Behind The Story

FERRARI IN FILM

While not terribly well-known in the United States, the man behind the Ferrari marque has a fascinating life story.

He was spectacularly ambitious, driven, and focused on his success, sometimes to the detriment of even those closest to him.  He was obsessed with racing, with winning in racing, and had a relationship to his cars that bordered on the sexual.

He was an innovator, an impresario, a driver and an engineer.  He was also a “Commendatore” (Knight Commander) by order of the King, and an agitator of men – and women – by his own design.

When his firm teetered on the edge of foundering in World War II, his friend Luigi Chinetti secured a government contract to build engines.  Ferrari refused to travel to Rome to sign the contract, demanding that a courier be sent to him in Modena.  He kept the messenger waiting for four days, then signed the document without a thought and sent the poor man on his way.

And there have been films made about him.  Yet he remains a cipher to most people.

There have been a number of films in development about him in recent years, with big names attached.  But big-budget bio pics and films about racing have a very dodgy record at the box office.

And Mike Hofman of GQ Magazine, opined in an article about two very different leading actors in competing Ferrari projects…

“Given that, I sort of wish there were yet another Ferrari project in the works.  Maybe one that seemed less likely to focus on a visionary-but-flawed man and more likely to capture a time and place that, from a distance, seems like it would have been a hell of a lot of fun.”

A well-known woman producer and executive who was involved in the early development of director Michael Mann’s Ferrari project, suggested that this story was potentially more interesting and more commercial, for a couple of reasons. First, it utilizes Ferrari in the role of antagonist, pitting him against a sympathetic female protagonist, a role which is perhaps more “organic” to his true nature.  It also may have a wider appeal to women moviegoers, who make the majority of decisions about film attendance and purchase the majority of tickets.

More than a bio pic, FIGHTING FERRARI (aka, MAN, WOMAN & CAR) is a romantic drama inspired by a true story.  The kind of “red carpet” material that breaks the mold of the modern day theater experience with a stylish, classic tale about the power of a man and the dreams of a woman.

And the script has been praised highly:

“MAN, WOMAN & CAR is a very well crafted, engaging and seductive story… It tells the story of a plucky American socialite, who butts heads with Italian car maker ENZO FERRARI over the possession of the last of the line of a classic Ferrari Spyder. This story has a great Male/Female conflict, lots of racing sequences, a good love interest, local color and period setting. One recalls the early Cinerama film GRAND PRIX mixed with the Italian setting and a love of cars not unlike the old classic THE YELLOW ROLLS ROYCE… This has an excellent star attracting lead in the role of WILLIE SMITH (30’s) fiery, passionate, beautiful and funny, the American “new woman” of the ’50’s is a very apt foil for the “old world” Padrone Ferrari… This would be an excellent project to attach a name actress to. It has a multi faceted female lead, and would be fabulous material for directors. – Creative Artists Agency

“Script details the ‘real-life’ saga of Willie Smith’s attempt to collect her Spyder from Enzo Ferrari… This battle of the sexes is made all the more controversial in the traditional Italian setting of Modena and the conservative time period of the 1950s… Ferrari and Willie are two headstrong characters that bring the story to fruition. Their magnetic personalities will draw the audiences in and the beautiful setting and race cars are the ultimate in visual eye candy for the time period… Story possesses a lot of heart. A great supporting cast is found in Raleigh who (perhaps) seduces Willie and believes in her abilities… Angela, the hotel owner, is the Italian version of Willie and they complement each other in their desires and strength as women. Buddy is a loving husband who strays, but manages to come off as an overall good guy… Overall, a fascinating true-to-life story… Script carefully juggles various elements of sexism, man versus machine and romance with great panache… A solid project worthy of actor and director consideration.” – William Morris Agency

It also garnered a “RECOMMEND” and a rating in the top 97 percentile in the analytics of Slated.com.

FIGHTING FERRARI is currently being prepped as a modestly-budgeted EU/UK co-production.