :niceone: Cheers John.

[Indiana_Jones]

It was a good watch :)

-Indy

[Magua]

i loved it. Specially seeing all the common NZ actors. Also the mayor of invercargil - that was a real WTF moment.

"why do you piss on your lemon tree"

"whos confucious?... He's a guy that lives up in dunedin" :lol:

I was waiting for Tim Shadbolt to start plugging how great Invercargil is.

[Mental Trousers]

Definitely worth while seeing this movie. AH does a passable kiwi accent, although surrounding him with genuine kiwi's tended to highlight the fact that he's acting the accent. Later on when he's in America it sounds a lot better.

They did a great job of that movie. Showing how most people thought he couldn't do it but everyone backed him for giving it a go anyway. And also how he was a genuinely nice guy by, among other things, calling a bloke named Tina Love. As mentioned, it also showed off the number 8 wire mentality perfectly.

Definitely one I'm buying. And the Kim Newcombe one as well.

[Beemer]

And also how he was a genuinely nice guy by, among other things, calling a bloke named Tina Love. As mentioned, it also showed off the number 8 wire mentality perfectly.

Definitely one I'm buying. And the Kim Newcombe one as well.

That was a laugh - but in one scene, did you notice he called her Gina? Nice legs, but HUGE beefy arms!

I'd definitely watch it again, and I'd also like to see the Kim Newcombe one. I loved the "brakes? I want to go, not stop!" line!

[Bartman10]

Just saw the movie last night. It was awesome!

Action packed, heaps on fun. Good laughs. Good stuff! :niceone:

If you haven't seen it I suggest you have a look.

Thanks to Loopy for organising the special screening!

[kerryg]

Saw it yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Anthony Hopkins was terrific, very credible in the role. Some very funny and touching little moments and details, and I thought Donaldson captured the spirit of the Kiwi-number-8-wire-mentality really well.

But I guess I would be being less than honest if I didn't say that I found some elements in it very trite and other things very implausible. Because I don't know the true Burt Munro story I can't be sure what was true and what was made up to give the movie more interest (so I stand to be corrected if I'm out of line) but here are a few things that jarred:

The bikies: what a mean nasty bunch (but surprisingly clean shaven, attractive and nicely attired) of jokers, making a special trip just to mock old Burt (and on his birthday too), knocking drinks out of people's hands (nobody seemed to react either...thought those guys on the deep south were a harder bunch).. and the same nasty guys give Burt beer money for his trip AND give him a motorcycle escort. WTF? Why the turnaround?

The race tyres and the safety gear: was that for real? He really cut the tread off old road tyres with a kitchen knife? And the Bonneville authorities REALLY let him run on those, and allowed him to wear just a woollen shirt and a pair of suit trousers tucked into his socks? If it's true it's bloody remarkable

The big black transvestite: please tell me that was made up!

The casual sexual encounters: REALLY?

And lots of other stuff. Burt getting all dewy-eyed all the time ( I thought he was a hard old bugger). The cops all came straight off CHIPS. What about that old Red Indian? Or the mean taxi driver? Or the hookers? All simple caricatures. I know the movie doesn't claim to be a detail-perfect biography, and that some creative latitude is only to be expected, and that's fine if you know what to expect, but for my money the Kim Newcombe film was a lot more satisfying.

[SlowHand]

I watched it last night too, was smiling through the whole thing. I dont know the history either and dont think the movie portrayed him as well - I get the feeling he was a lot more of a charismatic/go easy kind of fella.

The accent I thought was all over the place, and those 'hard' biker gang made me cry -hahaha! man I love dropkicks. (seen a few around lately, tho not bikers)

[Slingshot]

Must have been cheap night at the movies last night...I too saw it last night.

I though some of the quotes through the film were brilliant and I really enjoyed it, as far as to say it's one of the best films I seen in some time.
One of the quotes I liked the most was along the lines of "living more life in 5 minutes on the bike, than some people live in a life time".

It puts the efforts at the South Wairarapa Sprints recently to shame though, an 80odd year old bike pulling faster top speeds than brand new litre bikes:whistle: I know that you can't compare but it gets you thin:dodge:king.

[froggyfrenchman]

It was the best bike movie i have ever seen. Beats the shit outa biker boys and torque

[R6_kid]

The race tyres and the safety gear: was that for real? He really cut the tread off old road tyres with a kitchen knife? And the Bonneville authorities REALLY let him run on those, and allowed him to wear just a woollen shirt and a pair of suit trousers tucked into his socks?

not sure on the socks/clothes thing but i spoke to person whos father used to hang out know burt, they tyres were rated to 35mph! And yes he did actually cut the tread off with a knife then sand them smooth (tristan does the sanding thing but it dont make him fast!) and fill in the cracks with shoe polish!

[Motu]

The race tyres and the safety gear: was that for real? He really cut the tread off old road tyres with a kitchen knife? And the Bonneville authorities REALLY let him run on those, and allowed him to wear just a woollen shirt and a pair of suit trousers tucked into his socks? If it's true it's bloody remarkable


I can't find it anywhere,well only hard copy in one of my prized Motorcycle Sports Quarterlies - but there is a well known photo of a famous Bonneville rider who cut weight and wind resistance down to a minimum by just wearing some tight swimming togs and lying flat on the bike - stomach on the seat and legs straight out behind,head down looking at the ground.In those days America wasn't nowhere as restrictive as NZ is these days...we've all lost something along the way....

[Kickaha]

there is a well known photo of a famous Bonneville rider who cut weight and wind resistance down to a minimum by just wearing some tight swimming togs and lying flat on the bike - stomach on the seat and legs straight out behind,head down looking at the ground.

Rollie Free on a Vincent

http://www.myvincent.co.uk/rfree.php

[Mental Trousers]

"Your names McFarlane eh. You must be related to the McFarlane back home, cos he's a prick too" ....... or something along those lines. Classic kiwi quote that one.

[Motu]

Rollie Free on a Vincent

http://www.myvincent.co.uk/rfree.php

Thank you!! :niceone: I knew the name and googled it,but got nothing sensible.So,Burt wasn't so bad after all eh.All the anal safetly gear types will freak when they see Rollie...I mean,he hasn't even got an open face...or a T shirt...but,but,but.I'm sure he's dead,he's gotta be dead ...right?

[SlowHand]

my fav. part was when it started getting the wobbles - he stuck his head down lower and went harder - what giant sized dog balls!!
fav. quote - "one for me, one for the girl"

[TLDV8]

Thank you!! :niceone: I knew the name and googled it,but got nothing sensible.So,Burt wasn't so bad after all eh.All the anal safetly gear types will freak when they see Rollie...I mean,he hasn't even got an open face...or a T shirt...but,but,but.I'm sure he's dead,he's gotta be dead ...right?

It was a last resort to break 150mph since they were so close... and dead for 30 or so years.
>
http://www.thevincent.com/RussellWrightReunion-BH.html

http://www.thevincent.com/RussellWright.html

[MSTRS]

Johnny-come-lately, I know. Just saw the movie. It's a keeper alright. Brilliant. "You aint even got a chute" - " I'm not planning on bailing!"

[MadDuck]

I wanna mow my lawns they way Burt did but I think the neighbours might object.

And a new use for a grinder - toenails....how styly is that !!!

[RiderInBlack]

Loved the line his chick gave:

"Even dirty old men need loving"

Yaaah:niceone:

[Gixxer 4 ever]

Good movie I seldom watch them cos I go to sleep. I recon they picked up the passion of the man well. Like a lot of us the bike is always in the back ground to one degree or other. I would have liked to see more of the work he did on the bike. I recon I could understand what drove him. Bikes just get in and you have to let it run in the veins cos they are what we need to be better people. 9 outa 10.
Now I will go back and see what others have said on here. :mellow:

[gav]

Pretty cool movie, some good laughs too.
One queation though, when he went over the border and was speed testing on the open road, the state trooper turned after him, how did Burt manage to get out of the bike on his own? When the trooper pulled up, Burt was already out of the bike.....hmmmmm

[onearmedbandit]

Do you mean how did the bike not topple gav?

[RiderInBlack]

Do you mean how did the bike not topple gav?Bike had little wheels that he could put down where the centrestand usually is.

[gav]

Do you mean how did the bike not topple gav?
Yeah, how did he get out of the bike on his own. At Bonneville, looked like he needed a couple of guys to hold the bike upright so he could get out?

[onearmedbandit]

As RIB said the bike had 'trainer' wheels that set down when either the bike got to a predetermined speed or Burt activated them.

[mstriumph]

saw it last weekend ........good write-up Beemer, it was magic; nothing to add to what you said EXCEPT that, as a foreigner meself, i thought he sounded a bit british in spots [was then told that's the way they ALL sound down in Invercargill lol] :niceone:

[oldrider]

[QUOTE=kerryg]Saw it yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it.
But I guess I would be being less than honest if I didn't say that I found some elements in it very trite and other things very implausible. Because I don't know the true Burt Munro story I can't be sure what was true and what was made up to give the movie more interest (so I stand to be corrected if I'm out of line) but here are a few things that jarred:

The bikies: what a mean nasty bunch (but surprisingly clean shaven, attractive and nicely attired) of jokers, making a special trip just to mock old Burt (and on his birthday too), knocking drinks out of people's hands (nobody seemed to react either...thought those guys on the deep south were a harder bunch).. and the same nasty guys give Burt beer money for his trip AND give him a motorcycle escort. WTF? Why the turnaround?QUOTE]

The bikies of the day were portrayed reasonably accurately in appearance but not in attitudinal behaviour. Bike gang blokes were always very generous good guys especially in the fifties. (They probably just gave him the money)
There was apparently some sort of challenge that took place on the beach. I remember talk about something like that at the time it filtered right up to Lower Hutt and Petone where we were.
The helmet didn't ring true with me I never saw anything like that. Well not untill many many years later. Cheers John.

[parsley]

Loved the film. What CC was the Indian? It said at the end he still holds the speed record for bikes under a litre.

[RiderInBlack]

Loved the film. What CC was the Indian? It said at the end he still holds the speed record for bikes under a litre.From this link "Burt Munro, A New Zealand Motorcycling Legend (http://www.indianmotorbikes.com/features/munro/munro.htm)":
"The Scout itself was a 37cu.in. (60Occ) 42 degree V twin with side valves."

"Burt, then a grandfather, visited the Bonneville salt flats several times from 1962 onwards. In that year he set a then world record of 178.971 mph with his engine out to 51 cu.in. (85Occ). In 1963 a con-rod broke while he was traveling at an estimated 195mph. In 1966 it was displacing 920cc, when Burt, unhappy with some loss in top speed, completely rebuilt it again."

(http://www.indianmotorbikes.com/features/munro/bm3.jpg)"In 1967, with his engine punched out to 58 cu.in. (950cc) he set a class record of 183.586 mph. To qualify he made a one-way run of 190.07 mph, the fastest ever officially recorded speed on an Indian."


Just think Burt's old 1920 Indian Scout still has the record for the fastest speed done by an under 1000cc streamlined bike today. Considering that most modern so called "1000's" are actually less than 1000cc (the newest GXSR1000 is accually 998.6cc), and would therefore fit in as being under 1000cc, I find that quite impressive:not: and amusing:devil2:

Doug<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[Unit]

Has been on our must see list as soon as we learned about the movie. Isnt it great to be proud to be a Kiwi? We may be a little country thats little known (still, but thats changing), but it seems no other country in the world (including Aussies) can come close to the #8 wire we can fix or make anything out of anything attitude, we OWN that, everywhere we look in out history we are full of inventors and go getters. Cant wait to see the movie, will definately own the DVD.