McQueen was sitting outside his hanger roughly the same time this story is told. He was unshaven, unkempt, and had shaggy hair.
He had not worked in a while and one of his oldest California friends arrived. Seeing McQueen, the friend said "Steve, I never thought you would end up like this"!
Reportedly McQueen responded saying "What makes you think this is how I will end up"?
Indeed, from that point, he went on to make several more movies, some considered to be his best works.
McQueen did not "go out" a loser, nor broke, so let's not see this very good film thinking it to be the tale of a drifting loser.
No, this is McQueen in an intentional lull in his life when he chose to take a step back, re-evaluate his own priorities and do something for himself for a change.
This story is very credible, and I became a McQueen fan in the 1950's when I first saw him on local television.
I am writing this review in my home...three miles from his birthplace, which I consider "bragging rights" as someone who has studied the man for a long time.
