Speeding Bullitt: The Life and Films of Steve McQueen

In Speeding Bullitt Episode #14, Marshall Terrill and I take a look at two Steve McQueen comedies, 1961's The Honeymoon Machine, and 1963's Soldier in the Rain.

This episode explores the most expensive Steve McQueen related items one can purchase on eBay. Dr. Ian Olney, Associate Professor of English, York College of Pennsylvania discusses the history of movie posters; Jake Ehrlich, the world's #1 Rolex historian and Founding Editor and Publisher of Jake's Rolex World / rolexmagazine.com, explores McQueen's history and connection to the luxury watch brand; and Marshall Terrill, writer and Steve McQueen expert, talks about McQueen's relationship with jazz photographer William Claxton.

On this episode, Marshall Terrill provides insight into Jeremy Roberts' 2017 article, The Relentless Dilemma of the Fake Steve McQueens, exploring stories of people pretending to be related to "The King of Cool".

The Magnificent Seven is a 1960 Western film directed by John Sturges and stars Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn and James Coburn. The film is a remake of the 1954 Kurosawa Japanese film Seven Samurai. Sturges' American version of the film focuses on a group of seven gunmen hired to protect a small village in Mexico from a group of bandits. Tune in to hear interviews with writers Paul Bishop and Marshall Terrill, who dive deep into the classic Western.

During time off from filming Wanted: Dead or Alive, Steve McQueen filmed two episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, an anthology television show created, produced, hosted, by "The Master of Suspense," Alfred Hitchcock. On this episode, I talk with Dr. Richard Edwards a film noir specialist who has a heavy interest in Alfred Hitchcock. He has taught several online courses for Turner Classic Movies, including The Master of Suspense: 50 Years of Hitchcock.

Never So Few is a 1959 war movie directed by John Sturges, staring Frank Sinatra, Gina Lollobrigida, and Steve McQueen. On this episode, I talk with the author of Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro, about Frank Sinatra's acting career, and the star's relationship with McQueen. During the second half of the show, I speak with Marshall Terrill about McQueen in 1959, and the icon's search for his biological father. Lastly, the episode ends with a look at the wild life of Gina Lollobrigida.

The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery was based on true events that happened on April 24, 1953, in St. Louis, Missouri, when career criminal Fred William Bowerman and two other men entered the Southwest Bank with the intention of stealing up to 200,000 dollars. Four years later Charles Guggenheim and John Stix made a movie about the incident staring Steve McQueen. Tune in to this episode to hear Andrew Wanko, Public Historian with the Missouri Historical Society, talk about the the details of the crime and the history of Tower Grove Park. Later in the episode, McQueen expert Marshall Terrill answers questions about McQueen's experience filming the heist movie.

Tune in as Marshall Terrill debunks and confirms popular internet rumours about Steve McQueen, including his relationship with Sharon Tate, his connection to the Manson Family murders, and his unreleased adventure heist film Yucatan. Later in the episode, I take a look at the sale of the 1968 Ford Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen in the legendary chase scene in the movie Bullitt.

Time starts now! Frank Hill met Steve McQueen in 1963 as a youth attending Boys Republic in Chino, California. Over the next 17 years, Frank developed a close relationship with McQueen, spending a significant amount of time with the Hollywood icon. During our 60-minute conversation, Frank shares many never-before-heard stories about "The King of Cool," including tales of speeding cars (and bikes), fist fights, and run-ins with police. Help me grow Speeding Bullitt by sharing the podcast on social media, and leaving a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.

On this episode I am joined by Paul Bishop to discuss TV westerns in the 1950s and 60s. Paul is a 35-year veteran of the LAPD, and the author of fifteen novels. He starred as the lead interrogator in ABC's reality show Take the Money and Run produced Jerry Bruckheimer, and he regularly presents his popular seminar, Six-Gun Justice—Western Novels, Movies, and TV Shows, at libraries and other community functions. Marshall Terrill joins me for the second part of the show as we discuss McQueen's experience making Wanted: Dead or Alive, and his life in and around that time.