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 | race against time | truck driver | truck | 

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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:

2 August 1979 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Look Down and Die

Filming Locations:

Interstate 75 Kentucky river overpass, Clay's Ferry, Kentucky, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fawcett-Majors Productions, Steel Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A wooden mock-up set was constructed on the roof of the nearby Patterson Office Tower on the University of Kentucky campus. Most of the top floor scenes were filmed there, as to not interfere with the actual construction in progress at Kincaid Towers (the stand-in for Hayes Plaza Tower depicted in the film).

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Quotes

Mike Catton: Isn't there a law against these guys all being in the same state?

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Connections

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

User Reviews

Building under construction only has one chance to be completed, a collection of elite steel workers.

Big Lew Cassidy (George Kennedy) is in a race against time, and the bank, to complete his latest building. But a tragic accident makes the likelihood of building completion seem impossible. Cassidy's daughter Cass (Jennifer O'Neill), with the help of Pignose Moran (Art Carney), assembles the `dream team' of steel workers to help her finish off the building.

Mike Catton (Lee Majors) leads the rag-tag bunch of hardhats in a race with the bank. On the crew are Harry Doyle (Redmond Gleeson), an ex-IRA bomber who Catton helped get into the steel workers union, Dancer (Richard Lynch) who is likable enough but has that all appealing `edge'-- or as Catton puts it, `He's the meanest b**tard that ever lived', Cherokee (Robert Tessier) who claims he's not afraid of Custer, Tank (Albert Salmi) who runs the big crane and has a warped sense of humor and Valentino (Terry Kiser), the `lover' of the group. Basically this group mirrors the more comic bunch from CARWASH, although this movie is a drama, not a comedy.

An interesting little subplot to this movie is the fact that Catton, after witnessing the death of several co-workers from a fall off a building, is now afraid of heights and in fact had retired from iron work to become a big-rig driver.

Everyone does a fine job of acting, Majors is believable as the leader and O'Neill is a nice surprise as the boss's daughter and potential love interest for Majors. Kennedy always delights in whatever he does, whether as an aging steelworker or work-farm prisoner (COOL HAND LUKE) and Harris Yulin is great as his sleazy brother Eddie.

Kiser is hilarious with his over-active libido and Lynch has some engaging scenes, particularly his confrontation with Catton when he discovers his fear of heights. Lastly, Tessier is entertaining as the `big lug' Cherokee and Salmi's antics and pranks throughout the film will keep you happily entertained.

Though this film is in no danger of winning an Oscar, it is thoroughly entertaining and has a feel-good ending to it. You'll never look at a building under construction the same again after viewing this one!