The Getaway represents another image of the awesomely cool Steve McQuuen etched into our collective minds for an eternity. McQueen plays Doc McCoy, a man on the inside trying to get back on the outside and failing at every attempt. That is until his wife Carol (Ali Mcgraw) starts to play patty-cake with parole board member Jack Beynon (Ben Johnson). Part of the stipulation for Doc's release is that he has to set up a robbery against a bank for Beynon. Of course, as in all movies, the robbery is a dismal failure with the McCoys being chased by Beynon, the police, and left for dead gang member Rudy (Al Letteri).When I found out that this was directed b y Sam Peckinpah I was surprised that this film was rated PG. Peckinpah is notorious for the over the top violent menagerie, but The Getaway steers clear of any major gratuitous violence. Honestly, the worst you'll see is McQueen slapping McGraw- literally.
The film is a great action piece that doesn't disappoint its audience with the standard cops and robbers uniformity. The McCoys are on the run like Bonnie and Clyde, but they're in a marriage that is strained by Carol's "work" on the parole board and the constant chase from most of the southern United States. The addition of the sub plot featuring Rudy mesmerizing the kidnapped veterinarians wife (Sally Struthers) delivers some comic relief as we watch the McCoy's attempt to salvage their marriage and their lives.
McQueen and Mcgraw deliver great performance, probably due to the fact that they were in a stormy relationship themselves at this point. First and foremost this is a McQueen picture, but that doesn't take away from the rest of the cast who are great in their roles.
So if you're looking for another dose of McQueen cool The Getaway delivers another subdued performance by the man that was taken way before his time.
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