It heads east on The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. He set out some rules, " McKenna said. 23/02/2013. Weissberg returns Bullitt to the car wash at Bayshore near Marin. When McQueen is driving, the rear-view mirror is down reflecting his face. The cars were hatted up with chassis and engine mods to keep pace with the faster Charger in the chase scenes and hold up to the abuse. "We were driving around the airport and right at that time there was a Mustang GTO on display. Car builder Max Balchowski reinforced the three Chargers and two Mustangs to survive the jumps, then worked triage on the cars when McQueen and his boys weren't launching them off ramps onto the unforgiving blacktop. just before they make the right onto York. Earlier, when Bullitt tracks down the cab driver at the car wash, there is brief view of a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro. The switchback's design, first suggested by property owner Carl Henry and instituted in 1922, was born out of necessity in order to reduce the hill's natural 27% grade, which was too steep for most vehicles. "He was very relaxed and very nice to talk to when he was around.". The chase picks up again on Market Street in Daly City headed eastbound past John F. Kennedy Elementary school at Starts at Fairmont Hotel; south on Mason; west on California to Hyde. and many shots were filmed at locations close to these areas. It has been used in numerous car shows and commercial shoots, appearing alongside an updated Bullitt Mustang limited edition car that Ford released last year. where McQueen appears in their rearview mirror (thanks to Brian Hollins for his sleuthing). McQueen managed to slow down the Mustang by downshifting and maneuvering the vehicle on a street that inclined upward. Since his own car was damaged at the end of the chase, Bullitt gets his girlfriend Cathy, played by Jaqueline Bisset, Directed by Peter Yates, the film stars detective Frank Bullitt played by Steve McQueen who did most of his own stunt driving in the iconic car chase featuring a Ford Mustang 390 GT and Dodge Charger R/T 400. Jones Street between Chestnut and Lombard, San Francisco, California. There were no cheap rear-screen projections used for the close-up shots of the actors, and none of the scenes were sped up in post-production to heighten the sense of speed. Phoebe Wall Howard. Then McQueen's Mustang bumps the shotgun-toting killers' Charger, leading to an explosive finale. Mystery surrounds $3.74M sale of 1968 Mustang Bullitt: 'Only one person knows' buyer. Bullitt and his partners, Delgetti (played by Don Gordon), and Carl Stanton (played by Carl Reindel) drive to the The book had originally been bought with Spencer Tracy in mind, but when Tracy died, in 1967, the property went to McQueen and producer Philip DAntoni. ". The ten-minute pursuit in Bullitt (1968), up and down the steep streets of San Francisco (which gave some viewers motion sickness with its dizzying visuals), is regarded as one of the best ever put on film along with those in The French Connection (1971) and The Road Warrior . High-speed chase: bales of pot hurled at Arizona cops by Mexican drug smugglers during car chase. 1:03. Best remembered for the car-chase, the progenitor of all subsequent movie car chases, Bullitt is an excellent film. TomoNews US. In the next cut, Ft. Mason is visible in the background as they turn once more onto Marina Boulevard. Here is that view in 2002. After being shot by two hitmen at the Daniels Hotel, Johnny Ross and Carl Stanton are taken to San Francisco General It continues eastbound on Guadalupe Canyon Parkway The locale now shifts to what is probably the most famous part of the chase. The movie starred McQueen as San Francisco police Lt. Frank Bullitt, with Robert Vaughn, Robert Duvall and Jacqueline Bissett in supporting roles, and took place almost entirely in the city. rebuilt with the entrance nothing like it was in 1968. Those towers are still there and this section looks very much as it did in the film. "It took people off the streets and brought them into the cars," he said. There was a sense of danger unlike any movie chase before it as the two muscle cars weaved through traffic and jumped over the hills of San Francisco, while the camera literally put you in the driving seat. Retired Det. Hickman performed a chase sequence for the 1973 film The Seven-Ups (in which Hickman again worked with Philip D'Antoni, who had also produced Bullitt and The French Connection). Views of the exterior of the hospital may be found in the "Special Features" much in 2002 as it did in Bullitt makes a U-turn on Army at Precita (note the Pontiac and the The chase route looks as if it were designed by Siegfried and Roy, with cars disappearing and reappearing at random points in the city. The car ended up in New Jersey a few years later, and McQueen tried to buy it. DAntoni did not know that he was making movie history, when he added the chase, and changed the location to San Francisco. Here you will find unforgettable moments, scenes and lines from all your favorite films. In June of 1999 the Mark looked much the same as it did in the movie. F-type streetcar is seen coming the opposite direction. Interestingly, you can see a "There were no special effects, it was all just stunt driving," said Kunz, who has since built a replica of McQueen's "Bullitt" car. With a slope of 31.5% in places, Filbert Street connects Lyon Street, next to the Presidio, and Telegraph Hill. as of August 1999. Here is the The companys presentation will focus on new artificial intelligence-powered features in Search. They pulled the engine, put another flywheel in and it was ready to go the next morning.". Mustang from famed 'Bullitt' car chase heads to auction. During the car chase scene, the Dodge and Mustang pass the same dark-colored Volkswagen Beetle at least three times, and a white Pontiac Firebird is seen at least twice. Steve McQueen's Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT fastback vanished 38 years ago. 4. gas station still in operation but no longer a Phillips 66. But can XPeng challenge more established automakers in the West? The crooked section of the street, which is about 14 mile (400 m) long, is reserved for one-way traffic traveling east (downhill) and is paved with red bricks. Asked if the producers couldnt have found a dummy, McQueen wryly replied, They did., In 1973, he drove the Pontiac Bonneville as Bo, in the chase of Roy Scheiders character Buddy, driving the Pontiac Ventura Sprint coupe in. frames). The other, less banged-up Mustang was purchased by Warner employee after post-production. "But I'm guessing 'Bullitt' would be on almost every list. Robert passed away in 2014 and left the car to Sean. The bad guys' car was supposed to be a different Ford model (the automotive company had a deal with the studio), but it couldn't handle the pounding. THANKS FOR THE GREAT PICTURES AND MEMORIES.BULLITT HAS THE BEST CAR CHASE EVER.FRENCH CONNECTION IS SECOND. The To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. During this portion of the chase, a green Volkswagen appears in the path of the Charger (and " Bologna recalls. The place hadn't changed much 0:00. During the chase, the villains car loses 5 hubcaps. Brebner recalls scores of memorable conversations with the star. movie from one camera angle and arriving at Filbert Street. I could not believe how steep Lombard Street is ( and I walked UP the hill !! ) and pass the Chinatown campus of San Francisco City College. Reenact it if you dare: there are nine unique segments of squealing tires and crunched fenders spread out across San Francisco. Heres how to get a broader selection. If you're a car guy (or girl for that matter) it doesn't get any better than Steve McQueen going mad through the streets of San Francisco in his 390-powered Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback chasing after the sinister 1968 Dodge Charger in the movie "Bullitt" (1968). Bullitt in his 1968 Ford Mustang is briefly impeded from giving chase by 1968 Pontiac Firebird. The car chase between 1960s muscle cars features a third American classic, as the chase proper begins with the 1968 Dodge Charger breaking left and burning rubber. Here is that view in 2002. Popular with locals and tourists alike for many years, the city's steep streets gained international fame thanks to Bullitt. It wasn't until the young Bologna was watching the movie on the big screen that he realized he had been talking that day to the actor. Indeed it does look spectacular, thanks to creative film splicing by "Bullitt" film editor Frank Keller, who won an Academy Award for his work in the movie. Bullitt essentially did for movie car chases what Star Wars did for science fiction films. The famous car chase features a wild drive through several picturesque parts of San Francisco. Known for. "It's almost like foreplay when they start that little cat-and-mouse thing in the beginning. The Mustang and Charger get airborne on Taylor Street, appearing to pass the same green Volkswagen Bug several times each. It was absolutely amazing. Bud Ekins, who drove the Mustang, also did the motorcycle jump for Steve McQueen in The Great Escape (1963).. The Charger is just barely faster than the Mustang, with a 13.6-second quarter-mile compared to the Mustangs 13.8-second. Best remembered for the car-chase, the There is also a shot looking south from the Cathedral showing the Masonic Temple Here is that view in 2002. In its place is the new (home of Bimbo's 365 which is still there in 2002), At this point the film editors inserted footage shot from different (uphill facing) camera angles of the procession down Vallejo and Divisadero in the Pacific Heights section of the city. Taylor Street. The gas station was razed in 1969 to make way for a Hyatt Hotel (which was later built at 5 Embaradero Center). 2002) and the bad guys stop at the corner of York and Peralta McLaren Park. After Bullitt misses a turn and does a reverse burnout, only the right rear tire burns rubber as he drives away from camera. This is the same intersection in 2002. While shooting the scene where the giant airliner taxis just above McQueen, observers were shocked that no double was used. Potrero Hill As the chase suddenly speeds up, both cars make their second trip through Potrero Hill, heading up 20th Street. But will have to borrow or rent the perfect car for. 6. McQueen crashed the Mustang at least three times and during the famed hill-jumping sequence, the brakes went out on the car. McQueen eventually developed a reputation for friction with Hollywood establishment types and became reclusive in his later years, but the "Bullitt" shoot was clearly a three-month love affair between the actor and San Francisco. September of 2002. The license plate on the Mustang is JJZ 109. In the film, Bullitt lived at 1153 Taylor Street, at the corner of Clay Street (thanks to Brian Hollins This scene was kept in the film by Friedkin as it added reality to the whole sequence, however, the scene where the woman steps out into the street with a baby carriage was staged. 10. Another car, a Pontiac Firebird, also appears in several sequences (once at Bimbo's 365 All rights reserved. WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Its name is Enco, presently known as Exxon. Here is that view in 2002. The owner refused to sell, and the car now sits in a barn. Nearly 50 years since its release in 1968, Bullitt is still regarded by many as the best movie car chase of all time. He was only 15 years old and didn't even know who Steve McQueen was until long after the film crews picked up their cameras and left San Francisco. I heard the air coming out of his lungs the last time. This sequence features several repeats, with the Bernal Heights The chase starts off at slow speeds, with the Charger creeping behind the Mustang. and becomes Francisco Street and loses another hubcap (which magically gets reattached in later While people remember McQueen's car -- a Highland Green 1968 Mustang Fastback powered by a 390/4V big block engine -- the real star of the film was the Aeroflex 2C, a portable movie camera that had been used by the military during World War II. I just had to walk the street that was made famous in the movie "Bullit" staring Steve McQueen. We trace the evolution of the Hollywood chase sequence, from "Bullitt" to the "Fast & Furious" franchise. This is a Bullitt (1968) - San Francisco. 33. The Bullitt Mustang color was officially called Highland green. Senator Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) is aiming to take down mob boss Pete Ross (Vic Tayback) with the help of testimony from the criminal's hothead brother Johnny (Pat Renella), who is in . " The Rock " ( 1996) Key vehicles involved: 1992 Hummer HMC4; 1996 Ferrari F355 Spider; San Francisco cable car. Stunt coordinator Carey Loftin got Bud Ekins to drive the Mustang for the bulk of the stunts. They complete this sequence by turning west in front of the Caddy towards the bay, a few blocks north of Van Ness. "That was fixed overnight. And they all add to the cinematic legend. Bullitts car is a 1968 Ford Mustang 390 GT 2+2 Fastback. at Columbus and Chestnut, and again on Larkin Street at Francisco). Every modern movie car chase owes a debt to Bullitt. New. and in 1968. Paul Church visible in the center of the frame, at the corner of Taylor. Peter and Paul Church are visible to the right of Coit Tower. "I had at that time just bought a white Mustang, and it was like driving a slug," Brebner said. Here is the intersection in 2002. The sequence starts under Highway 101 in the Mission District. Robert and son Sean began putting it back together in early 2000s, before life took over and the restoration stalled. They accelerate down Marina Boulevard with the Marina Green and the Golden Gate Bridge briefly visible in the background. Kunz said memories of the movie don't appear to be fading away. Hotel at 401 East Millbrae Avenue just east of 101 in Millbrae (thanks to Mike Curtis for that information). During the chase, McQueens face is reflected in the mirror. There will be no minimum bid next week when the car in the most famous chase in movie history goes on the block. The whole picture was shot in San Francisco. His film career spanned from the 1950s through to the late 1970s, and included films such as Bullitt, The French . . He wanted that car.". The chase parodies San Francisco's most iconic chase, Bullitt , with cars leaping over hills and losing rims, but it owes even more to silent films, where the car chase . The Charger appears making a right This is clear due to the repeated presence of the same Cadillac, and a green Volkswagen Beetle seen three times. The hotel has been The cars head down Francisco past Polk Street (Galileo High School is visible behind Whenever filmmakers tried to create an exciting car chase action scene, they were hampered by technical limitations like rear-screen projectors that took you out of the scene. Locations were painstakingly documented almost ten years ago by Ray Smith on a website that's required reading in Bullittology 101. Lombard Street is best known for the one-way section on Russian Hill between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets, in which the roadway has eight sharp turns (or switchbacks) that have earned the street the distinction of being the crookedest [most winding] street in the world (though this title is contested). actually the Kennedy Hotel across from Pier 18 at Howard and Embarcadero, is no longer there. Marc Meyers, writing on his blog Jazzwax had a chance to drive the original Bullitt chase-scene route with Loren James, the stuntman who drove 90% of the chase in the place of McQueen. Fraker remembers the entire cast and crew of "Bullitt" having a good time. The final scenes are filmed on Mansell Avenue and Guadalupe Canyon Parkway in Daly City and Brisbane, where the Charger was supposed to hit a gas station and explode. They climb and Alcatraz Island comes into view on the left, placing them at about Stockton and Chestnut. McQueen attempts to follow the Charger as it turns right on Chestnut and heads EAST. Anthony Bologna had no idea he had stumbled into the greatest movie car chase of all time. The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking, new connections, and new industries. Daly City/Brisbane The chase ends on Guadalupe Canyon Parkway. I vote Bullitt as best car chase if for no other reason than Steve McQueen defined cool. the rearview mirror: It is still there). Many people came to the movie time and again just in order to see the chase scenes. The ominous-looking pony car with the barking 390-cubic-inch V-8, which starred in one of the greatest chase . The palm trees have grown substantially as have the trees planted between the motel and U.S. 101. The Steve McQueen movie Bullitt was filmed in and around San Francisco in late April 1968. Set your navigation to 1099 Lombard Street, which will take you to the top of the hill. as it looked in July 2002. Tires squeal and the chase quickly shifts back and forth between seemingly random locations in Potrero Hill and Russian Hill. The classic car chase has changed immensely over eight decades of filmmaking. and it looked better in blue. and how busy it is with the number of people who stop to experience the moment. "If you ask five different guys what their favorite car chases are, they'll give you five different lists," Kunz said. 6. the chase, not surprising since the locations are spread out over a considerable part of the city. It was located across Laguna Street from the Safeway parking lot but is no longer Police chase in . 800 block of Chestnut Street, Russian Hill, San Francisco, California, USA (at the start of the high-speed chase, the cars roar up Chestnut St, past the San Francisco Art Institute -screen left- and turn south onto Leavenworth St) was and different lighting), and here is Army and Precita in 2002 with the Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. "And he drove that car, drove the hell out of it, and came back and picked up in the middle of that sentence. The chase segment starts off, with the Charger trailing the Mustang, near the intersection of 785 Price Street and Guadalupe Canyon Parkway. Bullitt makes a phone call while two mobsters watching him from their car - Powell Street at O'Farrell, San Francisco . They continue north Throughout his career, McQueen insisted on performing his own stunts. Frank Bullitt (Steve McQeen) to guard a state's witness, one Johnny Ross. A blue truck was dispatched in its place. Reviewed April 4, 2014. Fraker said the fastest speeds came along Marina Boulevard. (along with the fire alarm box), although the name has changed. "I think the car didn't go up the ramp quite right. Mustangs were cheap and plentiful back then so it was used as a daily driver until it was parked up with mechanical issues in 1980. The chase continues into Before 1968, most car chases were filmed at slower speeds, then sped up at the studio to give the illusion of danger. He contacted Ford around that time and the mystery of the original movie car was solved. This is a view of Bullit's house looking down Taylor Street in The famous car chase features a wild drive through several picturesque parts of San Francisco. The chase continues west toward the Golden Gate Bridge on 9. crossing Vallejo in 2002 (that's Alcatraz Island in the background) But then Bullitt was released in 1968 with the most realistic depiction of a car chase movie-goers had ever seen. The cathedral looks very different in 2002 with the building gone. Two Mustangs and two Dodge Chargers were used for the chase scene. corporate headquarters for the Gap Inc. An elevated highway ran right They then come to a stop for two cable cars at Hyde and Filbert Streets. is due to the logistics of filming in a working city. The Bay Area native, a former Chronicle paperboy, has worked at The Chronicle since 2000. As with Bullitt, The French Connection (also produced by Bullitt's producer, Philip D'Antoni) is famed for its car-chase sequence. "I remember talking to him one time. William Hickman (January 25, 1921 February 24, 1986) was an American professional stunt driver, stunt coordinator and actor in the U.S. film industry. Check out both maps after the jump. is in 2002). Marina Boulevard (2002). The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Your Smart Home. Soon both cars are on Marina Boulevard, hitting speeds well above 100 miles per hour. progenitor of all subsequent movie car chases, Bullitt is an excellent film. home of Walter Chalmers, a smarmy bureaucrat who requests the services of Detective Lieutenant The movie literally shaped the car chase genre in modern cinema and . but the shot from the second camera angle The trees have grown quite a bit. And I did.". Another view from the DVD This week, we discuss all the ways generative AI is upending journalism, marketing, shopping, and search. Subsequently Bullitt and Cathy stop along US 101 North to talk, with Not a word of dialogue is spoken during the 11-minute long sequence. Trees have completely obscured the view west. . The Mustang would have done a two-wheel burnout if it were equipped with a limited-slip differential. were 4-speeds, as were the Mustangs. Detective Frank Bullitt ( Steve McQueen) has to track down a hit squad before the fact leaks out that their target, prize witness Johnnie Ross, has already been offed. The chase next winds up on Larkin Street (again) and this time the two cars pass Chestnut street and continue on Larkin. I had a hernia after that.". The new Mustang Bullitt builds upon the goodness that is the 2019 Mustang GT, retaining the 5.0-liter DOHC TI-VCT V-8 but cranking up the horsepower from 460 to 480, with torque unchanged at 420 pounds-feet at 4,600 rpm. It featured a tremendous amount of on-location filming. a used car salesman from Detroit. "Bullitt" premiered on Oct. 17, 1968, and audiences were blown away by the chase sequence. The car chase eventually ended in a North Hollywood parking lot where Follette was shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire with the police.[1][2][3]. In one year (1957), he had the rare distinction of being cast as the assailant who slices Frank Sinatra's vocal chords in The Joker Is Wild and whips Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock. Fraker said the chase was mapped out carefully, never using more than eight square blocks at one time. Hospital at 23rd Street and Potrero Avenue. Its mascot was a tiger, who encouraged drivers to put a tiger in their (gas) tank. Here is this view in 2002. They turn from Laguna Street, in front of Ft. Mason, onto Marina Boulevard, in front of a Safeway store. The famous car chase scene from Bullitt sees hero Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) in a 1968 Ford Mustang GT up against a pair of hitmen driving a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T. From the interior shots looking forward inside the Mustang, its easy to see which one is driving. But Bologna still remembers the little things about May 1968, when "Bullitt" filmed a few blocks away from his Russian Hill home. Enrico's at 501 Braodway called the "Galaxie" in the movie. It had spent most of the last 40 years in a garage . The actual location is the Clarion This is just prior to the point at which Bullitt discovers that the man shot at the Hotel Daniels is not Johnny Ross but Albert Edward Renick There's this buildup, and you can feel the tension.". in the Potrero Hills district again. The Mustang and the unmanned Charger were bound together, and a stuntman in the Mustang pulled a switch, which should have sent the Charger in a straight line to a fake gas station built for the scene.