The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) - FRAMED

Original 1968 Black-and-White Photographic Production Still #SM-L-3A.

This original 1968 black-and-white still captures Steve McQueen at his most suave and calculating in The Thomas Crown Affair—a film that cemented his image as the king of cool. Cigarette poised, eyes steely, this moment epitomizes late-’60s style and confidence. Shot in stunning monochrome, the image is both minimalist and magnetic.

Cultural Significance of The Thomas Crown Affair (1968):

Released during a decade of radical change in fashion, politics, and cinema, The Thomas Crown Affair was a landmark in style-driven filmmaking:

    •    Antihero Appeal: Steve McQueen plays a millionaire bank robber with no real motive beyond thrill. This moral ambiguity made him a poster child for the new antiheroes of late-’60s cinema, reflecting the public’s disillusionment with authority.

    •    Ultra-modern aesthetics: Director Norman Jewison used split screens, jazzy scoring (by Michel Legrand), and a languid pace to emphasise elegance over action. The film oozes sophistication, from McQueen’s tailored suits to Faye Dunaway’s high-fashion wardrobe.

    •    Sexual tension as art: The now-iconic chess scene between McQueen and Dunaway turned erotic subtlety into high art, signalling a shift from the constraints of the Hays Code era to a more mature cinematic language.

    •    Design iconography: Everything from Crown’s Boston townhouse to the film’s cars and clothes influenced the aspirational aesthetic of the decade—and continues to resonate in fashion and design today.

• Year: 1968
• Size: 8 X 10 Inches
• Frame Size: 13 X 15 Inches
• Product Code: T6008