Downhill Racer (1969)

A ruthless ambitious skier (Robert Redford) competing for Olympic gold with the struggling American team is arrogant and narcissistic and is obsessed with personal Olympic glory. This means he clashes with the team's coach (Gene Hackman) who is concerned with the team as a whole. Based on the novel by Oakley Hall and directed by Michael Ritchie (SMILE). An excellent film that's more a character study than a movie about skiing. This is one of Redford's 2 or 3 best performances, back when he could still play antiheroes, flaws and all, before he became Robert Redford Movie Star. Ritchie's tight direction and James Salter's economical screenplay packs a lot of information in concise scenes. For example, one small scene between Redford and his father (Walter Stroud) tells us everything we need to know about their strained relationship. Brian Probyn's thrilling documentary like cinematography throws the audience right into the skier's boots giving the viewer an inkling of the rush and speed of a competitive skier. Kenyon Hopkins' score gives the film some needed tension. With Camilla Sparv, Dabney Coleman, Kathleen Crowley, Karl Michael Vogler and Jim McMullan.