Like most superstars, Steve McQueen was associated with a number of film projects that were announced with great fan fare, but never materialized. McQueen had formed his own production company, Solar Productions, to become master of his own destiny. Initially, he enjoyed great success with Bullitt. However, his plans to bypass studio distribution and handle all aspects of the release of his films fell apart, as evidenced by an article from Variety columnist Army Archerd in 1969 that he has republished on his blog. McQueen envisioned making a major action picture called Yucatan that would have budgeted at a (then) astronomical $30 million. The film would have featured a motorcycle chase that would have put to shame the one in The Great Escape. He also announced he would star in a mountain climbing thriller titled The Man on the Nylon String as well as reunite with his Great Escape and Magnificent Seven director, John Sturges for a new action pic titled Yards at Essendorf. Sadly, for reasons not specified, none of these promising projects ever came to fruition. Ironically, the only prospective project that did make it to the screen was McQueen's 1971 racing pic Le Mans, which proved to be one of the most ill-fated movies of his career. Archerd updates his original article with news about the biopics about McQueen that are in the works. Click here to read. 

Here's a gem from Sam Peckinpah and Steve McQueen: the trailer for their classic collaboration on the 1972 film The Getaway. The movie is packed with so many great moments, it's hard to decide what scene is most memorable. However, we have to give the scene stealing trophies to Al Lettieri, playing an animalistic thug who kidnaps the sexy wife (Sally Struthers) of a meek veterinarian (Jack Dodson)  and forces them on a perverted road trip in which dumb blonde Struthers gets off on being with an exciting, if abusive, gangster. This leads to some terrific gallows humor as Dodson, best remembered for playing milquetoast Howard Sprague on The Andy Griffith Show is tied to a chair and forced to watch his kidnapper make love to his willing wife. There are also small gems of performances from other terrific supporting actors including Slim Pickens and Ben Johnson. Click here to watch the trailer. To read our extensive coverage of the making of The Getaway, see Cinema Retro issue #3 in our back issues section or click here to order directly from Ebay. 

Our own columnist David Savage sent the link to this irresistable trailer from Damien: Omen II - and as shlock trailers to shlock sequels go, it ain't half-bad. That's primarily because we're reminded that William Holden and Lee Grant could have brought class and style to anything on celluloid, including your vacation movies. To view click here