Today writer Andrew Antoniades has accomplished what many of us haven't – he realized his lifelong passion by publishing his first book. Matter-of-factly titled Steve McQueen: The Actor and His Films, the tremendous coffee table tome (released on November 1) places the spotlight squarely on the late actor's impressive body of work.
McQueen was always a selective individual when choosing his roles, and it is interesting to consider he only appeared in 27 films, especially during a time when big studio systems had their actors doing two or three films per year.
But what memorable films they are, including The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Cincinnati Kid, The Sand Pebbles, Bullitt, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Getaway, Papillon, and still the list could go on.
A London accountant by day, an author by night, Antoniades wrote the book with friend and McQueen memorabilia collector Mike Siegel. Nearly 500 pages in scope (9" x 12" in size) and featuring over 1,000 illustrations (including vintage movie posters, lobby cards, unreleased stills from set locations), the hardcover book offers McQueen fans the complete package.
A biography of McQueen opens the text, followed by chapters devoted to each film, including the western series that made the actor a household name (Wanted: Dead or Alive) and his 1971 motorcycling documentary, On Any Sunday.
Fortunately, the project doesn't get bogged down with listing every cast and crew member, only highlighting the major players. Run times, release dates, filming location(s) and studios responsible for each movie are then briefly mentioned.
A page synopsis of each movie plot follows. However, the meat of the text is devoted to anecdotes about each film, behind the scenes stories, interviews, trivia, critical assessment then and now, and analysis of a key scene.
A discussion of McQueen' life and career at the time of each movie is a welcome addition. At the conclusion of the book, "The Legacy" chapter focuses on why McQueen is still relevant and what made him unlike any other star of his era. For more information, including sample images, visit Dalton Watson's official website.
Indeed, it was a joy to interview Antoniades about his favorite pursuit. In this first installment, it is evidently clear he is a master storyteller.
Keep reading, as Antoniades engagingly weaves anecdotes of growing up with his father and watching Papillon, how McQueen conquered the Western genre in an unofficial trilogy, three undiscovered jewels in the actor's film canon (including Hell Is For Heroes), whether McQueen only made movies for the money (think The Towering Inferno), and much more.
The Andrew Antoniades Interview, Part One
Your father introduced you to McQueen with Papillon. Can you recall what aspect of the film made you a McQueen fan?
It was really the whole package, a film on an epic scale with amazing acting. The brutality of the film was shocking as well; it was really like nothing I had seen before with scenes where the beauty of nature was offset by the horrors that the men have to endure [Editor's Note: Author Marshall Terrill concurs in an exclusive interview for this column].
As a film it has everything from action and suspense to beautiful cinematography and thrilling escape scenes. So when I saw it for the first time and although I was very young, I felt very strongly that I was watching something very unique and special.
As far as Steve McQueen though, seeing him on the screen commanding every scene, I could tell he was different to other actors. He had that special star quality that made him larger than life.
This was compounded by the fact that the film was on such a large scale yet it never overwhelmed him. He took charge of the film. This was no small feat since it is populated by many memorable characters, but it is unmistakably McQueen’s film.
Are you a fan of McQueen's roles in the Western genre?
Absolutely, Steve always looked like a genuine cowboy through the way he handled his guns and horses on screen and the energy he put into his characters. On The Magnificent Seven, he was surrounded by many other high caliber actors and in some cases, more established stars. It was his magnetism and ability to look believable as a cowboy that made him emerge as the star of that film.
Steve’s career included three films that show the journey of the Western hero. In Nevada Smith he plays “Max Sand,” the young half-breed orphan who must quickly learn to be a man in a dangerous Western landscape. In The Magnificent Seven he played the fully grown mercenary gun for hire. By the end of his career with Tom Horn, Steve played an aging Western figure coming to terms with life at the end of an era as America was changing.
In my book I treat the three movies as a sort of unofficial trilogy and as these films progress so too does Steve’s acting. This also has much to do with Steve’s Western series Wanted: Dead or Alive, where he honed his skills in a Western medium.
Name three undiscovered jewels in McQueen's canon that you feel deserve more attention or critical re-evaluation.
Hell Is For Heroes (1962) is the one that immediately comes to mind. This is McQueen at his darkest. Once again he was surrounded by a talented ensemble cast, but it was clear that he saw himself as the only true star of the film. As “Reese,” the hardened soldier, McQueen took his loner and anti-hero to the extreme.
The character as McQueen plays him is very ambiguous. He does heroic things but is ultimately a very war-hungry and damaged individual. McQueen used this role to experiment and refine his persona of the rebellious loner.
After this film he perfected it with The Great Escape, finding the perfect balance of nonchalance and rebellion, but it is interesting to watch this evolution from film to film.
Next, Baby the Rain Must Fall (1965) is not as well known as some of McQueen's other films because after it, he hit megastar status with some huge box-office hits. However, the film is very underrated and an atmospheric piece. It’s a final chance to see him in a black and white film, too.
Third, Tom Horn (1980) was sadly overlooked at the time of its release, but it is slowly being rediscovered and appreciated. It is a very understated character study as McQueen plays an aging frontiersman at the turn of the century [Editor's Note: McQueen's widow, Barbara, recalled many memorable times while being on this film's set].
It really showed just how much McQueen had progressed as an actor and how comfortable he had become with himself. The cinematography is beautiful in places also.
Did McQueen make any movies strictly for the money?
Yes and no. In some cases he claimed that was his motivation, but often there was something underneath. Also, in some instances it might have been the case that he would be attracted by the money initially but then sink his teeth into the character, seeking a greater goal.
Remember that he was a struggling actor at the start of his career and, as many actors are forced to, he took some roles for the money. He was living in poverty in a shared flat with no hot water when he arrived in New York in the 1950s.
By contrast, if we look at his later work, a good example is The Towering Inferno. It offered him the biggest pay day of his career and would set him up financially for the remainder of his life. So he approached this project with a commercial mind.
However, he also saw what a great opportunity it could be. This is clear in how he selected the smaller role of “Fire Chief Michael O’Hallorhan” but had it upgraded and overhauled to be the top billed co-star with Paul Newman.
Quickly, this role became less about the money and more about reputation and status as McQueen became focused on proving that he was a bigger star than Newman. This is typical as he was fiercely competitive on and off-screen [Editor's Note: Screenwriter Stirling Silliphant discusses McQueen and Newman's relationship in this video].
How did you meet your coauthor, Mike Siegel?
I knew of Mike through the McQueen Online forum where fans can get in touch. Mike and I have a shared interest in that we collect vintage film posters and memorabilia.
In 2010 I edited my good friend Marshall Terrill’s superb biography,Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon. By way of a thank you, he put me in touch with his publisher with a view to doing what eventually became our book, Steve McQueen: The Actor and His Films.
I met the publisher and went to visit Mike who lives in Germany. The premise was broadly that I would do the writing and Mike would contribute the images. When we arrived in Germany I was blown away by just how vast and impressive Mike’s collection of unseen stills and posters were.
He had everything. Consequently, we have many images in the book that are being seen for the first time. That trip to Germany was tough on the publisher though, because Mike and I spent the whole time looking at his collection. We weren’t especially worried about the formalities of the book deal.
I have to say it was a great working partnership with Mike and the publisher (thanks Glyn and Jean Morris!). Ultimately our vision was the same: to create the best book on McQueen ever produced.
That meant the biggest (500 pages), the most comprehensive (120,000 words), and to show fans something new (1,000 images). We did not want to just make another coffee table book, but to make the definitive book on McQueen for hardened fans and casual admirers alike.
Do you have any upcoming promotional appearances in support of the book?
We are looking at doing the Boys Republic Car Show in Chino, California, in June 2012. We have more events in the pipeline, too.
We certainly see the book as having longevity and long-time appeal so we are not in a rush to just promote it during the Christmas season. But we will continue to gradually promote it. After all, the most rewarding part is meeting fellow fans of McQueen who want to share stories and views.
PART TWO is available here. In it, Antoniades will recall why Baby The Rain Must Fall isn't well known today, why he gave Le Mans a second chance, the reason McQueen quit making movies at the height of his fame in 1967 (years before he retired), why the actor should have considering doing One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, and if he will consider writing another McQueen project...
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© Jeremy L. Roberts, 2011. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without first contacting the author.
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