There may have been chase scenes before, but nothing before or since has equalled the intensity and impact of BULLITT. April 20, 2011 / CitySleuth. Visit the building of Blade Runner before stopping at Hogwarts and finally landing in Jurassic Parkin the middle of the Hawaiian archipelago. Even on the 185, they (the audience) jumped out of their seats. [40], In the restaurant scene with McQueen and Bissett, the live band playing in the background is Meridian West, a jazz quartet that McQueen had seen performing at The Trident, a famous restaurant in Sausalito.[42]. I let him go ahead and tell it. They turn from Laguna St., in front of Ft. Mason, onto Marina and in front of the Safeway. Bennett decides to wait until Monday and lets Bullitt investigate the long distance phone call to San Mateo. Before the filming could be done, the Charger and the Mustang required preparation. I cant really argue with Bullitt. It is located not far from the Saints Peter and Paul Church, a Roman style religious building, whose foundations date from 1884. When you cant afford to hire Robert Redford, theres always Ryan ONeal. Car '558 had been damaged severely during filming and was subsequently sent to a scrapyard. But thats in a train station. Remember that banging going down? The black Dodge Charger was driven by veteran stunt driver Bill Hickman, who played one of the hitmen and helped with the chase scene choreography. McQueen, at the time a world-class race-car driver, drove in the close-up scenes, while stunt coordinator Carey Loftin, stuntman and motorcycle racer Bud Ekins, and McQueen's usual stunt driver, Loren Janes, drove for the high-speed parts of the chase and performed other dangerous stunts. The high-speed chase ends after the driver of the stolen truck is rammed by a patrol car at a gas station in Hacienda Heights. Bullitt car chase won't have the same effect on viewer as it did when it was release. McQueen was the prime motivator behind the chase sequence, and then director Peter Yates and Carey Loftin worked out logistics behind the scenes. The enduring scenes of the forboding Charger and the powerful Mustang have etched themselves in film making history. Here you will find unforgettable moments, scenes and lines from all your favorite films. Sanchez and Garcia are now in the process of giving the car a full restoration. They turn north, then west, then south uphill. "[14] In his obituary for Peter Yates, Bruce Weber wrote, "Mr. Yates' reputation probably rests most securely on Bullitt (1968), his first American film and indeed, on one particular scene, an extended car chase that instantly became a classic. Copyright 2023 Silent Cal Productions, LLC. As for the Mustang, Steve McQueen did some of the driving but the more dangerous scenes were performed by stunt drivers Carey Loftin and Loren Janes while Bud Ekins laid down the motorcycle. The next cut puts them eight miles away, back in the Vistacion Valley district, turning right from University St. on to Mansell St. From there they cut to Western entrance to Guadelupe Canyon Parkway on San Bruno Mountain in Daly City three miles away, heading East. McQueen and Hickman were both tickled with the cars. While examining the victim's luggage, Bullitt and Delgetti discover a travel brochure for Rome and traveler's checks made out to an Albert and Dorothy Renick. [60][61], The Mustang is featured in the 2003 video game Ford Racing 2, in a drafting challenge, on a course named Port Side. We did it several times. They needed to be faster than street cars but also be able to take an enormous beating. Bullitt garnered both critical acclaim and box-office success. Tex929rr(View Comment): Later, we took both cars out and went playing around with them over by Griffith Park (near Los Angeles). For the rear end, Balchowsky told us, I got some special rear springs, what you call a high spring rate, a flat without any arch in it, and using that spring the car would stay low. Peter and Paul Church are visible just to the right of Coit Tower. Hence, I appreciate the original Gone in 60 Seconds (1974) because they used only a single Mustang throughout the movie (though they had to do some significant patching after a stunt driver missed a mark and the Mustang hit a lamp post it wasnt supposed to). The problem never came up again, or I never saw a problem. Incredible, considering there were only two policemen on the scene as compared to the 40 policemen utilized for the chase in MAD MAD WORLD. The footage was still kept, though. That required heavy-duty parts and. I thought Id post one. Bullitts reverse burnout during the chase scene actually wasnt in the script Steve McQueen had mistakenly missed the turn. Also set in San Francisco: Whats up, Doc. He said the cops were watching the action and werent watching the traffic and this motorcycle guy slipped through, and got into the scene and ended up in the picture. I said, you really think thats what happened? The extra said, I know, I saw it, I was there. And I said thats the way its supposed to look, because it wasnt supposed to look like a stunt. Ron Riner comments on the scene, I didnt know about the stunt and I was supposed to get the information!, There were THREE cars racing wildly through the streets of San Francisco, making car chase history, although only two are seen in the movie. For Both of you, the famous Baby Carriage scene from Battleship Potemkin 1925 (Eisenstein): And all these are sort of like the Wilhelm scream an in joke for movie buffs, I think. Carey said they were gonna do a lot of jumping with it, and he said it had to be strong. We also interviewed Max Balchowsky, the man responsible for maintaining the Mustang GT and the Charger throughout the filming. In the emergency room operation scene, real doctors and nurses were used as the supporting cast. Since Bullitt is an action/crime movie, a car chase will be a key part of the film. [66], Several items of clothing worn by McQueen's Bullitt received a boost in popularity thanks to the film: desert boots, a trench coat, a blue turtleneck sweater, and most famously, a brown tweed jacket with elbow patches. As with the Mustang, all parts were fluxed. My car was disintegrating. He goofed up, and they said, thats it, get him out of the car. She has chosen to stay. Well that was a great turn of events. For example, additional sound was needed because on occasion a tire squeal was not picked up by the microphones. He had a motorcycle collection. You would rehearse it once- its got to be choreographed- then you would rehearse it again, and if it looked good, they shot it. Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. [citation needed] Prior to filming, the cars were modified by Max Balchowsky. On the Mustang, Mr. Balchowsky recalls, everybody suggested I put a Holley on the Mustang, it was better than the Ford carburetor. [26][27][28][29], Two 1968 390 cu. Loftin insisted, and threatened to quit unless he could view the daily work. Over the years, fans have asked questions about the two cars used in the movie, a 1968 Dodge Charger and a 1968 Mustang 390 GT. The film also received the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography (William A. Fraker) and the Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing Feature Film. Bullitt movie clips: http://j.mp/2jsMrf9BUY THE MOVIE: http://bit.ly/2jxFNUNDon't miss the HOTTEST NEW TRAILERS: http://bit.ly/1u2y6prCLIP DESCRIPTION:Bullitt (Steve McQueen) refuses to back down when the Charger trying to follow him takes it up a notch, leading to a chase through the streets of San Francisco.FILM DESCRIPTION:In one of his most famous roles, Steve McQueen stars as tough-guy police detective Frank Bullitt. [citation needed], McQueen based the character of Frank Bullitt on San Francisco Inspector Dave Toschi, with whom he worked prior to filming. I have not been able to find the entire movie. Or that the bus ofInto The Wild has been moved to discourage fans from spending the night there? The Untouchables does. The third vehicle, a camera car, was driven by Pat Houstis, while cinematographer Bill Fraker manned the camera. Some score passages and cues are virtually identical to the official soundtrack album, while many softer, moodier cues from the film were not chosen or had been rewritten for the soundtrack release. But thats in a train station. Realizing one of the two Mustangs was an S-code, Garcia had the car authenticated by Kevin Marti. Bullitt boards the plane as passengers are disembarking, but Ross escapes through the rear cabin door and flees across the runway, through taxiing aircraft to the crowded terminal, pursued by Bullitt. Filming took three weeks, resulting in 9 minutes and 42 seconds of pursuit. [43] It grossed $210,000 in its first week, including a hall-record Saturday of $49,073. Twenty-one seconds later, Coit Tower appears in the Mustangs front window to the east (as can be ascertained by the buildings shadows). [20][21] McQueen even copied Toschi's unique "fast-draw" shoulder holster. When the police specify a package, they have more spring here, a little bigger brake there, a little bit more happening in the shocks, and it makes a good car. While driving his Ford Mustang, Bullitt becomes aware he is being followed by a Dodge Charger driven by the two hitmen. V8 Ford Mustang GT Fastbacks (325hp) with four-speed manual transmissions were purchased by Warner Bros. for the film. Finally, the frantic race ends outside the city on the Guadalupe Canyon Parkway, on the Brisbane side, after 10 minutes and 53 seconds. Did you know that the cemetery where the final duel of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was built from scratch and that no body lies there? We hopped it up because Steve wanted the car hopped up. You rehearsed at about 1/4 speed or 1/2 speed, then you went in to film it at full speed., For the in-car scenes, two cameras were mounted in the cars and painted black. After two or three time we almost had to bodily put tranquilizers in him, and put him in the car. The guy who did special effects devised the chain balls that bust the Mustang windshield. It never gets old watching that 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 and 1968 Dodge Charger R/T 440 race pell-mell through the streets of San Francisco. Directed by Peter Yates, the film stars detective Frank Bullitt played by Steve McQueen who did most of his own stunt driving in the iconic car chase featuring a Ford Mustang 390 GT and Dodge. It worked out really good, Loftin said with a smile. Produced by a team of pop-culture specialists and enhanced by numerous anecdotes, Cult! McQueens car in the movie has an interesting history as well. [23], Bullitt is notable for its extensive use of actual locations rather than studio sets, and its attention to procedural detail, from police evidence processing to emergency-room procedures. When the time came to start shooting, the production managed to obtain the approval of the San Francisco City Council. Over the years, fans have asked questions about the two cars used in the movie, a 1968 Dodge Charger and a 1968 Mustang GT. | About Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us. My vote goes to William Friedkins attempt to top himself and the French Connection chase in the almost-forgotten To Live and Die in L.A. Wang Chung soundtrack notwithstanding. The producers used a 1968 Mustang GT390 and a 1968 Dodge Charger 440 to do the trick, along with some other cars from Ford. Stunt coordinator Carey Loftin got Bud Ekins to drive the Mustang for the bulk of the stunts. But, Bullitt is a dividing line car chase scenes after were and still are measured against the Bullitt chase scene. The chase in The Dead Pool is my second favorite. We use cookies to optimize our website and service. We wanted some shots of the Mustang really burning the corners. Lost your password? [31] Ford Motor Company originally lent two Galaxie sedans for the chase scenes, but the producers found the cars too heavy for the jumps over the hills of San Francisco and also a Ford-Ford battle would not be believable on screen. [59] In 2009, Bud Brutsman of Overhaulin' built an authentic-looking replica of the Bullitt Mustang, fully loaded with modern components, for the five-episode 2009 TV series, Celebrity Rides: Hollywood's Speeding Bullitt, hosted by Chad McQueen, son of Steve McQueen. It was WILD reckless driving, but it was planned and coordinated. Lalo Schifrin wrote the original jazz-inspired score, arranged for brass and percussion. -, "Complete National Film Registry Listing", "Katharine Jacqueline Stars on No. Finally, we spoke with Ron Riner, who acted as transportation coordinator for Warner Brothers on the BULLITT set. One of the best wrenchmen in the movie business, Max Balchowsky, recalls the Mustang in particular needed considerable modifications so it could hold up during the relentless beatings it would take during the filming. On January 10, 2020, the car was sold by Mecum Auctions for $3.7 million to an unidentified buyer. Sure, Bullitt wins for a straight car chase but for a comic car chase,Blues Brothersrules: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz81ZO0qfvI. Bullitt is a 1968 American neo-noir action thriller film directed by Peter Yates and produced by Philip D'Antoni.The picture stars Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, and Jacqueline Bisset. I was sitting 3 or 4 rows in front of him (McQueen) and when it was over, he came down, stuck out his hand, and said, Mr. So he takes ridiculous risks in the chase in an effort to get himself killed (which he does not succeed in doing). There were car chase scenes in the movies long before Bullitt (lots of 'em), and there have been even more car chase scenes in the movies since Bullitt. The map below shows the whole route as we are supposed to believe. "[37] The editing of the scene was not without difficulties; Ralph Rosenblum wrote in 1979 that "those who care about such things may know that during the filming of the climactic chase scene in Bullitt, an out-of-control car filled with dummies tripped a wire which prematurely sent a costly set up in flames, and that editor Frank Keller salvaged the near-catastrophe with a clever and unusual juxtaposition of images that made the explosion appear to go off on time. What was the greatest car chase scene of all time? In the greatest car chase in film history, Steve McQueen's Ford Mustang GT chases down bad guys in a 1968 Dodge Charger. And all these are sort of like the Wilhelm scream an in joke for movie buffs, I think. 33. In 2008, Motor Trend Magazine did an article promoting the 40th Anniversary Edition Bullitt Mustang. They were replaced with two 1968 375-hp 440 Magnum V8-powered Dodge Chargers. I kind of like the one in Beware the Car ( ). He also said the Dodge Chargers had to be purchased without promotional consideration, but after the success of the movie and the increase in Charger sales, Chrysler was more than willing to be generous with their vehicles to Warner Brothers for future projects. Le stockage ou laccs technique qui est utilis exclusivement des fins statistiques. They were real good., Because some of the stunts were so well orchestrated, they did not look like stunts at all. To realize the famous scene of the pursuit. (Look up Odessa steps baby carriage if youve never heard of it). movies! [54] Keller won the American Cinema Editors Eddie Award for Best Edited Feature Film. . If you want to know more about where exactly the Mustang and Charger were racing in San Francisco this web page provides details and photos (from 1968 and more recently) of the physically impossible route traversed during the chase. We set out to learn what the recipe is for such a successful chase sequence. Yates and Steve were particular. Toschi is played by Mark Ruffalo in the film Zodiac, in which Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) mentions that "McQueen got the idea for the holster from Toschi. Robert Duvall has a small part as a cab driver who provides information to McQueen. Unfortunately one now must suspend disbelief on DeNiro and pretend one isnt watching an [expletive]. The car chase in The French Connection is my candidate. As director Peter Yates prepared to begin filming the chase scenes, there were four drivers, McQueen, Bud Ekins, Bill Hickman, and in a few scenes, Carey Loftin. So Im partial to the breed. The total time of the scene is 10 minutes and 53 seconds. What you saw is what really happened. The sequence apparently starts under Highway 101 in the Mission District. I didnt think itd make that much difference beefing it up.