THE KING OF COOL

The Film Society of Lincoln Center will be hosting a tribute to one of my favorite actors, Steve McQueen beginning May 20. Some of his biggest hits will be screened including The Magnificent Seven, The Cincinnati Kid, The Sand Pebbles, Bullitt, Papillon (a personal favorite and one I already bought tickets to see), and The Towering Inferno. McQueen really is one cool dude as evidenced by the characters he plays.

Unfortunately, one film that won’t be shown is Soldier in the Rain Steve’s rare attempt at comedy where he plays a G.I. with all these get rich quick schemes in tries to entice his superior Jackie Gleason to go in on them with him. Steve’s love interest is played by Fantasy Femme, Chris Noel. Below is what she told me about working with McQueen and co-stars Tuesday Weld and Jackie Gleason:

“Steve was incredible. He was a fascinating and sexy actor. I had a major crush on Steve but I wouldn’t go to bed with him because he was married. One time he invited me into his bungalow and began kissing me. I told him, ‘No!’ He responded, “But I’ve been to bed with every one of my leading ladies!” I very politely left and we became friends.”

Though Chris adored working with McQueen, she got the cold shoulder from her other co-stars. “Tuesday Weld was bitchy and didn’t like me. I even had to darken my hair because of her! And Jackie Gleason liked only who he chose to like. He wasn’t friendly. I’d say hello to him and he’d grunt something back. He didn’t like rehearsing either. But I got used to it. I liked working with Steve McQueen so much that it didn’t bother me how everybody else was.”

CHECK IT OUT

Though I have no article in it, check out the just released new issue of Cinema Retro magazine. As always editors Lee Pfeiffer and David Worrall have produced a jam-packed issue full of great articles and interviews chocked full of glossy color photos. My favorite is the series they have been running about The Man from U.N.C.L.E. movies. This issue the focus is on Karate Killers. Well worth subscribing to if you are fans of 60s/70s cinema.

OL BLUE EYES MEETS RAQUEL

Frank Sinatra’s 1967 detective yarn Tony Rome where he played the carousing private eye who tangles with gold digger Jill St. John, unhappy heiress Sue Lyon, and tough talking Lesbian stripper Deanna Lund while hired by Lyon’s father to find stolen jewelry down Miami way was such a hit that 20th Century-Fox requested a sequel.

The result was Lady in Cement (1968) and Sinatra was back as Tony Rome investigating the murder of a blonde he found dead underwater while scuba diving. Cost cutting allowed Sinatra only one starlet this time but when it is wild-haired, busty Raquel Welch no other starlets need apply. This was a very odd pairing as you can see from the trailer below. I do love me some Raquel and she makes for a much more interesting love interest than Jill St. John so definitely worth viewing.