02. BULLITT (1968)
Produced at the height of Americas muscle-car obsession, this
Steve McQueen starring thriller is one of the actors most popular and enduring productions. At the time of release the scene, which sees
Steve McQueen hurtling around the streets and hills of San Francisco was one of the best that had ever been filmed. Director Peter Yates tight direction makes it an exhilarating and suspenseful sequence that sees a 400 horse power Mustang flying around the streets of San Francisco like you wouldnt believe. The scene took a total of 3 weeks to shoot (resulting in just under 10 minutes of screen time) and the high-speed high jinks are certainly the films most entertaining moments. Yates authorised maximum speeds of around 75-80 miles per hour, but in reality the cars (including those that housed the cameras) actually reached top speeds of above 110mph. The intense speed that the drivers achieved is reflected in the shots and literally catapults viewers into the heart of the action: at times it can almost feel like youre riding a simulator the action is so realistic! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsVQjGIlCzo At the end of the production 3 of the four cars used to film the sequence (two Dodge Chargers and two Mustangs) were scrapped, but the fourth was purchased by a Warner Brothers employee after all of the production and post-production had been completed. Apparently the car was discovered in New Jersey, where McQueen attempted to buy it, but the owner refused. Legend has it that the car resides in a barn there still and hasnt been driven for many years imagine its value now!