Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool

Mycroft · Jun 23, 2005

Did anyone see this special on TCM, I thought it was disapointing and lacked substance, any thoughts?

Feraud · Jun 23, 2005

Mycroft said:
Did anyone see this special on TCM, I thought it was disapointing and lacked substance, any thoughts?

Yes, I saw it. I thought it was o.k. I think the lack of substance might have to do with the fact that perhaps McQueen was not as "cool" as he is being made out?

I really like Papillion and a couple of other films but I was never crazy about McQueen.

Eastwood is cool. So is Bogie, Joe Cotton, Cagney. These guys were cool! McQueen, I could take him or leave him...

Lana · Jun 24, 2005

Mycroft said:
Did anyone see this special on TCM, I thought it was disapointing and lacked substance, any thoughts?

I saw the special when it first aired around the first of the month. Those were my thoughts exactly....it was rather boring. I expected much more from the documentary. It was quite a downer compared to the excellent docs about Flynn and Thalberg that were previously aired on TCM.

Feraud · Jun 25, 2005

I know what you mean, Badluck Brody. I recently saw it too and did not like it as much as I used to! I like The Getaway more. McQueen's character had more personality in that film.

I am a big fan of Westerns but never liked The Magnificent Seven very much. To be fair, I probably owe it another viewing. I think The Seven Samurai raised the bar too high for "hired gun" (or sword) films for me.

Badluck Brody · Jun 25, 2005

You had to go with the Seven Samurai??!

Good one! I have to agree with you!!!

It's hard to beat an original! Plus after a while the Mag7 music gets to be too much!!

Never heard of The Getaway. So I'll have to check it out!

Brody

The Wingnut · Jun 26, 2005

McQueen doesn't do much talking in Bullitt. Lots of moving around, running, driving, so forth...the movies is more about the mystery than the man.

LeMans is a good flick for McQueen, and a good insight into one of the greatest eras in racing.

Flitcraft · Jun 26, 2005

Steve McQueen: Cool????

McQueen was very much aware of his shortcomings. He was wll known for trimming, rather than padding, his lines.
In Bullittt, he was supposed to lecture Robert Vaughn on morality, responsibility, etc. for about six pages. McQueen trimmed it down to "You work your side of the street, I'll work mine."
Bullitt does have a weak storyline, but at the time, the whole concept of a cop who sleeps with his girlfriend, wears turtlenecks and is a maverick, was pretty original. Now, its been done to death.

Feraud · Jun 26, 2005

Flitcraft said:
...the whole concept of a cop who sleeps with his girlfriend, wears turtlenecks and is a maverick, was pretty original. Now, its been done to death.

Correct on both accounts. The rebel cop thing has been done to death and Bullitt was probably the first to do it. Bullitt came along before Eastwood's 'Dirty' Harry Callahan.

Lord knows Steven Segal alone has put the nails in the coffin of the lone, uncorruptable cop doing things 'his own way' to enforce justice.

Flitcraft · Jun 26, 2005

You're right!
The unfortunate trajectory runs from Bullitt to French Connection , to Dirty Harry, to Starsky & Hutch, to Bad Lieutenant- with each progression worse than the one before.
At least with Bullitt, you felt McQueen was trying to do something novel.

El Jefe · Jul 5, 2005

Feraud said:
I am a big fan of Westerns but never liked The Magnificent Seven very much. To be fair, I probably owe it another viewing. I think The Seven Samurai raised the bar too high for "hired gun" (or sword) films for me.

I would definitely take The Professionals over TM7 for the Seven Samurai Old West Revision...

mmarosy · Jul 5, 2005

I saw the doc and also wished for more. I think McQueen is better in an ensemble cast. The Cooler King in The Great Escape is one of my favorite characters.. in one of my favorite movies. I stop and watch it every time I come across it.

What I found interesting about the McQueen documentary was hearing his personal recordings shortly before his death. I wish they would've done more with that, I think that would've made for a more sustantial biography.

The highlight of Bullitt for me has always been the car chase. The first to actually shoot a car chase at real speed, with a lot of the driving done by McQueen himself. I showed this chase to my daughter before we took a family trip out to San Francisco. While driving through the city, I asked her if she wanted me to do a "Steve McQueen" and got an enthusiastic response, so sped up a bit through the hills... which was interesting seeing as how the rental was a F150 truck... not optimal for seeing the top of hills over the hood.

... if you do watch the rest of Bullitt, try counting how many times they pass the VW bug during the car chase.

Mike

Michaelson · Jul 5, 2005

mmarosy said:
... if you do watch the rest of Bullitt, try counting how many times they pass the VW bug during the car chase.

Mike

The chase is the ONLY thing I tend to watch when the movie is on. Oh, I just thought there were that many VW's in Francisco at the time, weren't there?

Of all the muscle cars I've been around, and even though I've been a MOPAR man all these years, I'd LOVE to own a exact example of the Mustangs he drove in this movie...that is if I could own just one muscle car of that era. Regards! Michaelson

Quigley Brown · Jul 5, 2005

The hospital emergency room scene is very dramatic....more realistic than any ER episode.

HaraldTheSwede · Jul 6, 2005

Michaelson said:
I'd LOVE to own a exact example of the Mustangs he drove in this movie...that is if I could own just one muscle car of that era.

Me I'd much rather have the Dodge Charger (or was it a Challenger? I forget).

mmarosy · Jul 6, 2005

No, I'm with Michaelson on this one. This movie started my love for mustangs. I'm currently trying to convince my wife that when it comes time to turn in the Taurus, we need to replace it with one of the new "retro" mustangs. Unfortunately I wasn't quick thinking enough when she asked if they'd come in automatic. I quickly answered 'sure.... uh wait, I mean no, they'd never be an auto..." and to her "too late, I'd get to drive it"... "Dang."

Mike

Michaelson · Jul 6, 2005

It was a Charger. I used to walk past a Dodge/Plymouth dealership everyday on my way to high school, and drooled over those Chargers when they were sitting in a line on the lot. I'm still not a hard core Mustang man, but that particular car that McQueen drove just screamed power, and yet was completely hidden by it's unassuming design and color. My kind of musclecar...no one notices it until you step on the pedal. (grins) Regards! Michaelson

Feraud · Jul 6, 2005

When I was a teen, my first car was a 1973 Charger. Oh, the love! I could kick myself for ever getting rid of it!

I have an '03 Mustang but love the '05 retro models. They are sharp lookin' cars!!

Michaelson · Jul 6, 2005

Feraud said:
When I was a teen, my first car was a 1973 Charger. Oh, the love! I could kick myself for ever getting rid of it!

Hind sight being 20/20, no need to be hard on yourself. How were WE to know they'd become the icons they have become today?

Regards! Michaelson

jamespowers · Jul 6, 2005

Feraud said:
When I was a teen, my first car was a 1973 Charger. Oh, the love! I could kick myself for ever getting rid of it!

I have an '03 Mustang but love the '05 retro models. They are sharp lookin' cars!!

You could paint up the charger to look like the Dukes of Hazzard.

My wife has a 1973 Mach 1. It is interesting how style comes back around.

Regards to all,

J

Lana · Jul 7, 2005

Feraud said:
I have an '03 Mustang but love the '05 retro models. They are sharp lookin' cars!!

Oh I definitely agree about the new Mustangs. I'm waiting in anticipation for my chance to buy one. It's too bad though, the Mustangs have been selling out fast around here.

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