that caused them to withdraw from motorsports for decades afterwards. It primarily follows American driver John Fitch and team manager Alfred Neubauer in the build up to the race, and their actions following the crash that kills Fitch's co-driver, Frenchman Pierre Levegh, and more than 80 spectators.The film can be viewed here.
Tropes associated with Le Mans 1955:
- Artistic License – History:
- The fatal crash occurred in broad daylight in real life, while in the film, it's shown occurring early in the night. Most likely, this was done to easily show the passage of time from the start.
- Unlike his portrayal here, in real life, Neubauer needed no convincing to withdraw from the race, though ultimate authority rested with the Mercedes company directors, who approved it shortly before midnight.
- Blood Sport: Motorsport in the '50s was incredibly dangerous, and the short takes pains to emphasize this. Aside from the infamous crash, cars are seen barely missing pit crews at speed, with no wall to protect the pits, as well as crews sent onto a live track to clear it of debris.
- Downer Ending: Despite leading, Mercedes decides to withdraw from the race after their car kills 80 people.
- Epic Race: The 24 hours of Le Mans certainly counts as one, and is treated as one.
- Fatal Method Acting: In-universe, Pierre Levegh, driving for the Mercedes team, is killed when his car is launched into a spectator area.
- Offscreen Crash: The fatal incident occurs almost entirely offscreen. We see one car involved spin and hit the pit wall near John and smoke start rising up, as well as hearing an explosion, but that's it.
- The Show Must Go On:Neubauer: "You know the rule! The race must go on!"
- Spectator Casualty: In-universe, there are eighty people killed in Pierre Levegh's crash. We see their bodies covered in tarps and strewn over a large area.
- Sports Stories: A short racing story about one of the most infamous races, and the deadliest, in history.
- They Knew the Risks: Neubauer tries to explain his decision to continue the race with this, stating that, as a racing driver, Levegh knew the risks involved. Fitch retorts that the spectators certainly didn't.
- Wham Line:Fangio: "The fire. It's him. It's Levegh."
- Wham Shot: The crash site, where the true scope of the disaster is finally shown.
