In his 1976 short film C’etait Un Rendezvous, French filmmaker Claude Lelouch had the bright idea to bolt a gyro-stabilized camera onto the bumper of a Ferrari 275 GTB and have his Formula 1 racer pal drive it – as fast as possible – through Paris at 5:30am, for just under nine minutes. Without stopping.

The viewer’s perspective is the driver’s, and the ride is a fast one. At times he reaches 140mph, leaving flabby Citroens and Peugeot taxis in the dust. It’s a sweeping view of the romantic city, starting at Porte Dauphine, passing by the Arc d’ Triomphe, which is framed like moving art through the dashboard, and speeding through the Louvre, exiting onto Rue de Rivoli without any clear vision of oncoming traffic. Throughout, the driver clearly disregards red lights, nearly hits buses and pedestrians, and goes the wrong way up more than a few one-way streets. Toward the end, the car scatters pigeons in a dark corner of an unknown arrondisement, with streets so narrow it’s unfathomable the guy doesn’t do himself in. Finally, he stops near the Basilica of Sacre Coeur, where a slinky blonde steps toward the vehicle. Mission accomplished.

When Lelouch first showed the film in public, he was promptly arrested (we didn’t mention, he failed to obtain a permit to do the movie). The thing went underground, and acquired cult status. Lelouche only enhanced that exclusivity by refusing to do interviews – causing a question as to whether the car’s even a Ferrari (some claim it’s a Mercedes-Benz). But the film recently resurfaced on DVD.

The film exudes an inherent style – for christ’s sake, it’s a Ferrari in Paris. But what really makes it elegant is its subtlety – namely, the lack of dashboard commentary. All you hear is engine noise, sensual in its growling rhythm. Sports car lovers will consider it foreplay.

See (and hear) It Here:

Get It:

Rendezvous, $30, amazon.com

Watch More:

For another top-quality piece of the '70s performance-car film genre - in much longer form - check out "Le Mans" (1971), in which Steve McQueen plays an American race-car driver zipping through France for the Le Mans race. It's sparsely elegant - with little in the way of dialogue or plot fluff; it's just purring engine sounds, idyllic French countryside, and sheer speed. $10, amazon.com

Make Your Own Movie Moment:

At Gotham Dream Cars, based in NYC, you can rent a Ferrari (they've got 3 different kinds) for $1,250 -$1,750 a day. Plenty of other exotic cars too (Lamborghini Gallardo, Aston Martin Vanquish, Porsche 811 Turbo Cabriolet - lots more). Weekend/weekly packages too. To rent, you have to be a member. Membership's free, but you gotta have a clean driving record. gothamdreamcars.com, or call (212) 957-4400.