The Getaway (1972): 7.5/10

‘The King of Cool’ Steve McQueen stars in this film next to Ali MacGraw. McQueen is the focus as Doc McCoy, a professional con artist serving a ten-year prison sentence. MacGraw plays his wife, Carol McCoy. To get released early, he cuts a deal with the corrupt parole chief, Jack Beynon, to buy off his release. In return, Doc and Carol must rob a bank. The kicker, of course, is the two must work with Beynon’s men. The robbery doesn’t go as planned, and the two end up in a hot pursuit by the police and Beynon’s men for the stolen loot.

‘The Getaway’ is about double-crossing, car chases, shootouts, and fast-paced action underneath it all. The cinematography, tight editing, and direction stand out. McQueen’s cool and natural screen presence once again comes through with flying colors. As a former U.S. Marine, he had a way of handling guns and doing many of his own stunts, both of which were apparent here. MacGraw doesn’t have a lot of lines, but her acting was good. She learned how to shoot guns and drive. Those two run the show from start to finish, reminding me of another getaway film ‘Bonnie and Clyde’, which came first in the 1960s. The car chases were entertaining in typical McQueen style. Interestingly, McQueen and MacGraw had an affair during the filming of Getaway, and the two ended up marrying. MacGraw’s former husband was an executive who cast her here, and she leaves him for the star. McQueen didn’t have many movies remaining because he died in 1980 from cancer at the prime of his career.

Would I recommend this? Probably yes, but I don’t consider it a must-watch. I don’t believe most action films nowadays are as entertaining as in previous decades. They don’t have the same feel.