This week, we're commemorating the man literally everyone admires. There was a genuineness about him that shone thru his film performances; he wasn't an actor so much as he was himself on screen. The same could be said of a few contemporaries - Newman, Bronson, Marvin - but there's an ineffable quality to McQueen that made him stand apart even in that elite group.
My adulation was formed early in life; can't remember for sure, but I think the first movie of his that I saw was The Cincinnati Kid back when it was released, and since then, I've seen all his efforts at least once. Le Mans and Papillon during their initial theatrical release; the rest, on television. How much did I admire him? Well, there were two posters on my bedroom wall during high school days. One was of Jacky Ickx' Brabham, the other, McQueen riding a motorcycle in The Great Escape.
[photo credit: Art, ~ '72]
That's a photo of the actual poster; my brother's arm is covering the upper left corner.
As for film performances: there were so many, too many to pick a clear favorite. Perhaps the solitary scene in Papillon; I really can't say.
What I can say with absolute conviction is that the only time I've ever been swayed by a commercial is when Ford produced this amazing clip:
The sheer power of his imagery was overwhelming; this, a quarter century after his passing. Who else had this kind of staying power?
Steve was the best.
As for today's watch: the only one in my collection he would've worn is the ref 2179.
It's at my watchmaker's for regulation, so no current photos. Try to imagine it . . .
. . . on his wrist.
Please share your favorite clips, images, and the watch in your collection he might've worn.
Cordially,
Art
This message has been edited by Dr No on 2015-03-19 11:50:55
. . . of Cool. This week, we're commemorating the man literally everyone admires. There was a genuineness about him that shone thru his film performances; he wasn't an actor so much as he was himself on screen. The same could be said of a few contemporari...
my kind of thread dear Art No secret McQueen is along Clint and Al among my top 3 actors ever My first contact with The Man was when I watched Le Mans being 7 or 8 years old That was life changer Weeks after we were playing racing on street few years late...
. . . "Art's TV Repair" sign in that clip? :-) And, we had that very same '69 Chevy four-door, in green. :-) :-) The Getaway was panned at the time of its release, but looking back, it was the most authentic film he ever made. My favorite scene was his sh...
That the king of cool made famous but ... He was not only motorbikes and sports cars ... The Thomas Crown Affair (original) He should be comfortable with a Reverso Duo (that was used when they did a remake). JLC Reverso, by miles, my most photogenic watch...
. . . that I find practically unique, Nilo - he was deeply admired by men and women alike. Usually, an actor of his stature has a larger following amongst one or the other; Cary Grant, for example. Steve's appeal was both deep and down the middle - everyo...
.. Still have her, although with not a lot of wrist-time : Your pics remind me, to take her more often, especially love the Verso side.. Cool Art Deco type of style ! Best & HAGWE ! hs
First things first: 1964 is before my time! When the Wristscan theme of Steve McQueen was announced I did a little research. I’m not a big movie buff, but of course Mr. Cool is well-known. During my research I stumbled across something very interesting, w...
let's just say that the Ad with the bike is close enough and we await the post of our dear GP moderator who will shed the light on all the Olimpico secrets :)
I had a long discussion with Blomman on that... Things are less clear than they seem to be, to make it short. Blomman is fighting on that topic, too. It will be a very interesting topic! All the best, Nicolas
I saw Steve Mcqueen was in the Thomas Crown Affair at my grand mother's house one afternoon, I was mesmerized by the intelligence, the smoothness and the meticulous planning and coolness of his character and it remains my favorite film by him. Every Scene...
TWO is...well, it's just impolite! In fact, it's almost gauche. Don't be 'that guy', Salman: let one go (very cheaply...) to someone who will appreciate it. Ideally, someone far away so you don't 'feel' its nearness. ;-) Cheers, pplater.
..Friends, as this weeks theme deals with the iconic film-and race-star, and his life ingredients, we all shall present thereabout whatever we can find, in photos, still & video/ film clips Plus the watch, either we currently have on our wrists in this we...
. . . that's been told a few times in the past, but worth repeating within the context of this thread. Many moons ago, one of my acquaintances was a motorcycle mechanic who had moved to LA from Buffalo in 1980, the year of Steve's death. His first jobs we...
Dear Art, this question came to my mind mind when reading Steve McQueen´s biography on wikipedia (). Having been given away by and been brought back several times to his mother and diverse stepfathers (he has never been familiar with his father), he never...
. . . tragic flaws, anaesdoc. While we're drawn to the nobler aspects of their personalities, discounting their less agreeable traits can give the appearance of uncritical idol worship. As I replied to hs111 moments earlier, though, it's my sense that McQ...
Well Art, my assumption that Steve McQueen would have preferred the bracelet is due to my wife´s comment about the bracelet whenever I happen to wear it. In her perception the bracelet gives the watch a colder, more technical look whereas the leather stra...
Always liked this picture, particularly since he's seen wearing a Hanhart, which also seems to appear in a few other pics already posted. Widely believed to be the 417 Hanhart which was produced post-war in the Ffities or Sixties. The closest I get to thi...
…but arguably the best thing about him was his other half (well, for five years or so, anyway). The guy had ‘an eye for horseflesh’, as they say in Kentucky. And for sheetmetal: That doesn’t include the cars that he drove in movies – and yes, wouldn’t it ...
You wait: every serious collector, every dive watch collector, every LE fanboy, every Australian and every right-thinking individual will jump on these or regret it forever. This is going to be bigger than the Apple watch. A blue and yellow one. JC Biver ...
"Salman (let’s call him Salman, shall we?...) recognised a mark when he saw one, and he was not going to let his precious few Euros in commission walk out the door..." and the other " Well, against all expectation, it turns out Salman was (for perhaps the...
The OP was a mere frippery: a ll characters to whom reference was made were and are, of course, entirely fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Especially SalmanQ8, who is either not Teutonic or is the next th...
. . . although it wasn't the type you'd find on his, or anyone's, wrist. If memory serves correctly, he was slated to appear in Quigley Down Under , but like so many of his film projects after The Towering Inferno , it came to nought. The script was taken...