Steel (1979)

Mike Catton was once a world-renowned construction foreman (at least in the construction world), but an accident left him with a serious fear of heights. Unable to climb the big skyscrapers... See full summary »

Director:

Steve Carver

Writers:

Leigh Chapman, Peter S. Davis (story),

Stars:

Lee Majors, Jennifer O'Neill, Art Carney

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lee Majors	...	Mike Catton
Jennifer O'Neill	...	Cass Cassidy
Art Carney	...	Pignose Moran
Harris Yulin	...	Eddie Cassidy
George Kennedy	...	Big Lew Cassidy
Redmond Gleeson	...	Harry
Terry Kiser	...	Valentino
Richard Lynch	...	Dancer
Ben Marley	...	The Kid
Roger E. Mosley	...	Lionel
Albert Salmi	...	Tank
Robert Tessier	...	Cherokee
Hunter von Leer	...	Surfer
R.G. Armstrong	...	Kellin
Joe De Nicola	...	Tom

Storyline

Mike Catton was once a world-renowned construction foreman (at least in the construction world), but an accident left him with a serious fear of heights. Unable to climb the big skyscrapers while under construction, he retired and became a truck driver. But when an old friend needs him to help put up a building, and when the old friend gets harassed and threatened by an Evil Corporate Type, he comes out of retirement and assembles the creme de la creme of the construction world. Together, they race against time to finish the building while the Evil Corporate Type tries to stop them.

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Plot Keywords:

construction | building | accident | sexism | acrophobia | 

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Taglines:

The Magnificent Eight.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 1979 (France)

Also Known As:

Look Down and Die

Filming Locations:

Fayette County, Kentucky, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fawcett-Majors Productions, Steel Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stunt player A.J. Bakunas died doubling George Kennedy in a fall that killed Kennedy's character. The scene had been shot safely with the stunt man jumping from the ninth floor of the construction site/shooting location in Lexington, KY. At the time he held the record for high falls, set while doubling Burt Reynolds in Hooper, but when rival Dar Robinson later beat his distance in a helicopter jump at Knott's Berry Farm, A. J. and Lee Majors returned to the star's home state to re-shoot the opening of the movie with Bakunas actually jumping from the top of the building. He fell correctly onto an airbag, but the airbag split on impact. His father was with him at the time of his death, but his mother never visited A. J. on set because she always feared he would be killed. Ironically, the completed structure, Kincaid Towers, became home to a life insurance company that eventually went bankrupt.

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Quotes

Mike Catton: Nobody move! Cherokee's loose somewhere!

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Connections

Referenced in Alpha to Omega: Exposing 'The Osterman Weekend' (2004)

User Reviews

Lee Majors is The Man of Steel........

The Six Million Dollar Man plays The man of Steel. How perfect is that?! This movie took a place in Lee Majors' actual home town Kentucky. It was reported that they used actual under the construction building (Kincaid Tower) at the time and build the set on top roof of Eastern Kentucky University building for the shooting.

This was not critically claimed nor big box office hit, and yet it is the one of the best action drama Majors ever produced and stared. Steel surely shines in his life long acting career. It defines what kind of actor he was, and he had great qualities to play this type of role (well, best or worst). He was man's man, but not in egoistic way. He was the kind of the guy let his action speak itself, tough in both physically and mentally, and yet vulnerable, respect and honor his friends, trying to do the right thing.

Mike Catton (Lee Majors) as foreman gathers craziest crews in skyscraper business to fight against all odds to finish up the building to meet the deadline. It is race against time! I still love this 70's ultimate guy movie because it portraits what real American men were used to be like.

Majors made a couple of films such as Agency with late Robert Mitchum and The last Chase with Late Burgess Meredith after Steel. Those two films did not take off, and Majors came back with huge success of TV Fall Guy.

Finally, Lee Majors was not the only man of Steel in this movie. Steel features other men of Steel. Academy Award winners: Art Carney (Harry & Tonto) and George Kennedy (Cool Hand Luke) The film was dedicated for A.J. BAKUNIS who did stunt for George Kennedy's free fall scene from top of the building.

Steel is one of the 70's infamous movie that should be available on DVD.