Lights, camera, start your engines! For one night each year,
Hollywood gathers to honour the best in the movie industry. Yet, an often
unsung star in these films seldom receives the credit it deserves – the
automobile.
Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac have produced some of the
toughest, fastest, most stylish and most cutting-edge American-made vehicles to
have appeared in countless films. From classics like American Graffiti (1973)
and Rain Man (1988) to modern action movies like the Transformers franchise
(2007, 2009, and 2011) and The Matrix Reloaded (2003), General Motors vehicles
have been scene stealers in some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters.
“The high-profile association with a blockbuster and classic
movies gives Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac wonderful exposure to those not
familiar with the brand,” said Steve Tihanyi, general director Branded
Entertainment & Marketing Alliances. “We are always looking for unique ways
to humanize and expose our vehicles to new consumers and there will always be a
certain ‘cool’ factor in starring on the big screen.”
Most recently, the Chevrolet Camaro sports car took a
starring role as Bumblebee in the Transformers (2007), Transformers: Revenge of
the Fallen (2009) and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). Two Chevrolet
Camaro Transformers Special Edition vehicles were offered by Chevrolet that
sold about 3 000 units, transferring the big screen appeal to the roadway.
The Camaro wasn’t alone among Chevrolets to appear in the Transformers
franchise. The Corvette Stingray Concept and a 1965 Chevrolet Malibu also had
cameo roles. All three are now part of GM’s Heritage Collection.
“Cars have a lot in common with movies, and there is an
often an emotional connection between the audience and the featured car,” said
Elliot Wilhelm, film curator for the Detroit Institute of Arts and founder of
the Detroit Film Theatre. “You often hear audible groans or see cringes form the
audience when a beautiful car is destroyed in a movie.”
Vin Diesel did just that with a Corvette in the 2002 action
thriller “xXx” – narrating as 18 cameras filmed the dive from the 223m
Forresthill Bridge in Auburn, Calif. A stunt double parachutes to safety before
Vin’s character, Xander Cage, escapes with buddies waiting at the river bed
below. Diesel later used a weapons-modified 1967 Pontiac GTO as his ride.
Who could forget director Tim Burton’s Batmobile from Batman
(1989) and Batman Returns (1992)? It was a “bat”-customized Chevy Impala? Or
the 1959 Cadillac that was the chase of Pink Cadillac (1989)?
STORY BY GENERAL MOTORS
2 comments:
Bumblebeeeeeeee!
Does anyone know the 1970s movie The Car? What car was that? Whatever it was it was the scariest car in my youth!
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