lococardinal Posted June 6, 2004 Share Posted June 6, 2004 Another interesting Robert Osbourne story. After watching The Blob again (great movie) the next movie scheduled was The Thomas Crown Affair. I had seen that before and it's on now and I may go catch the rest of it. But anyway Robert went on to explain how This particular role was unique for Steve and he more or less opted for this role as a challenge. The reasons being that instead of the usual rough at the edges roles he had done, this was a role where he would be totally different in that he would play the role of an Ivy Leaguer type. Challenge? Hardly! Different type of role? Not too much! Any role Steve got involved was one that would give him the appearance of being the BAD DUDE! In other words every frame of film used on him would portray him as a big stud type. Nothing new in pictures even at that time, but I think it had reached a higher level in the 60's, and has escalated to ghastly proportions to this day. True he did not play the rough cowboy ala Nevada Smith, or a tough cop, but it was his opportunity to portray the rich playboy type. Hardly commendable. I think by comparison his role in The Blob was more challenging. As I remember Papillon was a cool movie and he had a great role in that. Unfortunately I missed tonights showing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerl964 Posted June 6, 2004 Share Posted June 6, 2004 To lococardinal, I had to jump in on this topic/article/post! Being that Steve McQueen-(1930-80) was my childhood Hero/Idol. Mostly, due to the era of early 1970's-(his peak in popularity actually. Though, he never quite reached #1 at annual Box-0ffice) "Towering Inferno" (1974) though not great movie-making, it was great fun to a 10yr., old. & for McQueen & even *Newman, it was both heavyweights top grossing film ever! & as far as 1973's powerful & true story "Papillon" Welp, in a word "HE WAS ROBBED OF THE OSCAR!" Actually that's a couple words, but it's a well-known in Tinsel-Town political thing, that stemmed from Paramount head honcho & egomaniac: Robert Evans was & his then wife: Ali MacGraw! As most know *Dustin Hoffman is very much the method thespian-(he'd starve, not eat,etc for this epic & did same, plus stayed awake for days for '76's "Marathon Man" *Olivier, just said to him "Why don't you just act, me boy") However, after watching dailies on "Papillon," not only *Dustin, but most looking on, thought this was an ACADEMY caliber performance by Mr. McQueen & for certain. Outrageously, he was not even nominated for the epic! & much is credited to the very angry-(by then, Ali took off with Steve) R. Evans-(whom carried a lot of wgt. in Hollywood at that period)>(he was also in between handling both *"Godfather" epics & "Chinatown" was next.) So you know what I mean, he had much influence among his friends-(most of which were voters of the A.M.P.A.S.) By the way, after the actual "Butterfly"-character he plays in the *F.J. Schaffner epic, the actual Devil's Island was closed down-(much is said due to his novel about it's conditions!) However, my own fav. overall movie of his: "The Great Escape"-(another stunningly snubbed by the ACADEMY? It won 1 sole nom. for it's Editing???) Steve, was a limited actor. He was no *Brando. However, he, unlike soo-many stars of his era, actually lived a rough-tough life-(& similar to most of his roles on-screen) He always felt in competition with *Paul Newman-(1925-) as well. & most fans will know both were also in '56's "Somebody Up There Likes Me"-(though Steve had a small role of course) It angered him that *Paul would play guys whom were in jail, stealing cars,etc & he, actually did these things as a punk kid. GO-FIGURE? & to loco, for the record & in case you are a new fan,etc His sole OSCAR shot 1966's great war-film "The Sand Pebbles"-(TCM airs it frequently) & "Thomas C. Affair" is a good movie, but OSBO was correct in that it was a kinda' different role, than say: "The Getaway" or above "SP" & did you know he died of aspestos-(he worked with that stuff way back in the Navy too. Prior to being thrown in the Brig.)It was not the official cause od death in '80. But, it started the Cancer that yrs. later developed! Most know I am a huge-fan of both>*Spencer Tracy & *Sinatra-(my only Idols actually!) If *Sinatra is "Thee All-Around King of Cool," than Steve is "King of Movie-Cool!" Good topic & I thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle42dave Posted June 6, 2004 Share Posted June 6, 2004 It had been a long time since I'd seen The Blob entire. I used to have a super 8mm black and white condesation of it which I used as a background element in early 1980s New Wave concerts - running the the scene in the movie house back and forth, back and forth... To me what was amazing to me this time was how The Blob is such a "credible" picture compared to so many other science fiction films of the period. The monster, derived from Lovecraft's "The Color Out of Space," is treated as a natural disaster from beyond, and the audience is not asked to buy some nonsense from from an "alien" in a diving helmet and a gorilla suit. The generational subtext also works and helps to create tension - no one will listen to Steve because he is a "kid," but if they don't it can mean the destruction of the whole community. It seems someone at an executive level in "The Blob" said "we've got this wonderful star who's going to amount something, rather than a nobody to play the lead. Let's play to his strengths." Steve is called by his own name in the script, wears a tan suede jacket of the kind he would wear in many of his later films, and plenty of screen time is devoted to buisiness we associate with McQueen - silent, lost in thought, confused - mulling over something in his head. If you were a major star who would need at least one "bad" film on your resume, McQueen could hardly have picked a friendlier film than "The Blob" - it probably helped make him a star in the long run. Jack Nicholson, by comparison, was not nearly so lucky. One thing Robert may have mentioned in his intro was the interesting theme song to the film, written by Burt Bacharach and not credited to him onscreen. While "The Blob" may not have been McQueen's "first" film, the theme music to "The Blob" is just about the earliest thing Burt Bacharach did in any medium. Uncle Dave Lewis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwtwbooklover Posted June 7, 2004 Share Posted June 7, 2004 as a woman i've got to tell you steve mcqueen makes my knees weak. lococardinal have you seen Love with a proper stanger? Steve is one of my favs he can do no wrong. just slight mishaps like i have to admit in the towering inferno it seems Steve is not really there it seems like he is just delivering his lines not believing in them. the last poster mentioned the towering inferno not great movie making it spellbounded me and the kids and was a great movie ride. i haven't seen papillon yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwtwbooklover Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 i was a work today and realized i didn't mention those blue,blue eyes which i never fail to mention when i get a chance to talk about Steve mcqueen. love them, would love to go swimming in them. and other things with steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lococardinal Posted June 9, 2004 Author Share Posted June 9, 2004 I didn't know about his background spencer1964. Thanks for the info. I remember shortly before his death he lead a very reclusive life. uncle42dave that's a good point about the Blob not being your average flying saucer flick. I was thinking the same thing when I was watching it the other day. The fact it came from a meteor I think it was made it seem more realistic. I thought it was funny when the police officer said it was the most horrible thing he ever saw. gwtwbooker I've never seen Love with a proper stranger. What year was it made? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwtwbooklover Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 I've tried to see on the TCM archives if I could find the year but no luck-how frustrating. However I will guesstimate it came out ahh..between 1959 and 1965. Now to tell you what I definetly know I don't know which star is listed first so I don't know if it is a Natalie Wood movie{who is Steve's costar} or if Steve is hers if you will. It plays occassionally on lifetime and other stations it is a romance but it is a bumpy road ahead for the two players. It also has Tom Bosley in the cast. It is a 5*movie to me just wish I knew the year and when it will be on again.I can't find it under a search for steve McQueen or Natalie Wood. Does anyone know anything to help lococardinal out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
path40a Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Love With A Proper Stranger (1963) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057263/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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