THE GETAWAY
US, 1994, 116 minutes, Colour.
Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger, Michael Madsen, James Woods, David Morse, Jennifer Tilly, Richard Farnsworth, Philip Hoffman, Burton Gilliam.
Directed by Roger Donaldson.
The Getaway is a remake of Sam Peckinpah’s 1972 classic. The film was based on a treatment by the writer of the original novel, Jim Thompson, and screenwriter and director Walter Hill. It was adapted for the 90s by writer-director Amy Jones.
The original film starred Steve Mc Queen and Ali Mac Graw. Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger, husband and wife at the time, had appeared in The Marrying Man. Baldwin brings a suave charm – in contrast to Steve Mc Queen’s more rugged charm. Kim Basinger is a better screen presence and actress than Ali Mac Graw. Michael Madsen appears as the robber. James Woods appears in the part originally played by Ben Johnson. Sally Struthers portrayed Fran, played here by Jennifer Tilly.
Of interest is the appearance of Philip Seymour Hoffman (credited as Philip Hoffman) as Rudi Travis’s sidekick. He had made such films as Scent of a Woman but was to go on to a solid career as a character actor, with an Oscar nomination and many awards for his portrayal of Truman Capote.
The film was directed by Roger Donaldson, an Australian who began his career in New Zealand with Sleeping Dogs and Smash Palace. He made some significant films in the United States including Marie and Thirteen Days.
The film is a picture of professional thieves, professional gangsters – and their falling out.
1. The impact of the film at thriller? Crime caper? Pursuit and chase film?
2. The American locations, the big cities, banks, greyhound courses? Motels? On the road and the countryside? Mexico? The musical score?
3. The title, the complications of the crime, the dramatics of the getaway?
4. The amoral tone of the film, Doc and Carol, their relationship, crimes? The failure of the crime, prison?
5. Doc, his initial work, the robbery, Carol and the holding up of the van? Doc and his skills, explosives? Getting the man out of prison, the techniques? Taking him to his uncle, the shooting? Doc taking the money – the plane taking off, stranding him in Mexico, the police, prison? His experiences in prison? Jack Benyon getting him out?
6. Carol, her relationship with Doc, the marriage? The participation in the escape? Going to Benyon, pleading for Doc’s release, for the new job? Benyon’s taking advantage of her, her agreeing? The later consequences, Doc and his anger, her declaration of fidelity? Her coming in to Doc and Benyon, with the gun, shooting Benyon? Doc and his finally accepting that she loved him?
7. Rudi, in on the crime, tough? Trigger-happy? His taking off in the plane, stranding Doc? Doc later hiring him, punching him out? The tensions between them, the participation in Benyon’s robbery? With Frank Hansen? During the robbery, the hold-up, the shooting? The getaway – and Rudi shooting Frank, pushing him out of the car? His ambushing Doc, his being shot? Surviving – and the irony of wearing the protection which he had spurned? His pursuing Doc, his death?
8. Benyon, wealth, the planning of the robbery, his henchmen? Jim Jackson and his searching of Carol? His later pursuit of Doc and Carol? The other men? Their deaths in the motel?
9. Benyon, his plan, the greyhound course, the money? The robbery, the skill, opening the safe? The shooting? The getaway? Carol and Doc, in the car, Rudi’s ambush, his being shot?
10. Rudi, meeting the Carvies, getting his wound healed? Their characters, vets? Harold and his fear? Fran and her being seduced by Rudi? His taking them as hostages? Fran and her fear during the shoot-outs?
11. Doc and Carol, their bonds, his suspicion? The money, dividing the money? Going to the railway station, Carol putting the money in the case? Its being robbed? Doc and his pursuit of the thief, on the train, getting the money back? Their going to the motel? Their realisation that they were being pursued, Doc seeing Rudi, the shoot-out? With Jackson and his men? Their survival?
12. The encounter with Slim, his giving them a lift, their offering him the money for the truck, his wishing them well? Their going to safety?
13. Gollie and his management of the hotel, the pressure put on him by Jackson? The gun shop salesman and his urging the sales for Doc? The Mexicans, the Mafia types, the shootings?
14. The popular ingredients for this kind of action thriller? Comparisons with the classic status of the original?
