Bullitt

[crokett]

I am watching the car chase scene.

[gad5264]

I am watching the car chase scene.

FANTASTIC movie, one of my all time favorites

[LYU370]

Could be the best car chase scene ever... Either Bullitt or the French Connection.

[mater]

One of my favorites also.

[pierhogunn]

naw, I still like blazing saddles, but enough of my sickness, what makes those two chases stand out?

Cinematography (wow got it right w/out the spell checker)
Tempo
Duration
Blues Brother Police Car index
what

[radhak]

My dad has always talked high about the Bullit car chase, i have yet to see it. But in all the rest that i saw, i was impressed with the raw and rough chase in the first of the Bourne movies (Bourne Identity) in the middle of Paris (i think). Anybody seen it?

Now I want to see Bullit as soon as I can lay my hands on it. Hopefully local library, else Blockbuster (have cancelled my Netflix, much as i loved it).

[JR]

...i have yet to see it.

A Mustang and Charger, both smokin' fast, flying (literally) through the streets of San Francisco.

This movie is Mandatory Man Viewing (along with The Dirty Dozen, the Great Escape and one John Wayne movie from this list - Stagecoach, Red River, The Searchers, True Grit). Do not post here again until you're ready to report how this chase scene ends!

JR

[crokett]

what makes those two chases stand out?

Well as JR said, in Bullitt it is a Mustang chasing a Charger (the real Charger, not the new knockoff) and it is before special effects so it is actual stunt driving. Plus the camera angles are interesting - they show the scene through the eyes of the Charger driver, then they show the same scene a few seconds later through the eyes of Steve McQueen.

[radhak]

A Mustang and Charger, both smokin' fast, flying (literally) through the streets of San Francisco.

This movie is Mandatory Man Viewing (along with The Dirty Dozen, the Great Escape and one John Wayne movie from this list - Stagecoach, Red River, The Searchers, True Grit). Do not post here again until you're ready to report how this chase scene ends!

JR

Hmm, having watched all of the others on your list, this makes to my 'critical' list. just saw my library has a copy, have put a hold on it.

[ragswl4]

The Bourne movies have great chases, but the Bullit car chase is the greatest. I don't think there is any way the movie industry would make a car chase in this day and age the way that the chase in Bullit was made. Also, Steve McQueen was a real race car driver.

Off Topic:
McQueen was also a great actor who was never really recognized for his talent. Probably the HollyWood crowd didn't care for his personality. Actually the same with John Wayne, he was not recognized until very late in the game. "The Shootist", a great movie, JW's last. Just my opinion.

[ironhat]

Count the number of wheel covers that come off. I believe the charger throws 5 (!?).

[JR]

Actually the same with John Wayne, he was not recognized until very late in the game.

IMHO, what held Wayne back was that his best roles were in oaters. It just doesn't seem to be possible to get serious awards for roles in westerns. The Best Actor Oscar for True Grit was a "lifetime" gift.

I used to not like John Wayne. Yes, I can freely admit this, now that I've seen the light. When I was growing up John Wayne starred in The Green Berets, McQ., Brannigan, The Cowboys, The Sons of Katie Elder. All ok movies, but not star turns.

His best roles, though, were in John Ford westerns. Stories that meant something, characters who had character, outstanding photography, realistic creation of the time (correct uniform/costume, good horsemanship, realistic natives (not caricatures)). And great acting by the Duke. The characters in Red River and The Searchers rival any film portayal by any great actor, IMO.

I'm less enamored with McQueen, although the motorcycle scene in The Great Escape qualifies him in the pantheon of the greats! He was surely a good actor, understated and complete. But he never showed me the ability to overpower a strong movie, the way Wayne could. Admittedly, he didn't appear in as much junk as Wayne, either.

JR

[LarryG]

Count the number of wheel covers that come off. I believe the charger throws 5 (!?).

And they pass the same green VeeDub about the same number of times.

Still a fantastic sequence, though, principally because of what David and Rags said: it's The Real Deal. Taken in the context of 1968, when the movie was released, it was truly ground-breaking.

[Stormbringer]

RE: Bullit Chase Scene.

Before you watch it online (link below)....

As a car buff, I'm want to set the stage so you can really appreciate it. Some pointers before you watch it:
If your connection speed can handle it, and the picture doesn't pixilate, click the lower right icon in the viewer to enlarge the video playback. I "get into it" better watching it full size.

Secondly, make sure your volume is up. The sinister jazzy music only plays until the chase starts. If I recall, it was Steve Mcqueen that insisted no music plays during the chase and that microphones capture the engines only. Apparently this was a first and was thought of a motion picture suicide at the time. Well, those who know the movie, know this was genious.

Knowing what's about to happen, I still get goosebumps when bad bad guy #1 buckles his seatbelt.

For those that never saw it here is an an excellent quality version of the famous Bullitt chase scene

Enjoy,
Greg

[gad5264]

RE: Bullit Chase Scene.

Well, those who know the movie, know this was genious.

Enjoy,
Greg

OH, so true. The sound of those finely tuned engines is music to the ears.