Steve McQueen
The late, great, movie icon--
On set of The Hunter
with the legendary Steve McQueen
in his spectacular final performance
Steve McQueen was cool. No doubt about it. As he was seen on screen, so was he in person.
McQueen didn't have to say a single word to make a statement. Not in a movie, and not sitting one-person
away from me at a long picnic table in the front yard of an Illinois corn-famer's house.
Through lunch, McQueen said little. But the statement and the person were thicker and louder than clouds in
the Illinois sky.
We, your fans, miss you Steve McQueen.
All over these parts, corn stalks are as high as the full moon. And greener than any East Texas cow pasture you
ever saw. During the filiming of The Hunter, the movie-set along with Steve McQueen's motorhome, is tucked
away like a field mouse in this Illinois gold.
Story appeared in the Herald,
Bourbonnais, Il, October 10, 1979
They love him. They all love him.
It shows in their voice and in their eyes.
"I like working with Steve McQueen," says cameraman, Frank McNeal of Los Angeles, Calif. "He's got it all
together." McNeal starts speaking with me as he exits the helicopter he and his partner, Ross Reynolds, also of
Los Angeles, use while filming actions that occur in a corn field just west of Manteno, Ill.
"Most of them (movie stars) are living in a world of fantasy and they're hard to work with. They read their
scripts and really think they're the character."
McNeal and Reynolds, a team for 20 yuears, enjoy their work, although, they agree, there is a lot of wasted
time.
"It sometime takes a week's work waiting around and filming to turn out a three or four minute script."
There is no sitting around and waiting, however, for Cliff Lubirdi, Ron Schroeder, Jay Hirsh, George Stuart,
and Joe Marazzits, who were sent to Kankakee, Ill., by Paramount Pictures to get a shack-like building ready for
use in The Hunter.
The attractive "shack" was made of all new materials in Hollywood and trucked to Aroma Park, Ill. The wood
used was stained and antiqued throughout. Everything is made to look old and run-down, from the rustic cabinets
to the distressed kitchen tiles. The outside walls are stained, then shellacked and made to peel. Informal light
fixtures on the walls hold screw-in bulbs. And what look like real electrical wires running from the river bank to the
structure is actually closesline wire painted black.
The Hollywood shack, designed by Ron Schoreder, located on Kankakee River at Aroma Park, will actaually
be seen as waters in Houston, Texas. And the scene shot in the Manteno corn field will appear as Lamont, Neb.
According to assistant director Frank Bueno, of Holleywood, Paramont sent out a scout months before the
filming of The Hunter.
From my notes:
It was really kind-of funny how Carol and I found McQueen and all the other movie-makers. After all, the
movie company was trying to do it filming in secluded areas, I guess to keep the cornfields from flooding with
screaming fans. Carol and I both worked for small newspapers at the time and were always out for stories,
especially that might be involving famous people like Steve McQueen.
So, we went out looking for Holleywood down on the river miles away for everything. We were in my old red
Olds when we caught sight of house actually being constructed in the water. A couple men were in sight. Carol
leaned out the window, from her waist. She called, "Hey, can anybody tell me where I can find Cliff."
"He's down there," a man came back.
I parked under some big hickory and oak trees and we scuffled through the dried weeds to house, which
was still under construction.
I don't know if Cliff ever asked why we were looking for him. I didn't even know myself. I later asked Carol
how she knew about Cliff."
Carol looked at me kind-of silly-like. "There's a Cliff on every movie set," she said, matter-of-factly.
:
While filming at the "shack" on the Kankakee River, Steve McQueen was doing a scene on the river bank
before making his appearance to capture the "bounty" he was after "in Houston, Texas."
My friend and fellow-writer, Carol, sat with her note pad and little instant camera, flash on clearly, and
snapped McQueen, generating a re-shot.
McQueen turned to her, pointed his finger and said, "I don't have to take this shit from you."
Carol was totally embarrassed and teared up.
"I slept for years with Steve's picture under my pillow and these are the first words he says to me," she
whimpered.
The scout was to find just the right spot for filming. He came up with areas in Illinois just south of Chicago.
The true story of bounty hunter Ralph "Papa" Thorson, covered (among other places) parts of Illinois,
Indiana, Texas and Nebraska. Since Chicago was the setting for much of the story, the scout searched parts of
Northern Illinois. He decided that the Kankakaee area was the most perfect location because, "The scenery here
fits all those places."
Breno points, "Look out there," he says glancing across a vacant field backed with trees lining the horizon.
"That could be anyplace. That could easily pass for Texas. East Texas. North Texas."
After completing it shooting in Illinois, the film heads back to Hollywood to continue work on The Hunter.
Also, minor shooting is scheduled for the Houston, Texas, area. Mainly road signs, the scene shot at the
Kankakee River "shack" will be tied into the Houston area shooting.
Whenever a film crew goes on location, everyone depends on the "honey wagon," which is a long line of
dressing rooms with plumbing. Bill Gibson, driver of the "honey wagon", which is parked at the dairy farm setting
near the corn field, says his job is to be there when they need him. He notes he might just sit around a week or
more at a time. He might even go fishing if there is a creek near enough the site. Just so he can get messages on
his walkie-talkie.
"I'm getting paid to be here," he explains. Gibson has traveled with numerous companies to such states as
Mississippi, Georgia,and Arizona. He enjoys what he does. "meeting all kinds of people. There is never a dull
moment."
Unlike Bill Gibson, Tom Welsch, in charge of wardrobe, is busy most of the time. He notes working days
and nights with no break in sight. "But you'll never hear me complain," he says in his Scottish accent.
"They are paying me well." Wardrobe, of course, has its problems the same as the rest of film making.
"When it rains, I pray."
Dave Holloway's job, like Bill Gibson's, is to be there when he is needed. He drives Steve McQueen's
motor-home from place to place while McQueen flies.
Frank McNeal (helicopter camera man) has worked with McQueen a number of times, he says. "He is easy to
work with."
McNeal grins. And says, "No, he won't sign autographs. Oh he might if you're introduced to him. But he
doesn't like to be bothered."
McNeal points out, there are things McQueen likes talking about. "Flying. Antiques."
"He likes to get it on about things that mean something to him. If you're interested in what he's interested in,
then he'll talk to you."
During their time here, most movie-makers are styaying at the Holiday Inn.
"If Steve can get out of staying at a motel, he will. He prefers staying in his motor-home in the cornfield," he
added.
Once in a while a spectator will get close enough to McQueen to steal a camera shot. But anyone working
with him will tell you quickly, "Steve hates that. He doesn't want anyone to make a fuss over him. I won't take his
picture."
Still, McQueen seems to have a gentle way ab out him. He grins as he shakes hands with two little boys at
the dairy farm gate. He smiles when a little girl gives him a kiss. And he is apologetic when he accidentally steps
on a dog's foot.
It is obvious, however, McQueen doesn't want unnecessary attention. When a cake saying, "Happy
Birthday Steve" is place before him on the long, picnic-style table (one of six where his crew eats), McQueen
says: "It's not my birthday." Then he finishes his lunch and walks off toward a stand of calf stalls.
Other than Steave McQueen, McNeal claims he likes working with Robert Redford. "He's another one that
has it all together, McNeal says.