Монте-Карлоға бәсеке!

1969 film by Ken Annakin

Monte Carlo or Bust! is a 1969 epic Comedy film, also known by its American title, Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies. A co production of the United Kingdom, France and Italy, the story is based on the Monte Carlo Rally – first raced in 1911 – and the film, set in the 1920s, recalls this general era. A lavish all star film (Paramount put $10 million behind it), it is the story of an epic car rally across Europe that involves a lot of eccentric characters from all over the world who will stop at nothing to win. The film is a sequel to the 1965 hit Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines. Terry Thomas appeared as Sir Cuthbert Ware Armitage, the equally dastardly son of Sir Percy Ware Armitage, whom Thomas had played in the earlier film. Some others of the cast from the first film returned, including Gert Fröbe and Eric Sykes. Like the earlier film, it was written by Ken Annakin and Jack Davies and directed by Annakin, with music by Ron Goodwin. The title tune is performed by Jimmy Durante. The credits sequence animation was the work of Ronald Searle, who was also featured in Annakin's earlier Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines. Tony Curtis and Susan Hampshire played other contestants in the race; Curtis also starred in the similar period piece comedy The Great Race (1965) from Warner Bros. The film was originally intended to be called Rome or Bust. The American distributors Paramount Pictures re titled it Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies to tie it to Annakin's 1965 film; re editing also meant cuts, up to a half hour, from the original British release.

In the 1920s, the Monte Carlo Rally attracts competitors from all over the world. Rivals from Britain, Italy, France and Germany find that their greatest competition comes from the United States in the form of Chester Schofield (Tony Curtis), who had won half of an automobile factory in a poker game with the late father of baronet Sir Cuthbert Ware Armitage (Terry Thomas). Ware Armitage has entered the race in a winner take all to exact revenge and win back the lost half of the company. The international cast of characters appear to mirror their national foibles. British Army officers Maj. Digby Dawlish (Peter Cook) and Lieut. Kit Barrington (Dudley Moore), who have entered to preserve the honour of the British Empire, drive an outlandish vehicle festooned with odd inventions. Italian policemen Angelo Pincelli (Walter Chiari) and Marcello Agosti (Lando Buzzanca) seem to be more interested in chasing three French women, led by Doctor Marie Claude (Mireille Darc). The German entry from overbearing Willi Schickel (Gert Fröbe) and Otto Schwartz (Peer Schmidt) turn out to be convicts, driving with stolen gems on board. As the race begins, the contestants find that not only are they in a 1,500 mile battle with each other, but dangerous roads and the elements including a massive avalanche, are just as formidable. Chester and his new co driver, Betty (Susan Hampshire) end up duelling with Cuthbert. Various misfortunes plague each of the contestants, with Cuthbert, poised to win, being disqualified for cheating, the British Army team blowing up, the Germans being arrested and Chester falling asleep at the wheel. In the end, the Italians are declared the winners and share their winnings with the French women's team to help people injured in the snowslide. Chester does eventually cross the finish line, albeit because Betty and some others have pushed his car.

Ken Annakin had a huge success with Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. In September 1965 he announced he would make a follow up to that film set in the early days of automobile racing. Its working title was The Monte Carlo Rally and All That Jazz. He wrote the script with Jack Davies, with whom he had collaborated on Those Magnificent Men. He wanted to re use some of the old cast, including Terry Thomas, Gert Fröbe and Alberto Sordi, plus one American, possibly James Garner. Annaking estimated the film would cost under $6 million. In March 1968 Annakin announced that Tony Curtis would star. The cast would also include Terry Thomas, Gert Fröbe, Eric Sykes, Walter Chiari, and Alberto Sordi. Finance was provided by Paramount and filming would take over six months in Rome, Monte Carlo and the Italian and French Alps. "I love the international flavor of it", said Annakin. Curtis, however, enjoyed his time in Rome, one of the primary filming locations and became romantically linked to his co star, Susan Hampshire. An excerpt from composer Ron Goodwin's cue, "The Schickel Shamble" became the theme music for the long running BBC Radio 4 comedy series I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue which later featured Willie Rushton as a regular panellist.

Tony Curtis is driving an Alvis Speed 20 (1932–36) named the "Triple S, Six Sylinder Special", and Gert Fröbe is in a Mercedes SSK (1928–32). Terry Thomas's car first is a Ware Armitage, while his official entry is in a "Nifty Nine, Mark II", probably it's a 1929 Austin Heavy 12/4 Burnham. The other British team is in a Lea Francis, outfitted with an array of ingenious contraptions including the Dawlish Klaxon, the Dawlish Periscope, the Dawlish Snow Stoppers, the Dawlish Snow Melter, bits to turn it into the Dawlish Super Snow Tractor, Dawlish Extending Foglamp and rocket boosters. Marcelo and Angelo are in a Lancia Lambda, while Dominique drives a Peugeot 201  and lurking in the background are a bullnose Morris Oxford (1919–26) and a Blower Bentley (1927–31). Ex racer David Watson was in charge of the cars. "The automobiles should give me a good 30 percent of the comedy", said Annakin.

The music was composed by Ron Goodwin. The title track, (called "Monte Carlo or Bust" despite the US name change to the film) is sung by Jimmy Durante. A piece of music playing during a German prison escape scene, called "The Schickel Shamble", has been used as the theme music for I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue since its inception in 1972.

The film opened May 28, 1969 at the Astor Theatre and Beekman Theatre in New York City. The film grossed $46,800 in its opening week.