$7.49  Vanishing Point - DVD |
$11.24  Le Mans - DVD |
$15.98  The Getaway - DVD |
$11.96  The Thomas Crown Affair - DVD |
$11.21  The Great Escape - DVD |
 [Larger view] | Bullitt
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Average user rating:  | |
 Buckle Your Seat Belts | |
| This is my favorite McQueen film because from beginning to end, he remains in character as Frank Bullitt, a taciturn but thorough police detective in San Francisco who relentlessly solves not one but several crimes. All of the supporting cast's performances are outstanding, notably those of Robert Vaughn (Walter Chalmers), Norman Fell (Baker), Don Ross (Delgetti) and Simon Oakland (Captain Bennett). Director Peter Yates introduced in this film a car chase which remains the industry standard, approximated by few others such as in The French Connection. The film is based on Robert L. Pike's novel Mute Witness. The key witness (allegedly Johnny Ross) is mute because he is dead. The central power play involves stoical Bullitt and careerist Chalmers. Bullitt is just doing his job whereas Chalmers has a political agenda which guides and informs his displeasure with Bullitt's unorthodox methods. As Bullitt's love interest Cathy, Jacqueline Bisset is only secondary to the plot which proceeds through moments of violence and strategic evasions before its ultimate resolution at the San Francisco International Airport. Also noteworthy is Robert Duvall's brief but indelible appearance as cab driver Weissberg. This film has Snap, Crackle, and Pop. | |
| Steve McQueen scorches the streets of San Francisco | |
| Arguably the best crime film of 1968, and certainly one of the most influential films of the genre...."Bullitt" established new directions in the mood and style of crime thrillers, and firmly established McQueen as one of the key anti-hero stars of the 60's. Based on the gritty novel "Mute Witness" by Robert L. Pike, this was the first, and only, time McQueen portrayed a police officer (albeit a maverick one) in his movie career. In 1968 Steve was then riding high on the success of his previous crime film, "The Thomas Crown Affair", and "Bullitt" just propelled his star even higher into the heavens ! The plot is tight, economical and well crafted....taciturn, moody Detective Frank Bullitt (McQueen) is charged with the protection of a key witness vital to an upcoming trial involving Mafia connections. Whilst hidden away in a supposed secure location, the witness and his police guard are brutally gunned down by unknown assailants. The heat is turned up on Bullitt by his tough Captain (Simon Oakland) and the manipulative, opportunistic politician Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) to come up with the right answers fast ! Between the draining investigation, Bullitt struggles to maintain his relationship with his cultured, sensitive girlfriend, Cathy (Jacqueline Bisset) Primarily coming from a TV series background, Englishman Peter Yates (directing his fourth movie) did a commendable job as director on "Bullitt"...producing a complex, intense crime thriller with a unique style that would ultimately influence many other films. Yates would later to go onto direct Robert Mitchum in the excellent "sleeper" crime film "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" ! And of course "Bullitt" is reknowned for it's now legendary car chase between Frank Bullitt's 390 GT Mustang and the two hitmen in their black, Dodge Charger 440 Magnum barrelling through the city streets and highways of San Francisco....just don't pay too much attention to how many times they pass that slow-moving, green VW Beetle !! The DVD transfer is excellent in both sound and picture quality, and the Limited Edition Set with the extra goodies (Single sheet poster, shooting draft, lobby cards etc.) is a real bonus for keen film fans !! One of my favourite cop thrillers....McQueen sizzles on screen !! | |
 Put on a Sweater | |
| This detective drama aimed to be the essence of cool, and succeeded, in fact it's a little too cool, can somebody turn up the thermostat? Barely anybody in the picture is allowed to show any genuine emotion, although one of the hoods looks a little upset before he's shotgunned. Director Peter Yates apparently planned to tell the whole story with action and came up with a near-classic. In fact his spectacular staging of McQueen's car pursuit of two Mob assassins is usually blamed for the countless imitation car chases that have blighted American movies ever since. It's certainly one of McQueen's signature roles, but why give him a hokey name like Bullitt? |
