The Getaway (Deluxe Edition) Reviews

• The definitive action film

  
  By A2UHPTUFMLQWBE on 2004-11-23
  This film has it all, and I cannot understand those who say it hasn't aged well. It's a great bank robbery film. It's a great prison film. It's a great chase film. It's a great love story. It fires on all cylinders. The depth and complexity of the story and the performances are peerless. It's a sprawling tale over several days, with many important and complex characters, all of whom you feel you know with some depth. Even the small roles are standouts, including Ben Johnson as the crooked sherriff, and Dub Taylor in what should have been a throwaway piece playing a hotel clerk. The only weak spot for me over the years is Ali McGraw who, although beautiful and believable, seems to be playing it so minimalist that she becomes nearly transparent. But that's a small nit to pick - her by-play with McQueen is spot on. When I saw it for the first time the first thought that came into my mind was "these kids really look and act MARRIED..." which is a tough bit of business to play. Their violent love for one another is the undercurrent here, their desire to simply be left alone, to make it in life, to get away from their problems.
  
  The artistry is in the details, in the small brush strokes - the way McQueen holds and uses his .45 automatic are perfect. He is definitely more than just another actor handed a pistol and said "Here, hold this..." Slim Pickens has a tiny gem of a role at the end and in a few brief sentences we learn volumes about his sweet, sad life, and cheer his good fortune for running into our heroes. The Sherriff's flunky sidekicks provide some honest humor, all big cowboy hats and beer guts crammed into a Cadillac convertible.
  
  McQueen was such an artist, and this is a real masterpiece of his almost haiku way of acting. He's the master of the small gesture, the subtle glance, the deadpan line that just turns you cold inside. What a shame he left us so soon. The Getaway stands as a real testament to his genius.
  
  

• "Don't get any blood on me...I hate blood."

  
  By A25ZVI6RH1KA5L on 2005-07-23
  Unpredictable, volatile, abrasive, and the only man Charlton Heston ever threaten on a set of a movie (Major Dundee)...I'm talking about `Bloody' Sam Peckinpah...love him or hate him, the man knew how to tell a story, one that could entertain not only the average film patron with loads of action and violence, but also the haughty, oft-times snobby film critics with his thoughtful and insightful characterizations...actually, I think these same, snobby critics actually got off secretly on being able to enjoy the more visceral elements of his films while still being able to tout them on a cerebral level...like a guilty pleasure without the guilt. But that's not to say Peckinpah's films were always critically accepted...I know his film Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974) took a beating, but I enjoyed the hell out of it, in all its glorious dirty, sweaty, dust-caked, fly-ridden seediness...based on a novel by Jim Thompson (The Grifters) and adapted for the screen by Walter Hill (The Warriors, 48 Hrs.), The Getaway (1972) stars Steve McQueen (The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape), the man many believe to be the penultimate in machismo and cool, on and off the screen. Co-starring with McQueen is the very beautiful Ali MacGraw (Love Story, Convoy), who became so enamored with her co-star she actually left her husband at the time, movie producer Robert Evans, to be with McQueen, and thus gave up the opportunity to star in several high profile films like Chinatown (1974) and The Great Gatsby (1974)...yes, the lure of the McQueen is a strong one...also appearing is Peckinpah favorite Ben Johnson (Major Dundee, The Wild Bunch, Junior Bonner), quintessential heavy Al Lettieri (The Godfather, Mr Majestyk), Sally Struthers (Five Easy Pieces), whose most recent work include the tearful pleas to feed the starving children (which would probably be a lot more effective if she wasn't so heavyset...there I said it), Slim Pickens (Blazing Saddles), Richard Bright (The Godfather), `Rub a Dub' Dub Taylor (The Wild Bunch), Jack `Howard Sprague' Dodson ("The Andy Griffith Show"), and Bo 'Knows' Hopkins (The Wild Bunch, White Lightning).
  
  The film begins with scenes of a Texas prison, focusing on one inmate in particular, that of Carter 'Doc' McCoy (McQueen), who's in his fourth year a ten-year stretch for bank robbery. After being denied parole, Doc agrees to cut a deal with a politically powerful and corrupt individual named Jack Beynon (Johnson), who just happens to also be a member of the parole board (that's convenient). The deal involves, on being released from prison, that McCoy pull a bank job for Beynon, which he does, and while McCoy's meticulous planning nets the robbers a large amount of cash, things quickly fall apart as there's a couple of jokers in the deck (one of them being one of the men McCoy got saddled with by Beynon), and the double cross is in, but McCoy isn't going down without a struggle, and he's certainly not going back to the joint. Now McCoy and his wife Carol (MacGraw) must make their way to El Paso with the money, avoiding capture by the authorities (by this time McCoy's face is plastered all over the news), Beynon's trigger-happy goons, and one of the aforementioned jokers, all in a effort to make it safely across the border into Mexico.
  
  While not my favorite Peckinpah film (I've always been partial to The Wild Bunch), The Getaway is still an excellent film with strong themes and just an all around entertaining story, assisted by superior cast. One thing I've noticed about Peckinpah is his ability to relate important aspects of story through visual means, carefully crafted shots and sequences, and make it look easy. A perfect example in this movie is the opening sequences with McQueen's character in prison. We learn much about him, and feel a sense of the frustration and oppressive nature of his incarceration on his mental well-being to where desperation finally pushes him to the point of doing something he would normally wouldn't in that of working for Beynon. Of course, this wouldn't have worked as well with out McQueen playing the role, as his presence is the strong point throughout the film. I've heard some comment of MacGraw's acting abilities (or lack of), but I think this was just a case of having to share the screen with McQueen, and who could complete with that? Not many...I think she did really well, avoiding some over dramatic pitfalls others would have succumbed to in the role...and then there's supporting cast and the sense they were truly hand picked for their roles, providing, complex, distinctive, and believable characters. I've also heard complaints about how the story drags at certain points, and the action sequences uneven and too short, but I'd disagree. I thought the strength was in the quiet moments before the storm, the pacing intentional, to allow for the audience to develop an understanding of the characters and see them not as two-dimensional constructs but living, breathing individuals willing to do what they have in order to get what they want...to me, the action sequences, while certainly a draw for me to this film, were a part of a much larger piece. There were a couple of really interesting aspects about this movie for me, one being that while Peckinpah's trademark usage of slow motions shots during the violent sequences is present, it seemed a little toned down from some of his other films, but that wasn't a bad thing. The 2nd aspect was the sort of upbeat ending, which was a real departure given that many of Peckinpah's films are permeated with fatalistic characters draw down inevitable paths of self-destruction. Some scenes to watch for...Steve McQueen going to town with a shotgun...oh yeah, kiss that squad car good-bye (quite a few cars were killed in the making of this film)...Steve McQueen slugging Sally Struthers in the mouth...hey, you can't have a Peckinpah film without a little misogyny, and while I would never advocate the use of violence against a woman, I doubt there'd be few who wouldn't agree that her highly annoying (and fairly sleazy) character was somewhat deserving...all in all this is a great film (much better than the 1994 Kim Bassinger/Alec Baldwin remake, in my opinion), with an exceptional script, acting, and direction, one that entertained me throughout, and reaffirms my belief of the possibilities of the cinema when in the hands of people who know (or knew) what they're doing...
  
  The picture, presented in widescreen anamorphic (2.40:1), enhanced for 16 X 9 televisions, looks sharp and clean, and the Dolby Digital 1.0 audio comes through very well. The `Deluxe Edition', which is the one I have, has a few extra features in that of a commentary track with producer Nick Redman, and Peckinpah biographers/historians Paul Seydor, Garner Simmons, and David Weddle. Also included is an original theatrical trailer, along with a `virtual' audio commentary track with Sam Peckinpah, Steve McQueen, and Ali MacGraw that consists of 1972 audio interview material from the three, spliced together and played over the film.
  
  Cookieman108
  
  
  

• McQueen back in action

  
  By A29QA79VLQGHY6 on 2007-03-10
  Just checked out Warner's upcoming duo of Steve McQueen classics on HD-DVD -- "Bullitt" and "The Getaway." This is big news in guysville: Hand us a Steve McQueen action flick in a trick new video format and life is very, very good.
  
  It's hard to watch the old DVDs after seeing the high-def, but as with most older films processed for HD, there are a few issues.
  
  These movies come from a dicey period for film stock, especially "The Getaway," so they don't have the punch, pop and clarity of, say, older Technicolor titles like "Mutiny on the Bounty." Skin tones tend to be ruddy, contrasts are jacked up and some detail is lost to the darker bias. On "The Getaway," the audio sounds over processed, like when the amp goes to 11 -- I almost prefer the DVD version's sonics. The HD "Bullitt" audio nails it, though -- warm, realistic voices, great environmental detail, big bangs.
  
  These are quibbles because an A-B comparison is no contest at all. The old DVDs look flat and lifeless compared with the HD-DVDs. And they were decent DVDs, special editions from just a year ago. (Both of these high-def discs port over the extras from the latest DVDs. "Bullitt" has an additional extra about editing for 1080p HD. "Getaway" add several more bonus features about the movie.)
  
  Now that the studios have run through a lot of the easy-sell titles, we can expect more and more cool HD titles like these.
  
  

• "The Getaway" hasn't aged well...

  
  By A109WIE49N0GV on 2004-07-24
  Being a big fan of both Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw, I recently got the DVD of "The Getaway." I was largely disappointed in the film -- it looks and feels very dated. Visually, I suppose it was meant to seem innovative at the time, but it looks like a lot of the bad movie-making of the early '70s now. And the soundtrack by Quincy Jones is remarkably amateurish-sounding.
  
  My biggest complaint, however, is with the pacing of the film. The action sequences are top-notch, but when it slows down, it gets REALLY slow. It shifts gears this way several times, going from edge-of-your-seat excitement to falling-asleep boredom.
  
  This film had potential that it failed to live up to, and although the actors in it are superb, they are not directed well. Check out "The Thomas Crown Affair" or "The Great Escape" for far better McQueen.
  
  

• I'm having a bloody mary, please.

  
  By A25XGZX0YRTJKN on 2005-09-07
  Sorry, I couldn't resist the title.
  
  Most people think Bullett is Steve McQueen's best. I think The Getaway is much better. Well, no accounting for tastes, is there?
  
  The Getaway is a gritty, realistic view of 'Doc' McCoy (Steve McQueen) as a professional bank robber. Released early from prison by virtue (or lack thereof) his wife, Carol (Ali McGraw), Doc immediately plans another hold up as part of the conditions of his release. During the course of events he meets several unsavory charactors who seem intent on his destruction. The highlight of the film is a shoot out in a southwestern hotel with machinegun toting gangsters and a vengeful Rudy (former bank job partner and all around not-nice guy). Steve is trying to make his getaway using a 12 guage as the door. The movie is directed by Sam Peckinpah -- need I say more?
  
  The movie is low key, as Steve tends to be, but packs a punch in its realism. This could actually happen, one thinks. Several small plots underlie the main one of a getaway into Mexico w/ the stolen money. Steve turns in a outstanding performance as the anti-hero and has you cheering each time he eludes his pursuers once again.
  
  Certainly a good evenings entertainment and well worth the investment if you collect movies (if you don't, just rent it from the local Blockbuster). This might be a bit violent for younger kids, but teens should take to it just fine.
  
  --Highly Recommended--
  
  ~P~
  
  
• Pulp Fiction at its most authentic
  By A319SKSB556033 on 2007-03-09
  I'm not so familiar with Sam Peckinpah's career as I have only seen this and The Osterman Weekend (which I hated) but you can tell from his style that he has certainly influenced a lot of modern day directors. The perfect widescreen photography, quick editing (but not a blur, I should add) and dramatic use of slow-motion give the action in The Getaway an authentic edge. And all done on a low-budget too.
  
  Adapted from a Jim Thompson novel by Walter Hill (his macho characteristics are all in there), the story has newly-freed jailbird Carter McCoy forced into a bank robbery by crime boss Jack Benyon. He's also forced to work with rank amateur Frank and psychotic renegade Rudy. You can tell that this dost not bode well.
  
  Rudy goes haywire, killing everyone in sight but is soon put out of action by McCoy, who then legs it across country with his cheating wife (the lovely Ali McGraw) and a bag full of simoleons. Down, but not out, Rudy follows him, as well as several associates of the recently deceased Jack Benyon, not to mention loads of cops.
  
  The film is basically one action scene after the other but it doesn't pretend to be anything other than tough-guy entertainment. I find it bizarre that this film is rated PG in America and the exact same version is rated 18 in the UK. But the blood effects in the film are pretty damn fake so it does take it out of reality a little bit. Plus there are no (audible) F-words and the nudity is minimum and quick.
  
  I saw the 1994 remake first and while it's passable it's not really as rustic and straight-forward as this. It was quite a pointless film and virtually identical, shot-for-shot. Everything that The Getaway has to offer is done best in this one. Unpretenious fun indeed.
  
  The HD DVD sports a brilliant 2.4:1 1080p transfer with Dolby Digital Plus Mono sound and loads of cool extras including an alternate music track featuring Jerry Fielding's rejected score.
  
  
• STEVE MCQUEEN's GREAT GETAWAY!!!
  By A3GXYU5MZX5SXC on 2007-04-10
  THE HD DVD transfer for the 1972 version of The Getaway is excellent. Very sharp and color saturated. The soundtrack could have been improved beyond the 2 channel by adding some surround effects which are few to none. Some friends have reported some sound synchronization issues in chapter 13 when played in the second generation TOSHIBA HD players. Hopefully this will be corrected with the firmware update already available from TOSHIBA.
  By the way, the aspect ratio for this film is 2.35:1 and NOT 1.85:1 as advertised.
  Overall, a very good enjoyable addition to the HD collection.
  
  
• He didn't make it. Neither did you!
  By A2D8CUJPOSRPNA on 2001-10-06
  If one is just sick and tired of the mindless bloodbaths that action films have become, just take a look at THE GETAWAY, the tremendous 1972 action film from a master director in the form, the late Sam Peckinpah.

  Steve McQueen stars as Doc McCoy, a bank robber sitting out the years in Hunstville State Prison in Texas who is given his parole, but with a string attached: By order of the parole board chairman (Ben Johnson), he must pull off a bank robbery and, with any luck, not get anyone in the bank killed. The robbery, as initially pulled off by two associates (Al Lettieri, Bo Hopkins) goes fine...until an injured guard reaches for his pistol, and Hopkins has to shoot.

  This sets off a series of close calls for both McQueen and his wife (Ali MacGraw). Hopkins is killed by Lettieri during their escape; and McQueen, realizing this (when Lettieri tells him, "He (Hopkins) didn't make it. Neither did you."), wounds Lettieri. But after Johnson is killed by MacGraw, McQueen learns that the two were sleeping together, spawning a mutual lack of trust that goes for a good deal of the film.

  Johnson's henchmen and Lettieri are both after the pair; and this results in a stunning gun battle at the Laughlin Hotel (run by Peckinpah stalwart Dub Taylor) in El Paso. After killing their foes, McQueen and MacGraw get an old-timer (Slim Pickens) to drive them across the border into Mexico.

  Peckinpah's assmebling of the action scenes is far superior than almost any of his imitators. The explosions of bloody violence that were part-and-parcel of THE WILD BUNCH and STRAW DOGS are not in as great abundance here, but there is enough so that the 'PG' rating could be upped to 'PG-13'. McQueen is as good as always, and I didn't have the same problem that a lot of others seem to have with MacGraw. Quincy Jones also provides a good score (though that score was put in at McQueen's insistence [his company First Artists distributed the film] over the one done by Peckinpah favorite Jerry Fielding).

  A top-notch film, infinitely superior to the 1994 remake, THE GETAWAY was Peckinpah's most financially successful movie of all time; and the end result shows why.
  
  

• Very good realistic action flik
  By A2Q13PHEXGR48Q on 2003-10-05
  The Getaway is a good action movie that pairs Steve McQueen and director Sam Peckinpah for the first time. Bank robber Doc McCoy is released from prison with the help of a crooked politician with one catch. He must rob a bank and split what he takes with him. The bank heist goes wrong when one of McCoy's partners shoots a bank guard. Soon after, McCoy learns that his wife slept with the politician to get him out early from prison. From here on in it is a mad dash for Mexico with all the stolen money while the politician's henchmen and the police are in hot pursuit as well as another one of McCoy's partners. This is a very realistic movie that shows it like it is. The short introduction in prison, the bank heist, the chase through Texas, and the final shootout in a seedy hotel all have a very gritty feel to them that adds the sense of realism in the film. Also, the showdown in the hotel is very well put together. What a surprise, Sam Peckinpah doing a good action scene.

  Steve McQueen stars as bank robber Doc McCoy and is very good. Like many of his movies, he doesn't have to act much, he just has to be cool, and he doesn't disappoint here. Ali McGraw plays Doc's wife Carol. Many people think she is a bad actress, but I don't think she is that bad in this role. Ben Johnson stars as the crooked politician with alterior motives, and is his usual good self. The Getaway also stars Al Lettieri as McCoy's partner in hot pursuit, Bo Hopkins, Sally Struthers, Peckinpah regular Dub Taylor, and in a small but very good role as a down on his luck cowboy, Slim Pickens. The DVD offers widescreen and fullscreen presentation, a theatrical trailer, behind the scenes info, and Reel Recommendations. The Getaway is a very good movie with an excellent cast and good storyline. It is too bad McQueen and Peckinpah did not work together more often since The Getaway and Junior Bonner were such good films. Fans of McQueen will enjoy this gritty action movie. Go check out The Getaway!
  
  

• Almost
  By A26JGAM6GZMM4V on 2004-04-01
  Knowing that this film was directed by Sam Peckinpah, we expect violence...and plenty of it. It's there to be sure but what is (to me) most intriguing is the relationship between Doc (Steve McQueen) and Carol (Ali MacGraw) McCoy who struggle to extricate themselves from the Mob even as they agree to one last bank robbery. (Off-screen, their love affair ruined her marriage to Robert Evans whose studio was involved with producing this film.) There are numerous nasty moments. Also, remarkably, several humorous and sometimes playful moments as when Doc joyously jumps into a lagoon. Members of the supporting cast are first-rate, notably Ben Johnson (Jack Benyon), Al Lettieri (Rudy), and Sally Struthers (Fran Clinton). Based on Jim Thompson's novel The Getaway, this film really doesn't follow any specific formula. (Peckinpah's films never do.) It evolves logically but casually from one situation to the next. However, there are unexpected developments and complications along the way, notably Rudy's kidnapping of a staid veterinarian and his sexually unfulfilled wife. Credit Walter Hill for an especially literate screenplay as well as Lucien Ballard for his contributions as cinematographer and Quincy Jones as composer of the music score. Director, cast, and crew have created an especially entertaining film, comparable with Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Badlands (1973), and The Gauntlet (1977). Almost (not quite) a great film. One man's opinion.
  
  
• Peckinpah Under Control
  By on 2004-05-02
  I'd rate this film Peckinpah's second best, next to "Ride the High Country." He places his gifts as a technical master at the service of the plot instead of vice versa and the result is a genuinely intriguing crime drama. Bank-buster McQueen is mortgaged out of prison by his wife's infidelity with a parole board member, who also demands another robbery to clear the debt. The performance that stands out is that of Al Lettieri, McQueen's associate turned enemy. He really shines in a supporting role as a determined sociopath.
  
  
• One of the best action films from this era!
  By A315K47GRB024C on 2005-08-23
  This review is for the 2005 Warner Brothers DVD.
  
  The movie opens in a Texas prison where Doc McCoy (Steve McQueen) is doing time for armed robbery. He is denied parole and has to come to terms that the only way to get out early is to bribe a prison board member, Jack Beynon (Ben Johnson) by indulging him with sexual favors with McCoy's wife Carol (Ali McGraw). The dirty deed is done and McCoy is then paroled, but Beynon coerces Doc into doing one major bank job with a collection of other crooks that Beynon has assembled. This sets up a big heist with several twists and turns along the way for an action packed film.
  
  I've seen just about all of McQueen's movies and this is my favorite. First, I like the opening scenes in a real Texas prison. The guards and other prisoners aren't actors - they are the real deal. This rest of the movie is shot in Texas also. I don't recall seeing a single scene that appeared to be made in a Hollywood backlot. The plot of this movie is original. It's more than just a bank robbery and car chases. There are a series of interesting confrontations and slick double-crosses that add a lot of pizzazz to the film. The street-smart character of Doc McCoy played by McQueen is what sets this apart from most action films. His uncanny knack of figuring out what's going on and eluding his advisories is what makes it an extra special movie. Ali McGraw is beautiful, but her acting is suspect at times. Sally Struthers gives a wonderful performance as a ditzy, yet too sympathetic hostage. Slim Pickens also does a stellar job as an older, but very spirited cowboy.
  
  As for the DVD, the widescreen color presentation is near pristine. The stereo audio quality is excellent. There are plenty of commentary features on this DVD.
  
  
  Movie: A-
  
  DVD Quality: A-
  
  
• "Punch it, baby!"
  By AVCRD98TH48RN on 2004-03-24
  What makes this movie work is the great chemistry between Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw. Both are solid here, as is the direction from Sam Peckinpah. The best scenes here are the action sequences. The car chases are well-staged and edited sharply to maintain intensity, and the shoot-outs are classic Peckinpah, with slow-motion cuts edited with real-time gun-play and the blood splatters everywhere. Yes! My favorite Peckinpah film is still "The Wild Bunch," where his style of filmmaking affected all action films that followed. In "The Getaway," for the most part, the story and plotting are good, except for a few scenes I just can't get around. One is at the bank robbery when one of the robbers disarms the security guard and leaves the gun a couple of feet away from him laying on the floor. You should be able to guess what happens there. The second is why did Harold exit the movie like he did. I won't give away the scene, but it made no sense other than to rid the plot of a superfluous character. The third and final head-shaker is when the two lead characters are being sought by the police. They stop at a drive-in for burgers and coffee even after they hear on the radio a description of their vehicle, and that the police are on the lookout for it. The last criticism is that this film screams 1970s. From the mutton-chops to the gritty texture of the movie there is little doubt as to what decade this came from. However, the two lead actors carry the movie with excellent performances, and Sam Peckinpah's work here is among his best. His style of filmmaking may have been emulated and improved upon over the course of the ensuing decades, but his original vision started the revolution.
  
  
• Not Peckinpah's best
  By A742NFYPDU2P on 2006-09-12
  Doc McCoy (Steve McQueen) has been granted parole by a man named Beynon under the condition that he robs a bank! Thats story idea behind this Peckinpah film. It moves along fairly slowly, until about halfway through when there is a chase scene inside a train. That was far and away the best part of the movie. Then the pace slows down again and continues that way pretty much until the end of the picture.
  
  Ali MacGraw is gorgeous but her acting is not. She doesn't show a moment of emotion in the whole film, and her line delivery is just plain bad. You would think that since she was actually in a real life relationship with McQueen at the time they would have some sort of on screen chemistry, but alas that is not the case.
  
  Steve McQueens acting, as you might expect is a little better but I think he was held back by the dialog. There isn't a lot of dialog, but when there is it isn't all that impressive or important.
  
  I found the sub-plot to be one of the most interesting parts of the movie. It involves a mans wife falling in love(?) with Rudy, the other criminal who is hunting down McQueen. Rudy forces a doctor and his wife to bandage up his shoulder and then forces them both to drive him to Texas. At first the wife seems to like Rudy but you think "She is just trying to lull him into a false sense of security" but then as the film goes on you see that is not the case. The fact that a woman falls in love with a bad bad man is nothing new, but to do so enthusiastically and almost defiantly in front of the man who loves you is just a horrible thing to do to someone and I found it to be the most poignant part of the entire film. I can't say as I blame the husband for his reaction.
  
  This isn't Peckinpahs best film. Apparently McQueen, who was a big star at the time, had a lot of sway over how the film was written, edited, and even scored; so maybe it isn't really Peckinpahs fault. Apparently he disowned the film after he saw the final cut. That may have been wise.
  
  My rating: 3 out of 5
  
  
• The Getaway
  By on 1999-12-18
  I have not seen this movie in quite a long time, but i watched it last night and a really enjoyed the chemistry between McGraw and McQueen and the action you dont see in very many movies today, i also enjoyed the other chracters in the movie, along with Ali's simple beauty.
  
  
• Ten times better than "Bonnie and Clyde!!"
  By on 1999-10-05
  I always thought "Bonnie and Clyde" was good- this movie is way better. It's terrific! It has become one of my favorite movies. Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw are the perfect couple in this exciting film. It shows their love for one another, which followed off-screen, and their exciting, thrilling adventure. I also see Sally Struthers in a new light, after seeing her in this movie. Her performance is good, and adds to the film. Quincy Jones' score adds the magic touch. This movie keeps me interested, and even makes me laugh in parts. You can easily tell it was filmed in my home state, Texas. The prison scenes are very real. It's a very entertaining movie- a love story, and dangerous, exciting adventure, at the same time. I can't get enough of it!
  
  
• Peckinpah.
  By on 1999-09-10
  "Bad Sam" makes quite a few points in this yarn about a bank robber and his wife who heist a bank and get set up. Sam's theories about women, as discussed in some of his interviews, show up in Sally Struther's character. There's plenty of good old all American violence here, although a lot of it seems directed at things (like police cars) than people at least some of the time.

  A bang-up ending, and even a pretty good scene with Slim Pickins, and heck, you've got a modern western.

  Much more a guy flick than a kid or date flick.
  
  

• McQueen / MacGraw flee a Texas bank robbery gone wrong...
  By A1D2Z6UOCT9456 on 2000-11-21
  Adapted from the Jim Thompson novel of the same name, "The Getaway" script was originally suggested to McQueen by his then wife, Neile as a strong action vehicle to please McQueen's fans looking for Steve to play another moody, rebellious anti-hero.

  And a good choice it was....controversial director Sam Peckinpah again produced his unique chemistry with this violent, fast moving film about Texas bank robber Carter "Doc" McCoy (McQueen) paroled from prison with the help of corrupt politician Jack Benyon (Ben Johnson). McCoy and his wife Carol (MacGraw) must then rob a bank for Benyon with the assistance of Rudy Butler & Frank Jackson (Al Lettieri & Bo Hopkins). However, an intended double cross is soon evident and Doc & Carol McCoy are then running for their lives to Mexico with $750,000 in stolen money, with the injured Rudy Butler, and Jack Benyons vicious henchmen in hot pursuit.

  And those on screen sparks between McQueen & MacGraw are real, contributed to by their torrid off-screen romance that would eventually see them become husband and wife !

  McQueen was at his on-screen toughest since his role in "Bullitt"(1968) and certain scenes (such as where McCoy shoots up a police car with a pump action shotgun in slow motion) were inserted at Steve's request, because he felt that's what his fans wanted to see !!

  The quality of this DVD is very good, with only some minor dissapointments in the sound area. If you are a McQueen fan...then "The Getaway" DVD definitely belongs in your collection !
  
  

• Love and betrayal, greed and violence.
  By A1U52BQJG7MILK on 2006-02-08
  This film has many layers.
  
  It is one of the best action movies ever made. It is full of graphic beatings, intimidation, sexual sadism, shootings, fires and car crashes. The Texas prison guards and police look real and mean business. The criminals look and act like real criminals - seedy, ignorant, brutal, and callous. When Beynon (whose name in pronounced "Benyan" throughout the movie) is found dead his brother orders his henchmen not to waste time burying the body, saying "dump it down a dry well, if you can find one." McQueen handles the 12 gauge shotgun and .45 Government Model pistol adroitly as befits an ex-Marine and the shoot-outs are very believable. The wounds look real, the dead people look dead. In reality, two people could not survive such a series of violent encounters unscathed, but it's a movie, so they do. Such is the magic of film that we believe it all happens just as we see it.
  
  It's a portrait of life in a certain time and place, Texas in the early 1970's. The background scenes are very unselfconscious and natural - the accents, the heat, the mesquite, and barbecue, the open and friendly manner of Texans. The extras seem to have been there all along, living their lives; the camera just happens to catch them as they respond to the whirlwind of violence that rolls into town with McQueen and MacGraw.
  
  It's the story of a strong sexual relationship between two very attractive people. It is not surprising that Steve and Ali became sexually involved off the screen and eventually married. The chemistry is obvious and clearly communicated, even though the standards of the time did not require the sexual explicitness that we have become accustomed to these days.
  
  It is an exceptionally well made film. Every frame hold one's interest. In fact, Peckinpah's mastery of the visual aspect of film is such that each PART of each frame holds one's interest.
  
  The plot is intriguing. How is "Doc" going to get out of prison, and how is he going to rob the bank, and who is going to betray whom, and how? And how are he and "Carol" going to finally get to Mexico? Only the ending has a false ring. "Doc" and "Carol" are ruthless criminals in spite of their good looks and classy clothes, but we prefer to think they are misunderstood lovers, and we want true love to win out in the end, so we accept this ending. But as others have pointed out this is not how the book ended, and it is not consistent with the overall tone of the movie.
  
  "The Getaway" is a powerful portrayal of the criminal mind as it acts out its ruthless greed and selfishness. But two amoral people like "Doc" and "Carol" could in the end never have really trusted each other. Thompson's story makes this clear, while Peckinpah's film muddies these waters in order to provide an acceptable "Hollywood" ending.
  
  This review is based on the VHS version.
  
  Update Oct. 20, 2007:
  
  I have just seen the DVD version for the first time. Visually it is a significant improvement over the VHS version. The music is more coherent, less sappy. The critical commentary track provides some very interesting insights into the acting and Peckinpah's film technique. The "virtual" commentary by Peckinpah, MacGraw, and McQueen reveals all three to be fairly inarticulate and lacking in insight - Ali gushes on and on about what a great actor McQueen is, when what she really means is how much in love with him she is.
  
  It's still a great film, even better on DVD.
  
  
• Classic book transformed into Hollywood dreck!
  By on 1999-02-09
  A Sam Peckinpah movie based on one Jim Thompson's best books starring Steve McQueen would seem like a surefire winner, a classic. Unfortunately the result was an abomination.

  The film was hijacked by McQueen who controlled the final cut and watered down a screenplay already watered down from the book. The film was disavowed by both Thompson and Peckinpah and various other involved in its making. The director upon seeing the final cut peed on the screen and shouted, "This is not my film!" Thompson could have (and did) complained, "This is not my story!"

  One of the great noir classics with a highly original and ironic ending was transformed into an all too typical Hollywood product with an all too typical ending. A book who's tone was dark and dismal was transformed into a cutesy love story/chase film. The end of the movie had nothing to do with the end in the book which is largely the point of the whole story (I'd like to go on here but can't without giving away the end)

  Steve McQueen who mucked things up off camera even disappoints on camera. He puts on a weak performance as does Ali MacGraw (perhaps they were distracted by there spudding love affair)

  Other than that Sally Struthers (who I usually don't like) put on an excellent performance the best thing I can say about this flick is that it was not as bad as the remake!

  Don't waste your time and money on this, read the book. If your really in the mood for a movie see something by Quentin Tarantino or the Coen Brothers or something else by Peckinpah (especially The Wild Bunch) or (if you want to see a movie adaptation of a Thompson book) The Grifters.
  
  

• Doesn't do the book justice!
  By on 1999-01-24
  A Sam Peckinpah movie based on one Jim Thompson's best books starring Steve McQueen would seem like a surefire winner, a classic. Unfortunately the result was an abomination. The film was hijacked by McQueen who controlled the final cut and watered down a screenplay already watered down from the book. The film was disavowed by both Thompson and Peckinpah and various other involved in its making. The director upon seeing the final cut peed on the screen and shouted, "This is not my film!" Thompson could have (and did) complained, "This is not my story!"

  One of the great noir classics with a highly original and ironic ending was transformed into an all too typical Hollywood product with an all too typical ending. A book who's tone was dark and dismal was transformed into a cutesy love story/chase film. The end of the movie had nothing to do with the end in the book which is largely the point of the whole story (I'd like to go on here but can't without violating the no spoiler rule)

  Steve McQueen who mucked things up off camera even disappoints on camera. He puts on a weak performance as does Ali MacGraw (perhaps they were distracted by there spudding love affair)

  Other than that Sally Struthers (who I usually don't like) put on an excellent performance the best thing I can say about this flick is that it was not as bad as the remake!

  Don't waste your time and money on this, read the book. If your really in the mood for a movie see something by Quentin Tarantino or the Coen Brothers or something else by Peckinpah (especially The Wild Bunch) or (if you want to see a movie adaptation of a Thompson book) The Grifters.
  
  

• One of the all-time great Caper-Flicks!
  By A10ZBQOYCVRFMU on 1999-01-21
  Based on the novel by Jim Thompson, THE GETAWAY is a must-see for fans of Peckinpah, as well as those who love a good caper-flick. Doc McCoy (McQueen) is a master thief cooling his heels in prison. His wife (McGraw) springs him by sleeping with the warden, but that's only half the price. McCoy must also pull a bank robbery at the warden's request, and his partners are a moron (Bo Hopkins) and a psycho (Al Letteri). Of course, it's a set-up, and McCoy is not intended to come out alive. Letteri, the warden, and maybe even Doc's own wife are in on the plan to murder Doc and split the money. McCoy and wife take off for the Mexican border, with Letteri hot in pursuit. This is classic Peckinpah. In fact, Peckinpah is the only director I've ever seen who does FULL justice to the gritty, savage novels of Jim Thompson (THE GRIFTERS, KILLER INSIDE ME, and THIS WORLD, THEN FIREWORKS are a few other Thompson adaptations). Walter Hill's script (Hill also wrote and directed the 1996 remake) is a masterpiece! Not a lot of features on the DVD (I'd've LOVED a commentary by Walter Hill on this one!), but the format really brings the beautiful cinematography to life in a way lesser formats can't. A GREAT film! This is one of McQueen's grittiest, toughest roles, and he's the PERFECT McCoy. Cool and deadly as a cobra, yet with genuine emotions and doubts. You'll want to buy a 1911 Model .45 after you see this movie!
  
  
• Best movie McQueen ever made
  By A3L1RFRDUDMT9N on 2000-08-03
  1972 was a vintage year in Hollywood, like 1939 (Gone with the Wind & Wizard of Oz). With Prime Cut (Lee Marvin), The Getaway represents, IMO, the pinnacle of American action films. Great characters, locales, snapshots of local American culture & it just moves moves moves, like a really good movie should. The chemistry between McQueen & McGraw in this one is sensational! Forget people who sob about disloyalty to Jim Thompson. His novels are great but don't make great films unless they are rethought as films (see Coup de Torchon - another super rendering).
  
  
• An action flick with a twist
  By AHCVWPLA1O4X8 on 2003-09-20
  Steve McQueen stars opposite his real-life wife Ali McGraw in this action thriller, directed by Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah goes a little mild in this film, especially when compared to such other films of his as the Wild Bunch, but this movie is still pretty violent, and has a lot of action. Doc (McQueen) is a newly paroled prisoner who, in exchange for his freedom, agrees to do a job for the man (Ben Johnson) who helped him get parole. What Doc doesn't know is that his wife (McGraw) also had to sleep with this man to gain her husband's freedom. The result, when Doc finds out, is that he and his wife spend most of the movie squabbling about their relationship while they try to get safely to the Mexican border.

  Basically, the plot of the movie revolves around the bank robbery gone wrong. There is more here, though, and this is what saves the movie from being just another dull action flick. The relationship between Doc and his wife is very compelling, and developed interestingly as the movie progresses.

  The movie is well directed, and Steve McQueen is great as always. Still, this isn't one of the best movies of the era, and cannot even really be considered a classic of the period. Despite this fact, however, The Getaway is a good movie, and worth seeing.
  
  

• Looks much better than the original... still
  By A3S25YPCZ63OQL on 2007-06-21
  This version looks much better than the original DVD. However, it shows it is an old movie and this has much more to do with the original equipment and filming techniques than with digital format. If you are a Steve McQueen fan as I am, do not hesitate. Buy it. If you're not, stick with the old standard or special edition versions.
  
  
• Extremely boring
  By on 2000-10-07
  The Getaway is one of the most non-involving action films I've seen in a while. It features characters that aren't likeable, settings that are dull, chases that move at a sluggish pace, and just an overall lack of action or compelling drama. With the exception of the last shootout, the movie is a complete bore. Stick with Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch, Cross of Iron, or even the slightly underrated Killer Elite.
  
  
• "The Getaway" with Steve McQueen
  By AR4N9QJ67IG2I on 2000-11-21
  No glitzy special effects or mushy love scenes here...just a hard-core action film about an ex-con named "Doc" McCoy (McQueen) and his wife (MacGraw) trying to keep their relationship intact amid an unfair criminal justice system, a bank heist, double crosses, car chases and some serious shoot-outs as they make a dash for the Mexican border with a bag full of stolen cash. The final gun battle at the motel is classic, as is the touching scene when the couple share part of their loot with a crusty old cowboy (played by Slim Pickens) whose pick-up truck they have commandeered near the border. Anyone who finds fault with "The Getaway" deserves a gut dose of McCoy's 12-gauge. The 1994 remake was just that...a remake. This original rules!
  
  
• Doc and his wife have many enemies, including each other?
  By A34FSS6DNL1UJ on 2003-06-13
  The Getaway is a slick, fast paced action film with, great acting, and a supurb script. Their is not a weak performance in the film despite the fact that many people seem to hate Ali Mcgraw. My theory is that these people are ugly losers who resent Mcgraw because she is more attractive than they can ever hope to be. She is not a great actress but she does a good job in this movie, her character is understated, quiet, but strong, forgiving and dependable. Without her Doc (McQueen's character) would not have survived or even gotten out of jail in ther first place. McQueen does a masterful job of portraying Doc, a smooth, cool, (sometimes ice cold) soft spoken tough guy. He may seem mild, but push his buttons once to often and you better start ducking because the bullets will be humming. Doc will shoot you dead without a second thought if he has to. His wife can shoot as well as drive and she too will kill if necessary. The music in this movie is great, especially the twanging music that starts whenever a violent confrontation occures. The story begins with Doc (McQueen) in prison. The monotony of his days drive him crazy, he is made to tear up tree stumps all day long. Even though this film does not focus that much on it is clear how much prison sucks in the few short scenes in which Doc is in jail. He comes up for parole and is denied. Desperate to get out of prison he swallows his pride and sends his wife to Benion, the local political power broker/gangster/rancher/ all around rich scumbag. In order to get Doc out of jail Mcgraw (I forget her character's name) is forced to sleep with Benion. On top of that once Doc gets out Benion requires him to pull a bank heist for him. Benion already has the bank selected because he has inside information on when a lot of money will be coming in, his brother-in-law sits on the board of the bank, and Benion has already assembled a team for Doc to lead. The actor who plays Benion does a great job of being really sleazy in a political way, arrogant and condecining. Rudy and Frank are the names of the characters Benion has selected to work for Doc. Doc does not trust these people and for good reason, the guy who plays Rudy played Solotzo in the Godfather and man is he GREAT!!! in this movie. He steals the show and in my opinion out performs McQueen. Dont get me wrong, McQeen gives a great performance but the guy who plays Rudy (Silversti?) is a menacing villian who exudes subtle threats throughout the film. He is also clever and funny but ruthless and viscious. Doc and his wife soon realize that they are surrounded by enemies, who they have no choice but to cooperate with now but who will likely betray them at the first oppurtunity. No one trusts each other on this job, Benion does not trust Doc and his wife and vice versa, Rudy does not trust anyone and no one in their right minds trusts Rudy. These people are all criminals but Doc and his wife are by far the most likeable and least scummy. This bizzare group of individuals are compelled by circumstance to cooperate but after the job is over, all bets are off!!! The job goes bad and betryal followes betryal, Doc discovers his wife's "infiedility" and is enraged even though he sent her to Benion and she only did what she had to get him out of prison. Doc and his wife end up with the money but with Rudy and Benion's boys on their trail. Not to mention the cops who have thrown out a state wide search for Doc, his wife, and everyone else involved with the robbery gone wrong. It is now a race to the border with Doc and his wife playing the hare for the cops, Rudy, and Benion's thugs. Across the border lies freedom and the good life beyond the reach of the American authorities. However, Doc and his wife are starting to distrust each other, their relationship is falling apart, deterioting more and more the closer they get to actually escaping. The viewer really gets invested in Doc and his wife and roots for them to hold it together and trust each other. The viewer really wants to see them get away with the money, the villians in this film are delicioulsy sinister, watching them die is truly a pleasure and a relief. People die horribly in this movie, the violence is realistic without being overdone. Plenty of shooting and shoot outs with lots of death, car chases, narrow escapes, and constant tension. This movie is very metaphorical in the sense that viewers will really relate to Doc and his wife. Who does not want to get away from the dreary life of a wage slave? Who does not feel that the only person they can trust is themselves, even though they badly want to trust their spouse? In this movie it is man and wife against the world. Who does not feel sometimes that they are surrounded by evil people intent on their destruction, and that the only solution is to destroy these other people first? Doc and his wife's odysessy to escape America and the long arm of the law, not to mention their previous "partners" in crime represents a fantasy many people have of escaping the prison of their lives. The real problem is that they are starting not to trust each other, and if anything is going to get them killed its that. The suspense climaxes in a great shoot out in a sleazy border motel where all acounts are settleed once and for all and Doc and his wife find out wheater or not they can truly trust each other. This movie proves the old adage that the robbery is the easy part of the crime, the true test of a criminal is the Getaway.
  
  
• STEVE McQUEEN ALL THE WAY, BABY!!!
  By AYYOPF6RG019D on 2005-04-12
  This would be a 5 star movie, but Ali MacGraw, despite being gorgeous, CANNOT ACT! I liked her in LOVE STORY, where her acting was almost decent, but she sucked in THE GETAWAY. After watching this movie several dozen times, her performance always sours it for me. The rest of the movie is great though. MacGraw just looks lost, even intimidated by McQueen. He carries this movie, helped by great performances by Al Lettieri, Sally Struthers (she was thin once!!!), and the one of kind Slim Pickens. This isn't a masterpiece, but it's heavy on vibe and the screen presence of McQueen. He really was a better actor than Eastwood and Bronson. I recently saw PAPILLON, and was blown away by McQueen's performance. Dam, he was even better than I thought, not to mention underrated. The movie was so-so, but his, along with Dustin Hoffman's, performance was Oscar-worthy. Anyway, THE GETAWAY is worth owning, even if you only watch once a year.
  
  
• Double Pumped Thrill Ride
  By A2B73CL3QSYWLB on 2005-06-07
  Don't be fooled by the pedigree of this film. Despite the presence of director Sam Peckinpah and star Steve McQueen this is big budget of what once was called drive-in fare. Peckinpah's signature slo-mo is on hand here but the bloodshed is rather restrained. The film starts out slowly, the bank job sequence is just so-so. Once the film hits the road, however, hold on to your hats because it's a thrill a minute. McQueen's signature cool is on hand here as Doc McCoy. Heck, McQueen makes it look so easy that you think he's coasting. You get so caught up in the action that you overlook the acting deficiencies of co-star Ali MacGraw. Effective but bizarre turn by Al Letieri (Salarzo in "The Godfather") as Rudy, McCoy's accomplice turned adversary. An interesting entry in the Peckinpah canon.
  
  

• Bullitt (Two-Disc Special Edition)
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• The Searchers
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