Steve McQueen The Last Mile [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

~ Barbara McQueen (Author), Marshall Terrill (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Steve McQueen, The Last Mile" documents Barbara McQueen's three-and-a-half year relationship with the movie icon, and includes candid shots from 1977 to 1980 - McQueen's years out of the spotlight. It chronicles Barbara's early history and modeling career; her years with McQueen at Trancas Beach and Santa Paula as well as behind-the-scene photographs on the sets of "Tom Horn" and "The Hunter". The book is written in passage form, weaving Barbara McQueen's personal history, her relationship with her famous husband and the stories behind the hundreds of candid pictures she took. It will also include a special foreword by Pat Johnson, McQueen's close friend and karate instructor. The November 2006 release date for "Steve McQueen -The Last Mile" coincides with the 26th anniversary of the actor's death. The special edition includes a slip case and a CD of Steve McQueen reviewing his script notes for the movie "Tom Horn". Each copy is signed by Barbara McQueen and her co-author, Marshall Terrill.

From the Inside Flap

BARBARA MCQUEEN has remained silent about husband, actor, Steve McQueen, for more than a quarter-century. Now she is ready to open a picture window into their relationship and the final years of the Hollywood icon's life, his most peaceful years. Steve McQueen: The Last Mile is written in passage form and weaves Barbara McQueen's personal history, her relationship with her famous husband and the stories behind the hundreds of pictures she took from 1977 to 1980. The Oregon farm girl turned world-class model, then known as Barbara Minty, was almost half McQueen's age when they met. She found out the screen legend was no ordinary film star: he rode motorcycles, flew antique planes, drank Old Milwaukee beer, collected toys, wore grungy clothes and flouted traditions. McQueen had tired of the movie industry at the end of his career and wanted to scale back his visibility. He grew a beard, let his trademark blonde locks grow long, and dressed like a long-distance trucker. "This was Steve laying aside all his Hollywood stuff to become a real person," said Barbara McQueen. The couple spent their time before his 1980 death traveling around America in his vintage pickup trucks, making friends with "ordinary people" and enjoying life away from Hollywood. The publicity-shy McQueen granted Minty full access to his private world, which is captured in these candid and poignant photos.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Dalton Watson Fine Books; illustrated edition edition (November 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1854432265
• ISBN-13: 978-1854432261
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,478,967 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Steve McQueen, March 9, 2007

By	Cie (MI United States) - See all my reviews

Intimate, touching, insightful, sometimes hilarious passages into the life of The King of Cool, Steve McQueen. We live in such a visual, media oriented world that we tend to get preconceived notions of who movie stars are, based on what we see. The world saw Steve McQueen as the ultimate man- handsome, macho, cool, someone they could spend their hard-earned bucks on back in the day and get their money's worth at the theater. Barbara McQueen, his widow, saw the real Steve McQueen. She got to know Steve, the family man; Steve, the man who loved the great outdoors and his morning constitutional; Steve, the great mashed potato guru, airplane and motorcycle enthusiast. "The Last Mile" shows how little we all knew of his kindness and philanthropy; how little we knew of his yearning for happiness and how he ultimately found it. The photos in this book will enchant you, leave you wanting more. One of my favorites is one where Barbara embraces Steve from behind. That photo alone is worth the book to me. Beautiful model, handsome superstar, real people worn out from what life has dealt them. You can see it in their faces. It makes me sigh everytime I see it because there's not one person I know who hasn't been to that point and had nothing left but an embrace. You will love this book and you will want more. I guarantee you.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steve McQueen: The Last Mile, March 9, 2007

By	Mark Twain - See all my reviews

This book takes you into the very intimate and private world of Steve McQueen between 1977 and 1980.

Consisting of approximately 150 color photos (most of which were taken by his wife Barbara McQueen) and accompanied by Barbara's recollections of their time together.

Unlike some other photobooks where you sense you are watching the star pose, this book shows you the absolutely unguarded and relaxed side of the man as he goes about his daily life, talking to friends, tinkering on his bikes, dozing in an armchair or washing down the pavement outside his airplane hanger.

These are the sort of photos you would usually never see of a movie star - Steve in the morning before he has showered, looking drowsily over a hot mug of coffee, househunting in Montana with Barbara, or lying asleep on the living room floor with his pet dog lying on top of him.

You really feel like you have stepped into Steve and Barbara's house, it is that personal.

The text accompaniment is also very entertaining and educational as Barbara shares her memories of how Steve wooed her, the initial problems he had to overcome in winning her parents approval of the relationship, his personal lessons to her on how to dismantle and rebuild a motorcycle (sadly unsuccessful) or a gun (successful), how he came to propose, and many other intimate and fun moments. Overall it takes you through their entire relationship and serves as something of an autobiography in itself.

All these photos are beautifully presented in a high gloss large coffee table book format.

Released with the first limited edition run of the book is a 45 minute audio CD of Steve verbally working through the script of the film "Tom Horn". It is fascinating to hear him talk about his vision of the film, rework the script and plan his character. You get a real sense of the epic film he wanted Tom Horn to be (but was denied due to the studio slashing the budget), and you realise just how insightful he was with film and acting. The amount of thought he puts into his role should forever dispel the notion that he just played himself on film.

Steve McQueen - The Last Mile is a very special book and no fans collection will be complete without it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, March 9, 2007

By	carmela amari "carm" (New York) - See all my reviews

A fantastic book on the last years of legend Steve McQueen! Great job by Barbara McQueen and Marshall Terrill! Touching moments! Great photos!