The Getaway + intro

After being denied parole from his prison sentence for armed robbery, Carter “Doc” McCoy makes a deal with a corrupt politician in exchange for early release. 

Tasked with leading a bank heist, Doc tries to keep up his end of the bargain. But when it becomes clear that his accomplices are not to be trusted, Doc and his wife Carol must race to reach the safety of the Mexican border alive. 

Following their collaboration on Junior Bonner – a creatively accomplished if not commercially successful partnership – Steve McQueen approached Sam Peckinpah to direct this action-packed thriller, which was more familiar territory for the filmmaker. The combination of Peckinpah’s cinematic style, McQueen’s on-screen presence and Walter Hill’s script elevate The Getaway above its pulpy, genre origins, and proved a much-needed hit for both McQueen and Peckinpah. 

Event/ This screening will be introduced by Andy Willis, Senior Visiting Curator: Film at HOME, and Professor of Film Studies, University of Salford.