While in Chicago, actor Steve McQueen visited an antique store on Wells Street to look for antique airplane memorabilia, which he collected. While speaking with antiques expert Anita Gold, he said he was glad the stunt at Marina City was over and he was relieved that no one was injured.
(Above: Video package cover art for The Hunter)
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Welcome to Marina City. Don’t forget where you parked.
In the 1980 Paramount Pictures film The Hunter, Steve McQueen plays a bounty hunter who chases a fugitive up the spiral parking ramp on the west tower at Marina City before the villain loses control and drives off into the river.
That stunt was done on Friday afternoon, September 21, 1979. McQueen kept mostly to the parking ramp that day, venturing out once but returning when spectators got too close. About 1,500 people had gathered near Wacker Drive to watch the stunt.
(Above) Frame from The Hunter. (Right) Still photograph from 1979 shows crowd gathered on Dearborn Street bridge to watch the movie stunt. Note the sign in lower frame for marina leased by Phillips Petroleum Company. West tower in background. The building at left is 310 North Dearborn, which was replaced by The Westin Chicago River North.
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The car was a green 1980 Grand Prix Pontiac. With a dummy and a movie camera in the front seat, the car moved at 40 miles per hour, guided by a stunt man running behind it. He then locked a throttle that was rigged to the trunk. The car crashed through a fake cable barrier and dived into the Chicago River, landing half-way across.
When it landed, it sounded like a cannon blast. The car floated for a few seconds and then disappeared into the dark river. Six camera crews filmed the stunt, including one from a helicopter hovering over the Dearborn Street bridge.
In the script, the driver was supposed to survive the crash. But the impact was so severe that producer Mort Engelberg changed the story. “If it had surfaced,” he told the Chicago Tribune, “we could have gotten him out.”
The car was later salvaged. If the stunt had not worked, filmmakers were ready with two more cars.
It was McQueen’s last film. He died on November 7, 1980, of mesothelioma.
Highlights of the stunt
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The area in center frame is now occupied by Renaissance Chicago Hotel. The Chicago Theatre sign is visible in the distance, at least until the car blocks the view. Unitrin Building is at left.
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Directly below the flying car, in the image at left, the empty area is now occupied by Smith & Wollensky restaurant. Directly behind the car is the present location of Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, although this view is mostly unchanged today.
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The car is falling past two large signs, for Marina City Restaurant and Marina City Marina.
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How this area looks today
(Left) Marina City commercial block from Dearborn Street bridge. Smith & Wollensky at upper left. Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers in distance at upper right.
(Below left) Aerial view of plaza between residential towers. Entrance to lower levels at left. West tower at top of frame. Theater building at right.
(Below right) On a late Sunday morning, a parking valet greets a visitor to House of Blues Chicago.
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In case you blinked...
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Thomas Rosales Jr., in his portrayal of villain “Bernardo,” climbs over planters (which are still there today) between the State Street bridge house and the present location of Smith & Wollensky restaurant.
Rosales has appeared in hundreds of films and television shows, mostly as a stunt performer and villain.
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He runs north, parallel to State Street, toward the east residential tower, through an area that is now in front of the restaurant and includes an access ramp for the handicapped.
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McQueen, as Ralph “Papa” Thorson, has also climbed over the planters and runs toward the east tower. The area at left is now the restaurant.
There is a large awning in the distance at right, connected to the office building, which has since been taken down.
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Bernardo steals a car idling on the ground floor of the east parking ramp.
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He drives clockwise toward the State Street entrance but a truck and cars are blocking his path.
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Bernardo has backed up and turned toward the west parking ramp. McQueen borrows a tow truck and follows in pursuit.
From inside the truck, we see (at right) a valet stand near the southeast corner of the theater building. This valet stand has since been moved to a larger structure on the other side of the driveway.
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McQueen follows Bernardo up the west parking ramp. In the distance, what is now The Westin Chicago River North. The address on the awning is 310 North Dearborn Street, approximately where Ember Grill is located today.
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As Bernardo rounds a turn, he passes a sign for the marina leased by Phillips Petroleum Company. In the distance is Wacker Drive.
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With McQueen rounding a turn, the Dearborn Street bridge and 55 East Wacker are visible in distance.
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Shortly before Bernado reaches the end of the ramp, he passes a sign for Stein & Thomas Realtors.
He will back up, run into the tow truck, turn toward the south edge of the ramp, and lose control.
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After the crash, McQueen passes a column with a number printed on it that identifies the parking space. These numbers begin with 1 in the west tower and 2 in the east tower.
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He surveys the damage from the 17th floor.
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