Steve McQueen (1930-1980) built a legendary acting career playing anti-establishment characters in memorable films like Bullitt, The Thomas Crown Affair, and The Getaway. In 1974 he finally passed a personal goal by becoming the highest paid Hollywood star (and top billing against friendly rival Paul Newman) with his turn in The Towering Inferno. But, at…
“When is a door not a door? When it’s ajar.” A simple riddle that I heard the first time I think on Doctor Who. Applying the same premise to literature we could just as well ask, “When is a James Bond novel not a James Bond novel?” The answer being ever since Ian Fleming died.…
The Getaway starts in prison. Scenes of star Steve McQueen running textile machines and clearing brush are filled out with real convicts from the Hunstsville, Texas, prison where they were shot, a fact that the viewer can intuit from the faces, movement, and body language of the men on-screen even without reading any of the…
“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” Stephen King– THE DARK TOWER 1 – THE GUNSLINGER Okay. Here’s the deal. I love a good book and I really enjoy watching a film on the big screen. Growing up in Yorkshire, going to the pictures was a treat you saved your…
