In 1972, Ali MacGraw and Steve McQueen were the epitome of a Hollywood power couple — and no photograph captured their charm more beautifully than one taken of them together on the set of Papillon in Jamaica.
At first glance, it appeared to be just another glamorous image, but with what we know now, the photo takes on a much deeper significance…
For those unfamiliar, Ali MacGraw wasn’t actually part of the film at all.
She had just met McQueen, and their chemistry was immediate. At that time, she was riding high on the massive success of Love Story (1970), which had established her as one of the most famous actresses globally. McQueen, already dubbed the “King of Cool,” was at the peak of his career. His tough, rebellious on-screen image combined with a unique, subtle charisma that captivated everyone.
Their romance truly blossomed during the filming of The Getaway (1972), where they portrayed lovers on-screen. McQueen had come to their home to invite her to star with him in The Getaway, and the two Hollywood icons connected instantly.
“I looked into those blue eyes, and my knees began to shake,” MacGraw reminisced. “I became infatuated.”
Within a few months, the ‘it’ girl of the early 70s made a pivotal choice. She left her husband, Paramount executive Robert Evans, and followed her heart directly into McQueen’s embrace.
It’s important to highlight that MacGraw and Evans were in the midst of a very public marriage during that period, which made her affair with McQueen a significant scandal in a Hollywood that was much more conservative than it is now.
Looking back, the actress remarked, “These things happen. It wasn’t something I actively pursued. I feel very sad that fate and I caused Bob to go through some really tough times.”
By 1973, MacGraw and McQueen had gotten married, and Hollywood was abuzz with chatter about the union of two of its most dazzling stars.
“Steve was this incredibly unique, principled individual who didn’t seem to fit into the system, and I adored that,” MacGraw once shared.
The wedding was quintessentially McQueen. After months of speculation, the couple exchanged vows beneath a cottonwood tree in a city park in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
They were united in marriage by Judge Art Garfield, who had to set aside his golf clubs and pick up his Bible right in the middle of a game. While he was playing, Garfield’s secretary notified him of an urgent call:
“At first, I couldn’t believe it, and I thought it was a prank, so I kept playing. A few holes later, I received a message from the pro shop and returned — and it was Steve on the line,” Garfield recounted to the Greeley Daily Tribune in 1973.
On the call, the judge recognized McQueen’s voice from his films. When the actor inquired if Garfield could officiate the wedding for him and Ali, the judge promptly drove to the park.
The guest list was kept small and personal: only McQueen’s two sons, Terry, 14, and Chadwick, 12, along with MacGraw’s 2-year-old son, Joshua, were in attendance.
Following the wedding, the fairy-tale romance between the two stars continued to draw attention.
Together, they represented the rugged-meets-refined style of 1970s Hollywood. With leather jackets, denim, and sleek sunglasses, every outfit appeared effortless, and every glance was filled with style and attitude.
Their love story became the envy of many, a representation of glamour, freedom, and passion. Fans eagerly consumed every photo, every magazine feature, and every rare insight into their private lives.
However, as the pictures from Jamaica suggest, their tale wasn’t solely filled with sunshine and joy.
McQueen’s well-known controlling personality often conflicted with MacGraw’s wish to uphold her own career and independence. Despite the undeniable chemistry they shared, there was an underlying tension. After his father left his mother, a 14-year-old Steve found himself sent to a school for troubled youth.
MacGraw mentioned that he lost trust in women after that experience. He was uncomfortable with her working and having her own career. For some time, Ali chose to stay at home to care for their children. However, the expectations from her husband were something Ali ultimately couldn’t tolerate in the long term.
By 1978, the pair had separated.
“I couldn’t even attend art class because Steve wanted his ‘old lady’ to be home every evening with dinner ready,” she remembered.
“Steve’s version of attractive wasn’t me. He preferred blonde bimbos, and they were always around.”
And that famous Jamaican set photo from Papillon? Don’t just scroll past it. At first glance, it appears to capture a flawless moment: two stars enjoying the sun, effortlessly chic and captivating. But take a closer look, observe how their hands nearly touch, the subtle intensity in McQueen’s stare, and MacGraw’s almost imperceptible smile.
There’s a narrative within that image, filled with unexpressed longing, delicate beginnings, and a touch of Hollywood enchantment that doesn’t always endure.
However, there’s an even more captivating tale concealed behind the Papillon set photos, if you ask me. While many praised it as Steve McQueen’s best performance up to that point, he was surprisingly ignored by the Academy in 1974. Neither Steve nor his co-star Dustin Hoffman received a nomination at the 46th Annual Academy Awards.
Some believe it was due to McQueen having “taken” Ali MacGraw from Robert Evans, the influential studio executive of that era.
Additionally, rumors circulated that McQueen had affairs with several other Hollywood wives, which only fueled the gossip. Others contend that McQueen’s Oscar omission was a result of his notoriously straightforward demeanor.
Moreover, there were widespread grievances that McQueen was simply too old to play Henri Charrière, who was meant to be just 25 in the film’s initial scenes. Amidst the scandal, the rumors, and the casting controversies, McQueen’s performance continues to be one of Hollywood’s most discussed Oscar “snubs.”
