The NZA Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 McQueen (1930-1980)...talked about The Great Escape and Papillion over here, here's a thread for one of the coolest actors that ever was, and some of his best films. Before Shaft, there was Bullit. Its up there with Dirty Harry for classic badass cop films, and up there with the greats for best car chase scene ver. Letal Weapon, Die Hard, all the ones you dug growing up owe it to this movie for helping setup that archetype. Frank Bullitt is selected by Chalmers, a politician with ambition, to guard a Mafia informant. Bullitt's friend is shot and the witness is left at death's door by two hit men who seem to know exactly where the the witness was hiding. Bullitt begins a search for both the killer and the leak, but he must keep the witness alive long enough to make sure the killers return. Chalmers has no interest in the injured policeman or the killers, only in the hearings that will catapult him into the public eye and wants to shut down Bullitt's investigation. ...San Francisco has been the setting of a lot of exciting movie car chases over the years, but this 1968 police thriller is still the one to beat when it comes to high-octane action on the steep hills of the city by the Bay. The outstanding car chase earned an Oscar for best editing, but the rest of the movie is pretty good, too. Bullitt is a perfect star vehicle for cool guy Steve McQueen, who stars as a tenacious detective (is there any other kind?) determined to track down the killers of the star witness in an important trial. Director Peter Yates (Breaking Away) approached the story with an emphasis on absolute authenticity, using a variety of San Francisco locations. Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Duvall appear in early roles, and Robert Vaughn plays the criminal kingpin who pulls the deadly strings of the tightly wound plot. A masterpiece of a western, this one is a great retelling of Kurosawa's classic Seven Samurai. Like The Great Escape, you get ridiculous cast featuring McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Yul Brynner, and if that's not enough Eli Wallach (The Good, The Bad & The Ugly) as the lead villian! Directed by John Sturges, who also did The Great Escape. A bandit terrorizes a small Mexican farming village each year. Several of the village elders send three of the farmers into the United States to search for gunmen to defend them. They end up with 7, each of whom comes for a different reason. They must prepare the town to repulse an army of over 100 bandits who will arrive wanting food. Just never, ever watch the sequels. I dont remember enough about The Getaway, and never got to see The Sand Pebbles or Nevada Smith, nor the original Thomas Crown Affair which im told he was in. So yeah, more to come here too, eventually. I really should see The Tao of Steve one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the division of joy Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 man, i just saw this thread now.... this guy is absolutely amazing.... papillion is up there with my all time favorite films... he is a ridiculously cool actor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Bob Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 Anyone else think that if they ever make a McQueen biopic, he should definitely be played by Danny Craig? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted April 22, 2007 Author Share Posted April 22, 2007 Good call, i can see it. Was that flick The Tao of Steve any good? I still say Bullit's ending was the best ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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