It is the template for the modern day police procedural movie or television series, not to mention containing the first ever modern car chase that has been imitated in various forms over the years, but never bettered because of the sheer energy of the piece.
It has been used, with permission from the Steve McQueen estate, curated by his son Chad, in adverts and is regarded as the very essence of cool.
BULLITT, directed by Peter Yates (KRULL, THE DRESSER) – and based (loosely) on a novel by Robert L. Pike ‘Mute Witness’ – is the story of San Francisco Detective Lt. Frank Bullitt (McQueen) who is assigned by Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn), an influential politician, to guard Johnny Ross (Felice Orlandi, ANOTHER 48 HRS), who has taken $2m from a Chicago mob organisation (simply known here as ‘The Organisation’). His job is to keep Ross under protection in a hotel room for 48 hours so he can testify at a trial.
However, the hotel room is hit by two assassins, with Bullitt’s colleague Stan hit in the leg and Ross brutally shot before both are taken to the hospital. Chalmers is none-too-pleased, but Bullitt decides to steal and hide the body so that he can get to the heart of why the hit took place. Before long, the trail is more complex and deeper than he could imagine, which could also impact his relationship with girlfriend Cathy (Jacqueline Bisset, CLASS, THE DEEP)…
BULLITT is still stand-out entertainment, with a soaring lead performance from McQueen, for which many regard this as his defining role and a cracking jazz-fused score from legendary composer Lalo Schifrin.