Bullitt vs Wick-McQueen and Reeves!Two iconic films and two iconic actors…
It’s time to unpack the turtlenecks, sip a a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon all accompanied by a smooth jazz set performed live as you wait with a gathering of friends for some appetizers. At least that’s what I have in mind before I head out to the theaters this weekend….or your own personal Home Theater …that’s all it should take to create the right mood as we get set to to take in one of the greatest films in the history of cinema. Especially if we are talking car chases. Yes, there is no other film that comes to mind except Bullitt(except John Wick). And like a fine wine it has aged gracefully. And as I said the coolest of cool was to grace the silver screen once again and was well over do.
Steve McQueen returned to the theaters on Sunday October 7th and Tuesday October 9th-2018 for a limited run in Bullitt(1968) a Warner Bros/Seven Arts Production released by Warner Bros. (We now have an opportunity to stream Bullitt in HD on HBOMAX thru the TCM hub or seek out the Bluray loaded with plenty of extras-see links below).
This film has everything form car chases to one of the 2 of most suspenseful manhunt scenes I have ever seen once in the middle of the film and again at the end. The latter taking place at an airport. Plus the streets of San Francisco make an for an all ecomposing setting. Taking on a life of their own.
The streets of San Francisco make an incredible and exciting backdrop to the film and provide the key ingredient for is undoubtedly the most famous and exhilarating car chase ever filmed. Peter Yates, who was no stranger to action movies considering he had assisted J Lee Thompson on the Guns of Navarone was on the cutting edge with Bullitt. The film which was well received at the boxoffice. It also won the Oscar for Best Film Editing. Yates later films include The Deep which was a huge commercial success, the highly critically acclaimed Breaking Away-which was nominated 5 Academy Awards which he then later adapted it as a TV series and the fantasy adventure film-Krull(has grown in popularity overs and has quite the cult following.
The film made a statement fashion wise and really brought notice to the turtleneck. It made them cool and chic. Then picture Steve McQueen flaunting one while wearing a sport coat and you have the ultra cool of the times…
Add in a killer soundtrack by Lalo Schifrin(Enter the Dragon & Mission Impossible). And you have movie magic in the making.
Below: one of the more lighter,sweeter moments in the film between McQueens’ character Frank Bullitt and a young Jacqueline Bisset.
Right: Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo in The Man From UNCLE
A cast of Film and TV veterans as well as some new faces for the time appear opposite Steve including Simon Oakland(The Sand Pebbles), Norman Fell(Three’s Company)Robert Duvall(The Great Santini), the late Robert Vaughn(The Man From U.N.C.L.E.-one of the truly greats and one the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to meet) and introducing Jacqueline Bisset(The Deep)-.. And the car itself, a concept-prototype Ford Mustang 390 Fastback-it never went into production until 2001.
Above: Japanese style B poster which usually places the emphasis on the action of a particular movie.
Left: The interior of the original Bullitt car used in the 1968 film
There was only one made and disappeared shortly after the film was finished. It was one of the most sought after cars . Ironically the owner during the time it had gone incognito so to speak picked it up for about a little over $6000.00 and it became the family car for several years. How would you like to say oh our car yeah it was the Bullitt car-that’s what picked me up at school and took us to picnics on Sundays? What a life right. Oh well I can say I grew up with a two tone Ford Mustang with bucket seats and that drove me around for a while. I also had a scaled down version about the size of a standard Tonka Toy. Our local Ford dealer received a small supply of those, I was one of the fortunate ones to be given one. I played with that all the time between 1964 and 1970.
Left: The French release poster-1968
Above-a behinds the scenes — prepping for some the action involving the car chase
Before parting I just wanted to make a statement that will hopefully bring on a discussion of what this film means in terms of achievement. Remember this was produced in the late 1960’s. No digital technology, no computers to help correct picture, make suggestions as to a better angle or color or shading. All done without the use of green screens. Full blown stunts. Cars truly traveling at excessive speeds. The star doing almost all his own stunts including the driving that see on the white canvas. If you have not seen this before, well your eyes and your brain will be wowed. This like eye candy for action fans.
In fact one could make a case when looking at John Wick and the first two films in that series….there is a third due out next spring(2019) and I can’t wait … I am a huge fan of these films.
Left: 1969 Cobra Jet Mustang-one of the stars from John Wick
That there are quite a few similarities. From the clothes to the pulse pounding music at times .. highly suspenseful but when not using the techno beat that Tyler Bates has composed which are brilliant-to the cars and the cars chases. They are up close and in your face. The lone warrior battling against the odds while at the same time living a code of honor. Whether on the side of the law or not- a marshall of the old west, a samurai or yakuza or even the mafia- all organized crime but still with a code of ethics. Don’t steal from one another or throw your own under the proverbial “bus”. One chooses not to give up his brother to the very mob he is apart of or in Bullitt a captain of the “boys in blue” not to abandon his support for his detectives doing what may seem to go against the grain in how to handle his assigned case due to political pressure from the justice dept. The same goes for honoring a blood oath or in Wick’s case a marker in John Wick chapter 2.
Take a look at the even the close hand to hand . Now you don’t see any in Bullitt but the feeling is there. The on foot chase of a suspect throughout the lower part of a San Francisco hospital is riveting. Not unlike Keanu Reeves tight knit walk thru a steam bath in NYC… or any the club sets with the weaving and turning around various halls and around corners. Food for thought Bullitt vs John Wick…now wouldn’t that be a meeting.
Two coolest of the cool, both hip with smarts-nerves of steel. One a modern day assassin/hitman the other a 1960’s hip detective, both sharply dressed for the occasion and ready at a moments notice when it’s time to spring into action. hmmm If not for nothing else, it would make for one hell-of-a double feature or double bill for those European and United Kingdom film goers.
What can I say but that this is a film that deserves to be seen on the big screen. The car chases alone demand it. So I hope you are able to either stream this or fire up that Bluray- you may want to get in more than one viewing. Believe me when I say it is that good. Well I have to go and wash my favorite turtleneck and make sure I am brandishing my Ablibi sunglasses with the bamboo frames…this is Doc…vroom ..vroom
***Oh on the car front news…Ford did put back into production for a release of this past summer a 2019- Bullitt car. For the price, it is amazingly low and has been purposely priced so that the “average” “guy” can afford this spectacular vehicle. One of those love of your life automobiles!!! Sporting a 5.0 V8 engine and cooled by a larger radiator. There is an added larger rear anti-roll bar. Offered in a six speed manual transmission-only. Can achieve a speed of 163 mph and 480 horsepower. Leather lined interior, white ball stick shift and a small list of options but can include Recaro seats. Available in Highland Green and Shadow Black.*** see link farther below to Car and Driver article
Link to AMC Theaters:-don’t forget about becoming an A-List member-mega perks…be treated like a star..talk about rolling out the Red Carpet for a movie going experience on a daily basis with you as the recipient…for when things get back to normal….
Fandango-
WB Shop-for the latest from Warner and Warner Archive…
HBOMAX-
Lionsgate-
Ford Mustang-Bullitt Car-
