Friday, November 21, 2008

Classic Film Friday: Bullitt

So here we have the mother or father of all cop movies. And the immortal Steve McQueen.

Senator Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) picks Lieutenant Frank Bullitt (McQueen) to watch or babysit a mob snitch Johnny Ross (Felice Orlandi). The senator is bucking for a better position and is providing protection for this snitch so that he will testify against the mob...and thus make the senator look like he's tough on crime.

Except Johnny Ross gets whacked, while under Bullitt's watch. But it's not that simple, nothing ever is. There are some suspicious circumstances that makes one wonder. Why was Ross put in a lack luster hotel, why did Ross appear to let the hit man in just before being killed, was this even Ross anyway?

There are so many ways this movie cannot work today, but it is nostalgia and "classic" to see things like the phone being rotary, or having to stop the car and find a pay phone those were the days right? Also, apparently nobody ever heard of "calling in for backup" back in 1968. But this movie is probably most famous for it's car chases. Vroom, Vroom!

1 comment:

Bob G. said...

MH:
When I see ANY car chase in ANY film, I ALWAYS compare it to BULLITT.
Sorry, but I'd wager most everyone that grew up with this flick feels likewise.
The only movies that can come close are The Seven Ups and The French Connection.
And that was when they used REAL cars...and REAL streets.

Gotta hand it to Bill Hickman (who worked on ALL 3 movies) ...man, what great driving!

Good choice.

B.G.