The Getaway (1972)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Sam Peckinpah

Writers:

Walter Hill (screenplay)
Jim Thompson (novel)

Release Date:

13 joulukuu 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

They're Hot - McQueen/MacGraw

Plot:

A recently released ex-con and his loyal wife go on the run after a heist goes awry.

Plot Keywords:

Heist | On The Run | Cuckold | Mask | Veterinarian

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win

Cast

Steve McQueen	...	Doc McCoy
Ali MacGraw	...	Carol McCoy
Ben Johnson	...	Jack Beynon
Sally Struthers	...	Fran Clinton
Al Lettieri	...	Rudy Butler
Slim Pickens	...	Cowboy
Richard Bright	...	The Thief
Jack Dodson	...	Harold Clinton
Dub Taylor	...	Laughlin
Bo Hopkins	...	Frank Jackson
Roy Jenson	...	Cully
John Bryson	...	The Accountant
Bill Hart	...	Swain
Tom Runyon	...	Hayhoe
Whitney Jones	...	The Soldier

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 (re-rating, uncut) | USA:PG (cut) | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:16 | France:-12 | Norway:16 (cut) (1973) | Norway:18 (uncut) | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | Germany:16 (re-rating) | Italy:VM14 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:18 (nf) | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

El Paso, Texas, USA

Company:

First Artists

Trivia:

While Ali MacGraw appeared in this film, her husband Robert Evans was producing The Godfather (1972). Cast members Richard Bright and Al Lettieri appeared in both films.

Goofs:

Continuity: Doc and Carol are stuck in the garbage truck at night. However, some shots of the vehicle's pneumatics show clear blue sky in the background.

Quotes:

Carter 'Doc' McCoy: If you're trying to get me back in Huntsville, you're going about it the right way.
Carol Ainsley McCoy: Well I just wouldn't worry about that Doc, becasue I can always get you out, you know I can screw every prison official in Texas if I have to!
Carter 'Doc' McCoy: Texas is a big state.
Carol Ainsley McCoy: I can handle it.
Carter 'Doc' McCoy: Yeah, I bet you can.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Ally McBeal: The Getaway (#4.16)" (2001)

Well-Crafted Heist Flick!

Not one of S. Peckinpah's masterworks but one hell of a crime thriller. Steve McQueen is perfect as the cool, professional Doc and although Ali MacGraw (Steve's next wife) is breezily gorgeous she doesn't have the chops to make her character (Carol) too believable. Al Lettieri is creepier than he was in THE GODFATHER and Richard Bright (THE GODFATHER as well) has a nice bit as a small-timer. Ben Johnson has credibility as does Dub Taylor later. Throw in authentic Western icon Slim Pickens and you have a nice Southwest crime drama.

A 7 out of 10. Best performance = Steve McQueen. He's very good with weapons and cars as he earlier proved. THE WILD BUNCH and STRAW DOGS are Peckinpah's masterpieces, but this is well worth a trip to the movies! Junior Bonner (a totally different type of sensibility) is also a fine film.