Many of today’s car fans may associate one film in particular with the beginnings of their ardent love affair with the power and grace of the automobile.  The indescribable longing to go careening and barreling through urban back alleys in hot pursuit (or in some cases to evade pursuers) was instilled in many of us on first viewing the amazing 40 minute car-chase sequence in the original Gone in 60 Seconds.  H.B. “Toby” Halicky, the inspired mastermind behind this film, helped set the stage for later tread-wearing films such as Ronin. 

Toby seemed to be the Mozart of car enthusiasts, a child prodigy driving at a very early age and precociously entrepreneurial with the body shop he owned as a teenager and the junkyard he ran some time later.  Tragically, Toby Halicky died in an accident on the set of the sequel to Gone in 60 Seconds, just three months after his marriage to Denise Shakarian.  Denise was to co-star in the film.  Denise may be the only one who really knew the psyche of this junkyard-maven turned film-maker, and she became determined to see his vision through. 

On June 9, the remake of Toby’s classic will be released for the post-millennial car buffs everywhere.  This time the film is super-charged with some super-stars: Oscar winners Robert Duvall, Angelina Jolie, and Nicholas Cage. We caught up with co-producer Denise Halicky - a woman as devoted to portraying Toby’s cinematic ideals as the man himself -  to ask her about the remake, her legendary husband, and the featured car of the original, Eleanor.

How was the idea to begin production of Gone in 60 Seconds initiated and how did it build momentum?

When Toby was killed, out of that tragedy, I wanted to finish what he had started.  I was determined no matter what to fulfill what he had started. Micheal Linton, president of Hollywood Pictures, and I joined forced in 1995.  He was a huge fan of the original - when he was growing up in the Netherlands he would watch it over and over.  Through watching him and his passion for the film, as well as putting Jerry Bruckheimer together on as executive producer and having Scott Rosenberg write the script, Toby’s vision really started taking shape.  I worked three years with Scott, fed him the history and provided him with a lot of insight into Toby and the original. 

Toby was a man who did things his way - writing, producing, directing and starring in the original.  What would Toby think about the caliber of the stars portraying these roles he created?

Toby would be thrilled and greatly honored to have such a team producing his film.  Even behind the scenes there was an army of people, set designers and stuntmen.  Everyone was extremely passionate, it meant a lot to everyone involved.  In the new film, Memphis Rains (Nicholas Cage) talks about how its really about the love of cars.  His original film helped draw attention to what cars are all about.  The new film is activating this passion for a new generation.

Along those lines, did Nicholas Cage play the role as Toby would have, or did he bring something different to the role? What about Angelina?

Nicholas found his own place for what he needed in the role.  He brought the heart of the person Toby was, his love of the cars.  Angelina is a doll, we really connected.  I made all the actors aware of the film’s history and characters.  They reached into his persona resulting in a deeper, more subtle connection to Toby’s personal life.

Toby’s films helped establish a sort of American tradition of car-chase and collision films.  What do you think it is about this genre of films that both drew Toby’s attention and continues to thrill world wide audiences today?

Toby’s main objective was to get lots of realistic car crash sequences into a film.   Toby put racing giants Parnelli Jones and J.C. Agajanian  in the original and just wanted everybody to grab a car and go.  Shot in the back streets of Long Beach, the policemen were local policemen, the mayor was the actual mayor of the town.   Recently, I was speeding around in Eleanor at 100 mph in 360 spins  as a passenger.  There’s definitely an adrenaline speed-rush with these cars.  Everyone loves speed and action and everybody relates to cars.

Speaking of Eleanor, the ‘71 Mach I Mustang that starred in the original, where did Toby get hold of her and how does she compare with the new Eleanor?

Eleanor was from his collection, a ‘71 and one of the last of the powerhouse Mustangs, built like a tank.  The new one is a ‘67 Shelby Mustang.  He just loved cars, he had alot of different exotic cars in his collection - ‘50’s Merc’s among others.  His baby and joy, though, was Eleanor.  She  had her own room with movie memorabilia all around her.  Toby and Eleanor did all the stunts in the original; if he had any car that was “his” car, she was it.

Do you share Toby’s passion for cars and driving and what do you personally drive?

I actually do, I always loved cars - always loved speed and driving fast.  Through his love of cars, that activated it more.  Also, my dad was into hot cars.  In the sequel Toby was making when he died, I was going to star in it and he was going to let me drive some of the cars in the film.  I still drive the car that Toby had bought me for our wedding, a Rolls Royce Silver Spur.

What did you make of Toby’s passion when you first met him and have you come to an understanding of it since?

I understand even more so how he was able to do what he did then, because of his passion.  When he was filming the original he had the eye of a car buff, he knew how to fix them and knew how to drive them.  His handling of Eleanor and the filming helped it come alive for other car buffs. When he wrecked a Rolls Royce he really wrecked one, he really made it realistic and that’s what helped make it a cult classic.  That passion survives in the new one.

In addition to an impressive car collection, Toby also had an extensive, at one time the world’s largest, toy collection.  That seems out of place with the tough-guy image on screen.  Was Toby a kid at heart?

That’s where our relationship was.  He was very much a showman but our lives were very private and he was a little kid.  One of the first gifts I gave him was a teddy bear that when you would hug it, it would shake.  First thing he did was put it in a seat belt and drove around with it a bit. 

In addition to the movie, you’ve got a book coming out about Toby.  What was it like writing about both the legend and reality of this man you love and admire so much and what do you want people to take from your book?

There’s actually going to be more than one book.  On Toby, I want them to realize he’s a man that fulfilled his dream. It’s one thing to have a dream but another to be passionate and lucky enough to spend your life in pursuit of it.  Making thrilling  movies was both his business and his ruling passion. 

Images courtesy and © 2000 Touchstone Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer, Inc.