This was filmed in 1976 the car is a Ferrari 275 GTB:

C'etait un Rendezvous


You'd be hard-pressed to find a film as steeped in myth as "C'était un Rendezvous".

For many years enjoyed as an almost Masonic secret among enthusiasts, whisper the words "Have you seen Rendezvous ?" and you'll receive either a knowing, "No, but I've heard it's unbelievable" or a smug, "It is un-be-lieve-able". Filmed in 1976, the revered short film by seminal French director Claude Lelouch is regarded as the ultimate in chase scenes - the connoisseurs' trump card in response to "Bullitt" or "The French Connection". Lack of availability (pirated poor quality VHS copies were being traded at $50 on the internet) has only fueled the myths surrounding the film...

Absolutely compulsive - this astonishing, exhilarating and now legendary drive through a beautiful 70s Paris with its surprise ending is shrouded in myths.

Was Lelouch really arrested when first shown?

Was it a Formula 1 driver and Ferrari 275/GTB?

How was it filmed without blocking off streets?

If not, how (the hell!) did he do it?

What we do know is that there are no special effects, no speeding up of the film or blocking off the streets. Lelouch simply mounted the camera on the front of the car and captures a quite literally death-defying drive through the streets of a beautiful 70s Paris with a striking twist at the journeys end. The ‘soundtrack’ is just as pure – the brutal wail of the engine, squealing tires and the roar of the exhaust.

The connoisseurs' trump card in response to "Bullitt" or "The French Connection"."An unforgettable exhilarating ride" "Better than any chase scene filmed, because it's real." "a must-see piece." Car & Driver

In the canon of car films, the Holy Trinity is John Frankenheimer’s Grand Prix (1966), Lee H. Katzin’s Le Mans (1971) with Steve McQueen, and Claude Lelouch’s C’Etait un rendezvous (1976).

“the maddest, most controversial driving film ever made.” - Maxim

"It makes Bullitt look like a cartoon" Jeremy Clarkso

"A once in a lifetime experience, it can never be repeated - no one is that insane."

“The film is simply…heart-thumping, palm-sweating, teeth-clenching action….an automotive equivalent of September 11th footage – you have to pinch yourself that this isn’t a Hollywood production.” - The Daily Express

“Everything you see is real. It’s f**king astonishing.” - Uncut

“I find myself holding my breath, palms sweating…like a child at the circus gasping at the high wire act, I momentarily question the film makers sanity, but I am hooked” Words like thrilling, exhilarating and daring tumble through my mind…nervously laughing at the sheer madness of it all”- The Saturday Telegraph

“The most incredible little piece of cinema I’ve ever seen…has to be seen to be believed.” – Porsche World

“The most terrifying adrenaline rush you ever likely to see…it’s only ten minutes long, but if you can take more than that without wetting yourself you’re a better man than I am…the stuff of legend.” – Classic American

“It’s the extremely politically incorrect recklessness of Rendezvous that both attracts and offends” - The Daily Express

“Patrons have been buying tickets for the entire programme and leaving before the main feature begins” – The Evening Standard




Richard Symons, a documentary film maker with more than a passing interest in fast cars, managed to acquire a very poor 2nd generation VHS copy. He wasn't disappointed…

"I'd never seen anything like it, 9 minutes of adrenalin that simply leaves you with your jaw on the floor. Lelouch was supposedly arrested the first time he'd shown the film and then it simply dived underground. To cut a long story short, I tracked down the director, we dusted down the original 35mm negative, restored and re-mastered it for release - we've brought back all the details and colours and it looks stunning."

Over the years, "C'était un Rendezvous" has come to represent something more than an adrenalin rush. It uniquely captures a time and a spirit that seems a long way away from today. Politically incorrect, anti-establishment and overflowing with a primitive passion - it is everything the bureaucrats hate. Which perhaps explains the cheers and whoops of delight at recent screenings. Lelouchs' brilliant ending only adds to this - making a beautiful sense out of the preceding nine minutes.
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'99 740i Sport

• 'C'était un Rendezvous', Ferrari 275 GTB video through streets of Paris (url) - uberholspur 2005-10-23 11:11:53 (716 views)
  • un-friggin-believably awesome! - slick7 2005-10-24 15:49:46 (315 views)
  • I first saw it about 12 years ago at BMW NA. - Tony K 2005-10-23 15:24:16 (310 views)
  • Buy the DVD here (url) - uberholspur 2005-10-23 14:41:23 (384 views)
  • The Physics Involved (est. speeds) (url) - uberholspur 2005-10-23 14:33:24 (333 views)
    • I was going to comment on that, the video makes the car look like its - itsstock 2005-10-23 14:44:25 (352 views)
      • Agreed... when he passed the moving cars its the most obvious - ChicagoE38 2005-10-23 21:07:11 (410 views)
        • My Ferrari confident just sent me a color version :) (url) - uberholspur 2005-10-23 21:22:33 (300 views)
          • Sheesh, is there a way to edit a post? I meant larger format (nt) - uberholspur 2005-10-23 21:27:45 (237 views)
  • Very cool Thanks for sharing. (nt) - alicat 2005-10-23 14:27:29 (259 views)
  • I had never heard if it .... amazing ... thanks for sharing (nt) - duke740is 2005-10-23 14:16:50 (263 views)
  • More on 'C'était un Rendezvous' - uberholspur 2005-10-23 12:10:10 (340 views)
  • Loved it!...thanks. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't watched it myself. - apwe38/Allan 2005-10-23 11:54:56 (325 views)
  • That's the first time I've seen it. Absolutely amazing! (nt) - s62fan 2005-10-23 11:37:43 (324 views)
    • Very impressive! - mermar 2005-10-23 11:41:57 (260 views)