The Getaway (1972)
The Getaway is a 1970’s on the run action film, staring Steve McQueen as Doc and Ali MacGraw as his wife Carol, that uses the the drama and tension of bank heist gone wrong to frame a film about a couple who are struggling to find trust between each other.
Let’s be clear, this is a action movie first a foremost. This film has shoot outs, stunt driving, a great grifting sequence, and lots of narrow escapes. It’s a film that rarely lets our leads get comfortable in one place for too long. The sound design of the film only adds to the tension. Every click of a safe dial feels like the tick of a time bomb, every gunshot blast leaves you reeling, and the sounds of a crowded train station leaves you feeling nauseated by the idea that the mark could be anyone or anywhere. There is also a wonderful score by Quincy Jones that uses a harmonica as it’s foundation. The harmonica works so well, because it allows Jones to craft a score that feels perfect for a film like this. Blending the sounds of french love story, exploitation film, and a country western into something unique and emblematic of the story this film is trying to tell.
The most surprising thing about this movie, is the love story. I was not expecting this film to focus so much on the relationship between Carol and Doc, but it absolutely is the heart of the film. The two of them function, in an odd way, like a modern power couple. Each using their skills to help the other through the hardships of life. That being said, this film won’t win any feminist awards*. Doc’s skills are: brilliant tactician and being cool under pressure, while Carol’s skills are her beauty, her shopping prowess, and her ability to sleep with men if need be. What makes this film interesting, is the way Carol demands respect from Doc. She knows what he thinks about her and some of the choices she’s made in order to help him, but she doesn’t think any less of herself for doing it. She recognizes that they both have had to make sacrifices. What those sacrifices look like is different for each of them, but neither is any less vital to their eventual success. They way she refuses to allow him to accept another version of that story and his growth into recognizing their relationship as a true partnership feels earned.
Overall I think it’s a great time, and I think I need to watch more Steve McQueen.
Quick Notes:
- The film’s tagline is “They’re Hot”, speaking both about them being robbers and also because they are the hottest couple every to be on screen! Ali MacGraw is beautiful and Steve McQueen looks ruggedly handsome.
- There is a shot during a sequence at a train station, where McQueen disappears behind a luggage cart that is EPIC.
- McQueen makes eggs for his wife after his first night back from jail that is disgusting. Uncooked onions, runny scrambled eggs, and ketchup juice?
- Steve McQueen punches Sally Struthers straight in the mouth. Which is the second time he hits a lady in this movie.
- The way their bodies fall out of the garbage truck lolol.
