I’ve been consistently running into this movie for as long as I can remember. It was mostly about how cool both the cars and the lead star were. However, for some unknown reason, probably the age difference, I never sat down and watched it. Until last night. And I have to tell you right away that I wasn’t that impressed. Bullitt is a solid thriller about a detective trying to unravel a conspiracy that might just cost him his life. Will the man you don’t want to fuck with, Frank Bullitt, get to the bottom of this is up to you to find out. The movie is based on the novel Mute Witness by Robert L. Fish although it also introduces some significant changes.
Bullitt was a huge hit and it features one of the more influential car chase scenes in the history of cinema. As such, it reminds me of another movie that came out just three years later, The French Connection. We’ve got not only a tough detective looking to take down bad guys no matter what but also an iconic car chase and lots of other similar elements. After more than fifty years, both of these movies might feel a bit underwhelming. I urge you not to let them spoil your view of the movies from the sixties and seventies. Mostly because there are a lot of them which stood the test of time. If we’re talking about Steve McQueen, both Papillon and The Getaway were fantastic.
And you already know what I think about Night Moves, one of the best neo-noir movies starring Gene Hackman. With that being said, Bullitt is not a bad movie, it just doesn’t hit as hard as it did back then. Since this was a McQueen vehicle most of its charm stems from his performance as this stoic, smart, and capable detective. A man of few words with constant but subtle suffering etched on his face. The strong silent type. We also shouldn’t forget his hedonistic lifestyle. After all, the first time we see him, he’s still recovering from last night as he came home at five. But don’t you worry, one electrocution coffee later, our main man is ready to go.
Beautiful Jacqueline Bisset plays his girlfriend Cathy and Robert Duvall also appears in one of his early movie roles. Robert Vaughn played the politician Walter Chalmers so well that, many years later, when he wanted to become a real-life politician, he couldn’t because of this performance. The main story is a bit convoluted but thanks to the slower pacing, I think you’ll be able to follow it. We’ve got the mob, a witness in danger, sleazy politicians, and all sorts of other players active here. Along with our main man, Mr. Bullitt himself. Apart from one awesome chase scene and a couple of shootouts there won’t be much action.
Okay, to call it an awesome chase scene is a bit of an understatement. Once you see McQueen, who really was behind the wheel of his Ford Mustang for most of the time, chasing after the bad guys in a Dodge Charger, you instantly feel the tension rise. Previous vehicular duels were not as effective and groundbreaking as this one. I know that after countless modern chase scenes, this one might not live up to your expectations. I’m just saying that you have to take into account that these were the late sixties. Moreover, the entire thing happens on the picturesque and highly impactful streets of San Francisco. Dirty Harry is also taking place in The City just like 48 Hours.
As always, these movies from the sixties and seventies offer a window into our past and how things were on top of everything else. I just love losing myself in these older movies. It’s a fucking vibe. And how about that restaurant scene where they’re having dinner with that awesome band playing in the background? The band in question is Meridian West and, at that time, they were usually playing at the fancy restaurant The Trident in Sausalito. I’m telling you, it’s a fucking vibe. The finale was also good, a fitting end for a movie like this. I have to say I don’t know why or how Bullitt got the PG rating but it fucking did.
Director: Peter Yates
Writers: Alan Trustman, Harry Kleiner, Robert L. Fish
Cast: Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Vaughn, Don Gordon, Robert Duvall, Simon Oakland
Fun Facts: The machine the police officers use to receive information on their suspect is a Xerox Magnafax Telecopier, one of the first fax devices ever invented. Introduced to the marked back in 1966, it was the first of its kind.
Rating:
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062765/
