The Kiss of Death Edition
On Ferrari, Michael Mann, and the last photo of your life.
Colin here. I’m an outspoken Michael Mann fan, specifically his fastidious attention to detail across every aspect of his filmmaking. He famously made the cast of Heat train for weeks with British special operations soldiers to make sure they knew how to shoot and move properly for the epic robbery scene at the climax of the film. Val Kilmer’s on-the-fly re-load is rumored to be shown when today’s recruits are learning the basics, as it is pitch perfect.
For these reasons, Ferrari was also a joy to watch. The attire is amazing, down to the period-specific pit crew uniforms. The light, the automobiles, the feeling of a crisp Modena morning, everything. And without sharing too much, the crash scene was terrifying, gut wrenching, but also one of the great cinematic accomplishments of the year.
Why is this interesting?
After watching the film, I went down the wormhole to learn the real story of the 1957 crash in Guidizzolo, and came across an image that stopped me in my tracks: Il Bacio, or the Kiss of Death.
According to the Times of London:
They called it “The Kiss of Death” when Linda Christian, a Hollywood starlet, bent down to peck the cheek of the Marquis Alfonso de Portago, her playboy lover, as he set off on the final leg of the 1957 Mille Miglia.
“Fon”, as he was known, was 75 miles from the finish when his Ferrari blew a tyre at 150mph and hurtled into the crowd. Nine spectators, including five children, were killed, along with the Marquis and his co-driver. The Mille Miglia was never run as a competitive race again. That appalling accident spelt the end of one of the most iconic races in motor racing, but means that the extraordinary record set by Stirling Moss 60 years ago today can never be beaten. In 10hr 7min 48sec, Moss averaged 97.9mph over almost 1,000 miles of rural roads in southern Italy.
The photo is seen as a symbol of audacity, passion, and the recklessness of youth. But I also can’t turn my eyes from her seemingly detached gaze, as if she was granted a haunting, split second premonition of what was to come down the road. (CJN)
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Thanks for reading,
Noah (NRB) & Colin (CJN)
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