David Morton
Lifetime Supporter
Steve McQueen's Greatest Ever Movie Moments
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This week (24th March) sees the 80th anniversary of the birth of one of Hollywood's most enduring macho icons, Steve McQueen.
After overcoming a troubled childhood (which involved being abandoned by both parents, running with street gangs and spending time at reform school), McQueen discovered acting soon after being discharged from US Marine corps; this career choice would ultimately lead to him becoming, by the early 70's the world's highest paid actor and the undisputed 'King of Cool'.
After his debut film performance in sci-fi B classic, The Blob, McQueen's breakthrough came in television in 1958, playing the role of a bounty hunter in Wanted: Dead Or Alive.
Frank Sinatra then took him under his wing, giving him a role in his latest movie and encouraging the director to get plenty of close-ups. However, it was McQueen's next two movies that assured his ascent to Hollywood stardom - The Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape (although he usually performed his own stunts, and was a skilled motorcyclist and driver, he wasn't allowed to perform the film's famous motorbike jump - thanks to Terrie in the comments below for pointing out that the stunt rider who jumped the wire for Steve was Bud Ekins).
From then on, the list of classic movies continued, including The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt, Papillon and The Towering Inferno, cementing McQueen's position as the tough guy's favourite tough guy and cinematic heartthrob. What's even more remarkable is the list of films that McQueen turned down or missed: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Apocalypse Now, Dirty Harry, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The French Connection, even Rambo (when the novel First Blood was released in 1972).
So, watch the clips below and celebrate the career of a true twentieth century icon... and the man who encouraged Chuck Norris to take acting classes.
The Great Escape motorbike jump:
<CENTER><EMBED height=344 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=425 src=http://www.youtube.com/v/xZSTpk3IiA0&hl=en_US&fs=1& allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></EMBED></CENTER>
Bullitt car chase
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After overcoming a troubled childhood (which involved being abandoned by both parents, running with street gangs and spending time at reform school), McQueen discovered acting soon after being discharged from US Marine corps; this career choice would ultimately lead to him becoming, by the early 70's the world's highest paid actor and the undisputed 'King of Cool'.
After his debut film performance in sci-fi B classic, The Blob, McQueen's breakthrough came in television in 1958, playing the role of a bounty hunter in Wanted: Dead Or Alive.
Frank Sinatra then took him under his wing, giving him a role in his latest movie and encouraging the director to get plenty of close-ups. However, it was McQueen's next two movies that assured his ascent to Hollywood stardom - The Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape (although he usually performed his own stunts, and was a skilled motorcyclist and driver, he wasn't allowed to perform the film's famous motorbike jump - thanks to Terrie in the comments below for pointing out that the stunt rider who jumped the wire for Steve was Bud Ekins).
From then on, the list of classic movies continued, including The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt, Papillon and The Towering Inferno, cementing McQueen's position as the tough guy's favourite tough guy and cinematic heartthrob. What's even more remarkable is the list of films that McQueen turned down or missed: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Apocalypse Now, Dirty Harry, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The French Connection, even Rambo (when the novel First Blood was released in 1972).
So, watch the clips below and celebrate the career of a true twentieth century icon... and the man who encouraged Chuck Norris to take acting classes.
The Great Escape motorbike jump:
<CENTER><EMBED height=344 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=425 src=http://www.youtube.com/v/xZSTpk3IiA0&hl=en_US&fs=1& allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></EMBED></CENTER>
Bullitt car chase
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
