How Peter Morgan Crafted a Cinematic Ode to 1970s Formula 1
‘It’s entertainment, not a documentary’ has become a mantra for those behind Rush, a film that was born with the help of a Motor Sport correspondent or two…
More than two years after it was announced, the eagerly awaited Rush will finally reach screens in September. The film has already been well received by those who have seen it, including Bernie Ecclestone and other paddock luminaries who attended a screening at the German GP weekend. Crucially, it has also received the stamp of approval from both Niki Lauda and James Hunt’s family.
Motor Sport readers will be the toughest audience to please, given that they are by definition steeped in F1 history. By way of warning, there are scenes that might not ring true. But remember, Rush is emphatically not a documentary.
As it says on the trailers, it’s ‘based on a true story’. Any film has to work as a cinematic experience, and appeal to the world at large – otherwise it would never land the finance to be made. Events have to be condensed, timelines adjusted and some fictional elements added.