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Guy Movie of the Week, 4/3/00: Bullitt
by Kerry Douglas Dye

published 4/3/00

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Kerry Douglas Dye is LeisureSuit.net's Manhattan-based Senior Editor.



MOST RECENT YAK ABOUT THIS ARTICLE:

Subj: Bullitt
One of those movies I have to watch again and again. Ok, it's a fairly standard police procedural- short on action, long on atmosphere. But what atmosphere! McQueen is the undying definition of cool, the cinematography and locations rock, and if THE CAR CHASE doesn't get your testosterone a'boilin', you might want to check your pulse. The film suffers by comparison to later, more action-packed, plot dense cop flicks, but should be given considerable props for single-handedly setting a tone and style that has been imitated ever since. Add a suitably smarmy turn by Napoleon Solo himself, Bob Vaughn, and supporting roles by Norman Fell, Bob Duvall and mmm mmm mmm-Jackie Bissett, and you got yourself an enjoyable couple of hours.

-- rockin01
Jul 4, 2002 at 3:09AM

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Bullitt (Peter Yates, 1968):
Bullitt
Before Harry Callahan, before Popeye Doyle, Steve McQueen's Detective Lt. Frank Bullitt was the toughest cop in San Francisco, and the fastest driving cop on the big screen. This is the movie that started it all--the older brother of The French Connection and the Dirty Harry pictures, the daddy of the Lethal Weapon pictures, and I guess the granddaddy of stuff like Blue Streak. Yes, the apple's making its way farther and farther from the tree, but the genealogy is there, baby.

In light of the progression of the genre since 1968, Bullitt seems a wee bit tame nowadays. Frank Bullitt is repressed, but he's not psychotic. He guns guys down, but only in self defense. He's together enough that we even see him sharing laughs in some coffee bar with the friends of his sexy artist squeeze (Jacqueline Bisset, who looks great now, 30 years later, and back then was absolutely to die for).

But just because he's sane doesn't mean he doesn't kick ass when the occasion calls for it. Before The French Connection claimed the official mantle, Bullitt was known for having the best car chase in cinema history . . . and it is a good 'un, as a rip-roaring Mustang chases a Dodge Charger through the streets of San Francisco at 115mph until the Charger slams into a gas station and blows all the hell up. See, just like in Robocop. This movie ain't all that old fashioned. So what if the bad guys still wear fedoras?

The premise of the picture is that legendary cop Frank Bullitt is hand picked to guard a high-profile State's witness by a politician (senator, I guess) named of Chalmers (a great Robert Vaughn). But things might not be exactly as they seem . . . the witness doesn't seem too eager to be protected, and somehow manages to take a shotgun blast to the chest. This puts Bullitt in hot water with Chalmers, but it least his Captain stands by him through the whole mess.

Bullitt spends the rest of the picture methodically figuring out what happened and who's who, stopping along the way only to kill a few perps, and to bang Jacky Bisset now and then.

It's a mellow picture, not as fast-paced as you'd see today, but who doesn't want to watch Steve McQueen doing police work for 90 minutes?? No one I can think of. You can also have fun spotting the celebs: Robert Duvall has a small role as a taxi driver, and Norman "Mr. Roper" Fell appears as another, less supportive, police captain.

But here's the best moment in this 60's-era picture: When the witness is shot up and brought to the hospital, the doctor trying to save his life is African American. Nobody, including Bullitt, and apparently Chalmers, bats an eyelash at this, and we in the audience start thinking, Good for them! Only a few years out of Jim Crow, and these guys already have their acts together. Then Chalmers, after loudly thanking the Black doctor for his hard work, thinks he's out of earshot and tells the duty nurse that he wants the doctor replaced, because he's too "young and inexperienced". Of course both Bullitt and the doctor overhear this. It tells us in the audience that Chalmers is, in case we doubted, a real asshole, and, as Bullitt and the doctor exchange a look, captures a neat, telling moment from the era.

Bullitt, for the history, and the entertainment value, is a picture worth checking out.


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Name: rockin01
Subject: Bullitt
-- Jul 4, 2002 at 3:09AM
One of those movies I have to watch again and again. Ok, it's a fairly standard police procedural- short on action, long on atmosphere. But what atmosphere! McQueen is the undying definition of cool, the cinematography and locations rock, and if THE CAR CHASE doesn't get your testosterone a'boilin', you might want to check your pulse. The film suffers by comparison to later, more action-packed, plot dense cop flicks, but should be given considerable props for single-handedly setting a tone and style that has been imitated ever since. Add a suitably smarmy turn by Napoleon Solo himself, Bob Vaughn, and supporting roles by Norman Fell, Bob Duvall and mmm mmm mmm-Jackie Bissett, and you got yourself an enjoyable couple of hours.

Name: Dave D.
Subject: bullitt
-- Mar 2, 2002 at 10:55PM
Here's a movie that doesn't cater to those who need everything explained to them. If you can't follow th plot, go ask your mother. It's a highly realistic, intelligent, hip film.

Name: vince
Subject: bullitt
-- Mar 2, 2002 at 4:23PM
bullitt rules

Name: Kerry Douglas Dye Responds
Subject: Re: bullitt
-- Feb 1, 2002 at 3:09PM
You should be sorry. Granted, Bullitt is not as entertaining as the other movie you mention (the one about the anal housekeeper), but it's a terrific flick, and it's a pity you couldn't enjoy it.

Name: ekdr
Subject: bullitt
-- Feb 1, 2002 at 2:44PM
I had to watch this movie for a paper just this week and boy!did I have problems writing a review! Why? Because all I could think of while watching this movie was "When is this going to end. I have dishes to do." (and I am not even close to an anal housekeeper.) The car chase was the only enjoyable moment of this movie. As I stated in my paper, the incredible eight minute car chase just doesn't make up for the remaining ninety-seven minutes of boring, univentful storyline. Sorry.

Name: samg
Subject: bullitt
-- Jul 14, 2001 at 11:57PM
I just saw bullitt on tv. trouble is the plot makes no sense to me. turns out the guy killed by the hit man was not the mob defector after all, just a stand-in for him. how come the stand-in was dopey enough to take on this role, i cannot figure out. and i don't remember his making any arrangement with the mob defector to substitute for him. so, to me it all didn't figure. sorry folks.

Name: Matt F.
Subject: Lt. Frank Bullitt
-- Oct 3, 2000 at 2:51PM
I remember going to the Cinedome in Hollywood to see this when it came out in 68. It had this incredible wide screen and what we would now call surround sound, or at least it seemed that way to a 12 year old. I have this movie taped and every once in a while, I'll turn it on, turn off the lights and sit directly in front of the screen and watch the chase scene. I can still feel the car flying over the top of the hills and making those turns. One last note, if you get the time, watch The Bodyguard with Kevin Costner, see if you notice any resemblance between his character and Steve McQueen's character in Bullitt. The only thing missing is the Mustang. Enjoy. . .

Name: Mark
Subject: Bullitt
-- Sep 22, 2000 at 3:05PM
I just saw Bullitt for the first time--great film! It does seem slow compared to today's films, but why is that bad? Slow does not mean boring! After I watched it ,I realized that there is very little dialogue--like its hero, the movie is soft-spoken but to the point. Great direction and editing--and landmark car chase scene make this very enjoyable movie--I'm gonna watch it again!


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