I'm forced to reveal my ignorance whenever I see lists of great car movies, like the 10 Best Jaguar Movies that the online magazine Winding Road has created for our amusement. It's not that I question a magazine or Website's choice of films, it's just that I've rarely ever seen them. Partly because, after checking the reviews, I find some of the crash-and-chase movies rather tasteless (note: I'm not referring to Bullitt or The French Connection here) and partly because I didn't become a movie buff until I was well into my 30s.
Credit for that goes to my then wife and also to a change in professions where I found myself creating TV commercials for ad agencies. Movies, obviously, were a source of inspiration. It was during that period that I first saw the French film A Man and a Woman, which is still my favorite for its mix of romance, scenic backgrounds, and motor racing. But looking through Winding Road's list of Jaguar movies, once again I'm at a loss as I haven't seen any of these supposed gems.
One that I'll definitely have to beg, borrow or buy is the Clint Eastwood film Play Misty for Me. Eastwood and I have two things in common. First, we're the same age and second, we're both dedicated jazz enthusiasts. Misty is a song much favored by jazz musicians so if Clint found a way to combine jazz backgrounds with shots of him driving a Jaguar then it's definitely time I saw the movie.
But of the 10 films on this list the one I'd like to view first is also the first on the list. Once again… a blend of beautiful car, beautiful woman, romantic backgrounds. Life should be like that.
Winding Road's list:
. Vertigo – 1957 Jaguar Mk. VIII
. Play Misty For Me – 1957 Jaguar XK150
. Austin Powers – 1961 Jaguar E-Type
. Harold and Maude – 1971 Jaguar XK-E
. The Blues Brothers – 1974 Jaguar XK-E
. Like Father, Like Son – 1980 Jaguar XJ6
. Shaun of the Dead – 1986 XJ12
. Memento – 1997 Jaguar XK8
. Die Another Day – 2002 Jaguar XKR:
. Doomsday – 2033 Jaguar Mk. II
What's your opinion? Got a great Jaguar movie to add? Use the Comments box below. We'd love to hear from you.