It appears that Steve McQueen did most of his best work behind bars. Three of his most memorable roles, in my opinion, were "Papillon", "The Great Escape", and the film in question, "The Getaway".

Steve is the protagonist, and the film opens with him in the Texas State Penitentiary somewhere near San Antonio, working in the shop, going to a parole board hearing, being denied, sleeping, eating, exercising -- an endless routine of tedium.

Ali MacGraw is his wife, waiting outside for Steve to do his time. On a visit he simply tells her, Go see Benyon, I'm ready to make a deal. Benyon turns out to be a crooked politician (Ben Johnson) who, in return for a granting Steve's parole, gets to sleep with Ali, while Steve promises to do a big heist and cut him in on the profits. The parole goes through, Steve is released. Steve can't seem to forgive Ali for sleeping with the man, even though it was to get his parole. This provides tension throughout the film.

Steve puts together a gang to do the big job. The planning is meticulous, timed to the second. Steve is in control, but just barely. He recommends they wear bullet proof vests. You can sense the tensions between the various gang members, unstable characters whom Steve has difficulty trusting, but he needs them.

The heist goes off at a local bank. They get away with $500,000, but one of the robbers kills a guard. He (Bo Hopkins) and another robber (Al Lettieri) escape together. Al Lettieri distracts Bo, shoots him, and pushes him out of the speeding car. Steve and Ali escape in another car and go to the rendezvous point. Al Lettieri is already there. He's the one who scoffed at the bullet proof vests. Steve gets out of his car. Al pulls a gun and shoots at Steve, but Steve puts 5 rounds in him, finishing him with what appears to be a neck shot.

McQueen and Ali begin their getaway. As their car rapidly disappears, Al gets up takes off his coat and reveals he was wearing a bullet proof vest. The neck shot just creased him. He will live. He wants revenge, and he gets on Steve's trail, picking up a bimbo (Sally Struthers) on the way for entertainment.

From that point on, the movie follows Steve and Ali, as they try to escape from Texas down to Mexico. On the way, there are double crosses, attempted theft of the money, numerous car wrecks and shoot outs with the police and other thugs. At every turn, the police seem to be closer and closer to catching them and Steve and Ali are close to cracking.

The ending resolves the tensions, both personal between Steve and Ali, and the predicament of their getaway from the long arm of the law.

High Tension Action by a professional actor who didn't rely on special effects. Peckinpah's slow motion violence and jerky continuity are distractions from an otherwise fine film.

Steve McQueen fans will also like

Hell is for Heroes

The Great Escape

The Sand Pebbles



Recommended: Yes