What's the deal with Ali McGraw - The Getaway (1972) Discussion

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] ijonesiii 19 years ago

Ali MacGraw was a beautiful girl who started out modeling and went into acting despite having no ability to act. What she did have the ability to do was sleep with men who could do things for her career like Robert Evans, who was the head of Paramount Studios at the time, who I am sure had something to do with her getting the lead in 1970's LOVE STORY, which was a box office smash and made Ali an instant star. After separating from Evans, she slept with another powerful Hollywood icon, Steve McQueen, who was so enamored of her that he put together this film project specifically for the chance to work onscreen with his new bride. None of this changes the fact that Ali MacGraw cannot act and her film career pretty much died with McQueen.

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[–] chuckali 18 years ago

You are such an idiot. Ali MacGraw became an overnight sensation with her first film "Goodbye, Columbus" in 1969. She was married afterwards to Bob Evans and she suggested her next project could be "Love Story" after every other studio turned it down. Because of Ali's popularity with "Columbus" the audience was ready to see her in another film and that was the way the project began. No one expected "Love Story" to be the runaway success it was. It was huge and this movie made her an international super star! Even so, Ali was hesitatant to work again, admitting you was not a great actress and that was not her true calling. When "The Getaway" came about there was other actresses to play Doc's wife and the powers that be at Warner Brothers (not Paramount where Ali's husband was boss) thought it would be a good marketing strategy to have America's princess tie up with Hollywoods Leading Man. She still did not want to do it and yet reluctantly agreed. Steve McQueen did not suggest Ali, but apparently was happy with her since they had an affair on the set and eventually married. Robert Evans, Ali's husband was so busy editing "The Godfather" at the time he never saw her. Things happen on sets, whether right or wrong. Because of their chemistry on film, or their true life love affair the movie was an instant hit. As one critic pointed out, Ali may be awkward on film, but it is the unique awkwardness that made her a star. And I am from the generation that loved Ali MacGraw and even though in this film her acting did not shine, it was not noticeable to the then audience. It is no longer her time and new people judge differently, they hear things and the look for negatiity. In 1973 when Ali walked away from the limelight she was the biggest female movie star in the world. There are much more talented actresses out there, but they don't possess that "it" factor. Ali did. When she came back 5 years later, even though she still looked great the roles were more mature and she simply could not get by with her looks anymore. Although she had received lots of attention she has never again achieved the same kind of fame those first five years of her career garnished. And with her first 2 films before "Getaway" she was a huge star before Steve McQueen. Her star may have shone briefly, but there was a time her star was the brighest of them all!!!!!!

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[–] FANatic-10 18 years ago

I agree that Ali MacGraw was a very pretty lady with a gorgeous face and hair. I also agree that she couldn't act her way out of a paper bag! In fact, she is so inexpressive and wooden an actress and her line readings are so unfailingly flat that I started feeling for her character just out of pity.
I thought McQueen was excellent in the film, however, but didn't feel a lot of chemistry between the two, despite their famous romance. MacGraw was not the first less than stellar actress McQueen co-starred with. Candice Bergen was almost as wooden in "The Sand Pebbles" and Jacqueline Bissett was... well, nice looking in "Bullitt". Maybe he didn't like competing onscreen with strong actresses.

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[–] vice69 18 years ago

Apparently, he hated it. He passed up PLAY MISTY FOR ME and um, i think THE GAUNTLET because the female characters were TOO strong...

"I wish you was a wishin' well. So I could tie a bucket to ya' and sink ya'."

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[–] floydpinque 18 years ago

josh randall 1958--
I get your name in regard to McQueen, does anyone else? Just a question.

PUNCH IT BABY!

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[–] vice69 18 years ago

You're asking if anyone gets my name? i dont think so, i think one person said "nice name", but thats it...so you know who i refer too with my name?

"Get up, you son-of-a-bitch...because Mickey loves ya'..."

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[–] floydpinque 18 years ago

josh-randall1958--
asked because I knew! So count me as 1 of ? who got it! And I didn't need to see imdb to know that.

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[–] vice69 18 years ago

Looks like you're a real McQueen fan..lol..

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[–] hcrapwhitman 18 years ago

Film legend has it that when 'Sam Peckinpah' realised what a wooden actress 'Ali McGraw' was he removed a running sequence from the script for fear her legs rubbing together might start a fire.

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[–] inspectors71 18 years ago

Maybe I'm forgiving of Ali as Carol McCoy because I love the movie so much. She was very effective because the role required what MacGraw could deliver, a portrait of an emotional basket-case, a rumpled bitch-goddess. There's something there between McQueen and MacGraw, a tension, a love-hate relationship. They're both so afraid to show any real emotion that you would almost swear that she had been in the joint, too. I think it adds to the gritty unpleasantness of the movie, and the quality of its story and performances.

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[–] ministerwithoutportfolio 18 years ago

Just watched teh movie for teh first time. I instantly thought she was a bad actress. Then my friend, who doesn't usually cut down actors, said out loud what I was thinking. For one, I couldn't understand why her diction was so "New England perfect" when she was just a bank-robber from Texas. They needed at least some back-story to explain that. You know it's bad when Sally Struthers acts you off the screen.

That being said, if my memory serves, she was "just right" for Love Story (though I'll never be induced to go back and watch that piece of crap again.)
And she didn't hurt my opinion of Getaway really. Maybe the eye candy made up for the bad acting (though I agree she is really too skinny). I wonder how much better the movie could have been with a better leading lady.

As to casting, brunettes with long hair were really big from '69-73. Conveyed earthiness. Think Jennifer O'Neil.

So she could play certain roles serviceably and others without destroying the whole film.

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[–] floydpinque 18 years ago

>>>I couldn't understand why her diction was so "New England perfect" when she was just a bank-robber from Texas.

She and McQueen are bank robbers IN Texas, but it's never established that they are FROM Texas. There's a difference there.

Now if you want to make a comparison--Warren Beatty born in Virginia and Faye Dunaway born in Florida but they do play native Texans in B&C.

Consider--Bo Hopkins a native of South Carolina. Al Lettieri and Richard Bright [both of The Godfather]-- NYC natives. Sally Struthers from Oregon. Slim Pickens from California. Roy Jenson from Canada. Ali from Pound Ridge NY--a stones' throw from Connecticut. And Terrence S. McQueen himself from Missouri.

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[–] ministerwithoutportfolio 18 years ago

So your point is that it wasn't mcGraw's fault, Peckinpah wanted all his actors to sound like they were not from Texas? I'd still say the only one who stands out like a sore thumb as being unlikely to find herself a resident of Texas is McGraw's character.

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[–] floydpinque 18 years ago

ministerw/o--
Not trying to stir up a hornet nest, especially with a 'minister'. My point was that Ali and the rest of the cast were not Texans. And that is the point exactly so far as accents go. Even the most realistic 'Texas accent' of the cast was done by Oklahoma native --and movie great--Ben Johnson.

PUNCH IT BABY!

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[–] Howlin Wolf 18 years ago

Pay no attention to her acting, just look at her face. She was gorgeous! No further justification is really needed, but it wasn't anywhere near the worst performances I've seen. Her chemistry with Steve McQueen which led to them later marrying helped the film a lot.

"It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage... "

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[–] earl1-1 17 years ago

She was an important part of this movie and why it works so well. She obviously was wildly in love with Steve Mcqueen and it does come across in the character she plays - Carol. I think she played her as a classy lady who is head over heels in love and wants to be there for her man - where ever he needs her.

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[–] filmbuff1974 17 years ago

I never could understand the hostility toward Ali McGraw. I just saw this film for the first time in many years and I think she was just fine. I wouldn't say she was an outstanding acting talent but she was good enough. She certainly was better than many of these outrageously over valued actresses that are working in mainstream films today. Look at actresses like Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Garner and I want to vomit. Not only are they not pleasant to look at but they have no acting talent to speak of whatsoever! Ali Mc Graw did okay in the Getaway and is an underappreciated actress in her day and now.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] wildbillharding 15 years ago

Jennifer Garner isn't pleasant to look at? There are two possibilities here; you're joking, or you're insane.

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[–] filmbuff1974 15 years ago

No, I'm not joking. I am not saying Jennifer Garner is not good looking, what I'm saying is that she doesn't have any more discernable talent than Ali MacGraw that I can see. And I'm sticking with that conviction.

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[–] lcronan-1 17 years ago

I was born in the 80s but I love Ali McGraw. I dont know how to describe it she just has a certain something.

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