Review of The Getaway (1972) by Stuart K — 05 Aug 2013
Directed by Sam Peckinpah, fresh from doing Straw Dogs (1971) and Junior Bonner (1972), the latter of which starred Steve McQueen. Having had a good working relationship together on Junior Bonner, McQueen was looking to work again with Peckinpah, and they found a perfect project in adaptation of Jim Thompson's 1958 novel, adapted here by Walter Hill.
It's a tough and violent film, but the material was perfect for Peckinpah, who got a hit with this. Carter "Doc" McCoy (McQueen) is serving time in a Texas Prison, he's just been denied parole, but his wife Carol (Ali MacGraw) is able to make a deal with slimy San Antonio businessman Jack Benyon (Ben Johnson) to help get Doc out of prison, Benyon tells Doc that he's paroled on condition he takes part in a bank robbery with Rudy (Al Lettieri) and Frank (Bo Hopkins).
However, during the robbery, Rudy attempts to double cross them, shooting Frank, but Doc shoots him, and makes off with the money to the Mexican border in El Paso. But Rudy survives, and teams up with vet Harold (Jack Dodson) and his wife Fran (Sally Struthers) to get even with Doc and Carol.
It is a good heist film, with a lot of twists along the way, it's complimented by a killer score from Quincy Jones, and there is chemistry between McQueen and MacGraw. It should have put Peckinpah onto greater things, but he was about to self-destruct big time.
This review of The Getaway (1972) was written by Stuart K on 05 Aug 2013.
The Getaway has generally received positive reviews.
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