Bullitt (DVD) > Reviews > The Need To Drive a Puma Right Now

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Standard
Soundtrack	Outstanding

Advantages:	All of it
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Most people were introduced to the Concept of Steve McQueen ™ in the rather fabulous advert for the Fiesta on Steroids ™ that is the Ford Puma. However, I was not. I remember as a young petrol mad whippersnapper who wouldn’t even come up to your knee I’m sure, sitting glued to the Television watching him in Le Mans, a film I haven’t seen since that day. Yet I still class it as one of my favourite films, it made that big an impression on me (Incidentally, the ‘bad guy’ in the film drives a Ferrari – I don’t judge, I merely point out!).

Since then I’ve been slowly increasing the number of Steve McQueen films I’ve seen, to three. Pathetic yes, but all three of them would be listed in my favourite films, and of those three is this film. Bullitt, which is based on the novel “Must Witness” by Robert L. Pike, which I’m afraid I haven’t read so I can’t tell you how it compares.

* Plot Synopsis *

Mild mannered yet maverick cop, Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) is chosen by the ambitious Senator Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn – The Man From Uncle no less!) to guard a witness in a mob trial. Only this witness has incurred the wrath of ‘the organisation’ by stealing money from them whilst working for them. Yet after only a short while two men burst into the hotel room where they are hiding the witness… From here on the plot twists and turns, so I will stop to avoid spoiling it for you!

* The Acting *

The acting is good all round. Steve McQueen is great as Bullitt, especially when having (fairly frequent) confrontations with Robert Vaughn’s equally well played character. Rather than take the Lethal Weapon/Die Hard approach to Maverick Copping ™ of just shouting, screaming and waving arms around, McQueen just calmy yet firmly disagrees with anyone necessary and then heads off and does what he was going to anyway. Equally impressive is McQueen doing all his own stunts – including the chase scene, although some people dispute that. Personally I don’t really know enough to comment, but I will mention the fact that McQueen was very much into his motors and at various times raced professionally…

Jacqueline Bisset isn’t overly remarkable as Cathy, Bullitt’s girlfriend – but her role is somewhat of a background part. The actors who play the other policemen in the film are good though, even if some are background characters. They are all well played, a right bunch of hard nosed cops yet they seem to respect Bullitt enough to let him get on with it.

The extras are also worth a mention, because in general – they are not actors. When filming on location in a hospital, they used real doctors and nurses for example! Now that’s realism for you!

* The Music and the Chase *

This really does deserve a mention. Lalo Schifrin’s hard edged Jazz soundtrack is stunning, sufficiently good for me to order the soundtrack! I’ll go through it in depth when I actually get the album, but for now I’ll just say opening titles, pre-chase music and end titles are superb! Ah yes, the chase – I was wondering when I would get round to that (!). Bullitt contains one of the most remarkable car chases ever filmed. A slow build up around the hills of San Francisco is accompanied by moody music from Lalo, yet when the chase finally gets going all sound other than the cars is stopped. The pursuing Ford Mustang makes a particularly nice roar. Even if you don’t watch any other part of the film watch this bit! Oh, and the airport section :). I’d also like to mention (And here seems as good as anywhere) some of the camera work is, in my opinion, quite clever. You’ll be hearing one part of a scene, but watching another part. An example would be early on, where you watch Bullitt surveying the room where they are holding the witness whilst listening to another officer questioning the witness. Simple, but effective!

* DVD Extras *

For a film made in 1968, Bullitt has made the transition to DVD very gracefully. The picture quality is better than some modern films (Spinal Tap for example) although there is the odd glitch. I’ll put that down to the age of the stock film though, I’m sure you’d find it on the VHS as well. Soundwise it’s English or nothing and the subtitles are fairly limited at English, Arabic and English for the hearing impaired. Not that that bothers me, the novelty of watching films in German with unlikely Eastern Block subtitles quickly wears off :). You get some text about various important people in the film (Including Robert Duval – whose only appearance is to drive a taxi in one scene!) but the highlight is the ‘featurette’, Steve McQueens Commitment to Reality. A fairly short yet fascinating glimpse into how they maid the film. Complete with a Michael Winner lookalike director! Also impressing though is how much McQueen got involved in the production of the film. Oh, and there’s the original trailer for the film – if that sort of thing interests you.

* Summing Up *

It’s a classic film and its transition to DVD had been painless. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s not frantic action all the way through, it’s no bucket of laughs and it doesn’t feature twenty nubile ladies showering. What you do get though is a well written, well performed tense thriller. If plot twists are your thing, watch this!