Winning (1969)

Action, Drama, Sport
Paul Newman, Robert Quarry, Richard Thomas, Robert Wagner
Frank Capua was the infamous professional race car driver that seemed to attract the attention of women all across the state. He lived fast and took calculated risks, but none of those risks ended up being greater than when he fell for Elora, a beautiful and intelligent divorcee. After a whirlwind romance, they decided to tie the knot and become man and wife.Elora had a teenage son from her first marriage, Charley, who was initially worried that Frank would be a poor replacement for his real father. Fortunately, Charley quickly grew to love Frank and found solace in the fact that he was also a mechanic with an interest in cars. This newfound bond quickly escalated, as Charley began to help Frank build and repair the cars that he would be racing competitively.Frank's presence gave Charley the father-like figure he had been missing in his life, and Charley grew to become an invaluable asset in Frank's racing career. The two worked in harmony and would continue to do so until the day performed his last race. From that day on, Charley and Frank would form a deep connection that their families would recall for endless generations.Frank has always had an impressive career as a competitive race car driver. His dedication to the track and his relentless pursuit of success are unquestionable. However, his sheer focus on his career has come at the cost of neglecting his wife, who ends up having an affair with Frank's chief rival on the race track, Luther Erding. Eventually, the affair is discovered and Frank is devastated by the betrayal and heartache it causes. Not only does he have to deal with the humiliation of his wife's infidelity, but he also finds himself pitted against the person he considers his greatest adversary. Though Frank's commitment to his career has been undying, it may have ultimately caused the ruin of his marriage and has put him in an emotionally and professionally complicated situation.Frank was appalled when he walked into the bedroom and saw Charley in bed with someone else. His heart sank and he could barely look at them as he turned and walked away, slamming the door behind him. He had looked up to Charley; he had trusted him, believed in him. But in that one moment, all of Frank's trust and admiration had been shattered.The couple, although smitten with each other, mutually agreed to end their affair after seeing how hurt Frank was. As a result, they continued to see each other from time to time, much to Frank's dismay. His bitterness managed to find its way into his work, as he fiercely pushed himself to become a better driver. His competitiveness knew no bounds as he pushed himself harder than he ever had before to be top of the leader boards.The pain Frank had felt from seeing Charley in bed with someone else had fueled his drive to succeed, and eventually, his career flourished. Despite the hurt and anguish, Frank was grateful for the positive outcome of the situation.As Elora and Charley watched from the stands, they were filled with a mix of anticipation and fear, waiting to see if this would be a fantastic victory for Frank or a race he would soon regret. When the starting line was cut and the cars sped past at record speeds, they clenched their hands together and prayed with a passion they had never known.Before long, the sound of the engines filled the track and they all knew that Frank was winning. At the last lap, Frank pulled ahead of the other racers and crossed the finish line first. Everyone watching erupts in cheers and whistles, none of them more proud than Elora and Charley. When the race was over, Frank was invited to a victory party.Unfortunately, Frank had no interest in the bits of attention he got from the attractive women throwing themselves at him and quickly snuck away. He left Elora and Charley with a sense of frustration and admiration. Despite all the glamour, Frank had won the race for the pure love of the sport and the joy of being the best. This is the power of Frank's story and will be remembered by everyone who watched him race.Luther finally found Frank and apologized for having an affair. He begged for his forgiveness, yet despite his remorse, Frank could not control his rage. He immediately punched Luther, leaving him stunned.With the mess he had made of his life, Frank was desperate to correct his wrongs. He went to visit Elora, the woman he brought suffering to, with hopes that she would forgive him. He told her that he wanted to start over and make things right. Although Elora wanted to believe him, she was still unsure if she could trust him again. She did not want to see her heart broken once more.Frank and Elora Capua look uncertainly at each other as the movie comes to a close. What once seemed like a happy ending has now left them pondering what the future holds for their relationship. With their future together unclear, viewers can sense the tension in the air as the Capua's try to read each other's expression. As the freeze-frame appears, the audience can do nothing but watch and wait as the couple come to an unknown decision together. The impact of this scene is powerful, with viewers making their own interpretations of what each character is thinking and feeling. The film ends without us knowing for certain what happens next, but also with a sense of promise that the couple has the strength to overcome whatever lies ahead.
  • 1969-05-22 Released:
  • N/A DVD Release:
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  • N/A Writer:
  • James Goldstone Director:
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