Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 30, 2017

A follow-up to the 1965 hit, “Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines,” 1969’s “The Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies” (also known as “Monte Carlo or Bust!”) looks to sustain a sense of widescreen pandemonium, taking a European car race to the extremes of slapstick comedy. Co-writer/director Ken Annakin certainly maintains a vision for the production, and his management of style and action is impressive, able to keep a ragtag group of characters in focus as they tear around multiple locations. But just over two hours of silly business? “Jaunty Jalopies” pushes its luck when it comes to asking the audience to endure a marathon of mischief.

As with most cross-country race pictures, a plot isn’t really the point. These productions tend to exist to service the actors, gifting them exotic locations to romp around in and bizarre co-stars to bounce off of. Gert Frobe, Tony Curtis, and Bourvil are just a few of the names in the mix, with sharper wit provided by Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. The cast is here to play, and Annakin is more than willing to accommodate them, putting the actors through a series of stunts, Euro adventures, and mugging, permitting time for everyone to show off their skills and comedic bigness, which comes in handy when competing with the effort’s demolition derby-style energy.

Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation captures the manic energy the production is looking for, offering generally good clarity to help viewers spot all the jokes and examine the locations. Textures are strong on costuming and facial particulars, and the HD experience also has the advantage of picking up on the inherent artificiality of the movie's extensive use of process shots. Colors are contained and communicative, with pleasing greenery and natural skintones. Set decoration and exterior business with extras also add welcome power to hues. Delineation is comfortable. Source has some bursts of speckling, but remains intact. The opening titles are windowboxed.

Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix has to deal with iffy dubbing achievements, which come off pronounced, but the overall comedic energy of the effort is preserved. Dialogue exchanges are satisfactory, handling accents and performance speeds. Music fares a little better, sounding fuller, with appealing instrumentation. Sound effects are on the sharp side, but remain appreciable.

Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians David Del Valle and Jesse Merlin.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Jaunty Jalopies" tuckers out long before it ends, in need of a general pruning to get rid of some indulgent moments and streamline the competition. However, it remains an entertaining sit with amusing moments and an enjoyable concentration on velocity, in both the speed of the cars and the timing of the jokes.