It is now called the Black Cat, a restaurant. TomoNews US. then heads northwest on Columbus Avenue past Greenwich Street and the
Kunz has seen even more evidence of the movie's enduring popularity, with positive reaction from passers-by in Los Angeles when he drives his replica Mustang around town. Bernal Heights The chase starts off at slow speeds, with the Charger creeping behind the Mustang. ", The Dodge Charger, which executed some of the most difficult maneuvers on the shoot, was piloted entirely by Hickman, a seasoned driver who later worked on "The French Connection.". Here you will find unforgettable moments, scenes and lines from all your favorite films. The production company used two Mustangs and two Dodge Chargers to film the chase scenes. Police and filmmakers agreed that filming one continuous chase through San Francisco would be too dangerous. In January 1968, Warner Bros purchased a pair of Mustangs for use in the film - vin numbers 8R02S125558 . The bad guys drive a 1968 Dodge Charger 440 Magnum. Taylor Street. After being shot by two hitmen at the Daniels Hotel, Johnny Ross and Carl Stanton are taken to San Francisco General
But when a pair of hitmen ambush their secret location, fatally wounding Ross, things don't add up for Bullitt, so he decides to investigate the case on his own. 8. DAntoni did not know that he was making movie history, when he added the chase, and changed the location to San Francisco. The cab rolls past Columbus and Kearny (1968 and
To me it looked spectacular.". He started a sentence and then said, 'Excuse me, I've got to go,' " Brebner recalled. Director Peter Yates called for speeds of about 75 to 80 miles (120 to 129 kilometers) per hour, but the cars (including those with the cameras) reached speeds of over 110 miles (177 kilometers) per hour. San Francisco moviegoers were probably a little more cynical about Frank Bullitt's high-speed pursuit. 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
the chase scenes filmed around 20th Street, Kansas Street, and Rhode Island Street, while Russian Hill served as the base
and are for personal viewing only. The chase continues west toward the Golden Gate Bridge, picture taken from marina Boulevard. in San Mateo, in her yellow Porsche 356B, to check on Judith Renick, aka Dorothy Simmons. The story begins with Bullitt assigned to a seemingly routine detail, protecting mafia informant Johnny Ross (Pat Renella), who is scheduled to testify against his Mob cronies before a Senate subcommittee in San Francisco. "Bullitt" enthusiast Dave Kunz reported the above conversation on his Web site, after questioning executive producer Robert Relyea at a recent "Bullitt" reunion. The biggest lapse in reality comes next, when the Mustang and Charger, speeding west through the Marina district with the Golden Gate Bridge in the horizon, suddenly appear 7 miles south near Daly City. Hospital at 23rd Street and Potrero Avenue. Thirteen years before this film, being a friend of actor and budding race driver James Dean, he was accompanying Dean to a race in Salinas, California. The chase next winds up on Larkin Street (again) and this time the two cars pass Chestnut street and continue on Larkin. The stars of the movie were Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset, a Mustang 390 GT (actually two) and a Dodge Charger 440 Magnum. University Street, which is all the way across the city to the south. He told me what was wrong with it, but I don't remember now. McQueen died in 1980, and many others on the set didn't make it to this month's 35th anniversary of the film's premiere. They accelerate down Marina Boulevard with the Marina Green and the Golden Gate Bridge briefly visible in the background. I heard the air coming out of his lungs the last time. Highly influential 1968 cop movie set in San Francisco. Hotel at the corner of California and Mason. It is on the bucket list. "I've probably seen that movie half a dozen times, and it doesn't make sense to me," said Bud Ekins, the only survivor of four stunt drivers in the film, including McQueen. 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. Daly City/Brisbane The chase ends on Guadalupe Canyon Parkway. Look at his mouth, youll see hes indulging in popular habit among race car drivers: chewing gum. In the next cut, they are suddenly going downhill, north towards the Bay. Mustang from famed 'Bullitt' car chase heads to auction. The dangers were real: in one shot Hickman accidentally loses control and clips the camera fixed to a parked car. In the next cut, Ft. Mason is visible in the background as they turn once more onto Marina Boulevard. The editing of the chase scene was full of challenges. Best remembered for the car-chase, the
It then proceeds west on Army Street for a few blocks. Both were victims of the 1989 earthquake. The chase then suddenly jumps to the Russian Hill/North Beach area. Hidden away for decades until its reveal to the public in 2018, this star of the silver screen is now slated to cross the auction block at no reserve at . 1:28. 4. The trees have grown quite a bit. Filming occurred in at least nine city districts -- with a finale on the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport. A must see if you're visiting San Francisco but definately take . $9.49 + $4.50 shipping. The whole picture was shot in San Francisco. The famous car chase, filmed without special effects over a two week period in April 1968, is the centerpiece of the movie. "We were driving around the airport and right at that time there was a Mustang GTO on display. "I was in the front, 6 inches above the ground," Fraker said. . It featured a tremendous amount of on-location filming. Bill Hickman (Phil), who drives the Dodge Charger, actually did drive the Charger in the movie. "It took people off the streets and brought them into the cars," he said. The next scenes are in the Bernal and Potrero areas, with green hills to the southwest on the horizon and quick view of downtown San Francisco to the northwest in another. to drive him to the Thunderbolt Motel
While shooting the scene where the giant airliner taxis just above McQueen, observers were shocked that no double was used. Filbert Street, with Coit Tower and Saints Peter and
"Mr. Mayor, you've got yourself a swimming pool.". Terrible holes in that movie. The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Your Smart Home. It's slated to hit theaters June 25, 2021. outside the hotel's west side, but it too is gone. This is the same intersection in 2002. John McKenna said McQueen and director Peter Yates didn't always take their advice, which turned out to be a good thing for the car chase. Hickman also had a supporting role in the film as federal agent Mulderig (at constant odds with Hackman's Popeye Doyle). Here is a shot from the film of the chase turning out
(2002) and the Safeway twice. Here is the view west on Army Street (now Cesar Chavez Street) in 2002. Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard visible in the background. Fraker said the "Bullitt" car chase was conceived during an Italian meal with Yates at a small Hollywood restaurant called Martoni's. The cars head down Francisco past Polk Street (Galileo High School is visible behind
Eventually the cars and the sets and McQueen moved back to Los Angeles, but the moviemakers left San Franciscans with indelibly vivid memories. Set your navigation to 1099 Lombard Street, which will take you to the top of the hill. Here is that view in 2002. The other was repaired after filming and sold, passing through two owners before it was purchased by Robert Kiernan in 1974 for $6000. . "If you ask five different guys what their favorite car chases are, they'll give you five different lists," Kunz said. It was absolutely amazing. He sustained a couple of significant injuries during this time, including breaking several ribs in a bad trick-fall in the film How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965). If 1970s musclecars aren't your thing, the same user also posted a Risky Business map detailing Tom Cruise and Rebecca DeMornay's exploits in a gold Porsche 928. Here is that view in 2002. . And they all add to the cinematic legend. Anthony Bologna still recalls when he wandered onto the surprisingly open movie set, questioning the first person he came across. Here is that view in 2002. He didnt want any red vehicles because it would detract from the blood. Starring Steve McQueen as an iconoclastic police lieutenant, Jacqueline Bisset as his leading lady, and Robert Vaughn as an ambitious politician, Bullitt features what is widely considered the most influential car chase in the history of cinema. The movie literally shaped the car chase genre in modern cinema and . gas station at the corner of Guadalupe Canyon Parkway
The article featured a promotional gimmick of photographing the 2008 Mustang and 2008 Charger simulating the chase scene with the writers breaking down the chase, moment by moment, to explain each cars strengths and weaknesses. While Hickman had many small acting (mainly driving) parts throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he worked primarily as a stuntman. There is also a shot looking south from the Cathedral showing the Masonic Temple
The cinematographer said he almost bought a home in San Francisco after "Bullitt" wrapped up. Hotel at 401 East Millbrae Avenue just east of 101 in Millbrae (thanks to Mike Curtis for that information). Local car lots were searched and production started with two identical Mustangs and three sturdy Dodge Chargers. The iconic scene of one of the greatest, if not the greatest ("thumbs up" if you agree), car chases of motion picture history.enjoy. The car chase took about three weeks to shoot, and was nearly as frantic behind the scenes as it appears on film. Bill Hickman died of cancer in 1986 at the age of 65 in Indio, California. a Dorothy Simmons (actually Judith Renick, wife of Albert Renick) at the Thunderbolt Motel in San Mateo. I pulled him out of the car, and he was in my arms when he died, his head fell over. They continue on York at this odd little intersection of York with Peralta
The crashed car turned up in a junk yard in Mexico, but it was literally a pile of rust. They continue north (downhill) on Taylor, passing Green Street,
We said, 'This is our town for 10 weeks, and we're going to use it.' Here we collect the 33 best car chases ever put in movies, and rank them all. We map out the impossible route of the. The 1968 "hero" Ford Mustang driven by Steve McQueen in the classic action film "Bullitt" sold for $3.74 million at auction Friday in Florida. 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). The actual location is the Clarion
The soundtrack is glorious, too - and we don't mean the music soundtrack. 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. 2002 the view had changed little. The chase in "Bullitt" is long and thrilling, but more than a little confusing. He set out some rules, " McKenna said. The hotel, which was
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. Outside of the U.S. it was known as Esso. Starts at Fairmont Hotel; south on Mason; west on California to Hyde. The Mustang understeers badly and he is forced to stop and back up in order to make the turn. The railroad tracks, which connected
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. 2. Both open and limited-slip diffs allow the wheels to rotate at different speeds in corners for efficiency and comfort. This area has changed substantially since April
Enrico's at 501 Braodway called the "Galaxie" in the movie. However, Hickman is clearly shown in several of the publicity stills from The Wild One. Sidewalk Cafe (504 Broadway at Kearny Street) to find out who is after Johnny Ross. After Hickman saw the suspect shoot police Officer Alphonso Begue in the chest, he used his stunt driver skills to chase him down on Laurel Canyon Road until law enforcement officers could catch up. where the camera car's engine noise hit a frighteningly high pitch. The Mustangs were driven by Bud Ekins, Carey Loftin, and McQueen. Bullitt location: Ross is spotted in the hotel lobby: Mark Hopkins Hotel, 1 Nob Hill, San Francisco. was and different lighting), and here is Army and Precita in 2002 with the
He was driving the Ford station wagon and trailer following Dean on the day of Dean's fatal accident and was the first person on the scene. 0:00. They stand in front of a club across the street from
2002) and the bad guys stop at the corner of York and Peralta
Here is the curve as it appeared in 1999. 1968 (note the white Pontiac Firebird). Here are the 5 best San Francisco car chases from the movies that have helped put the city on the map: 5. . Reenact it if you dare: there are nine unique segments of squealing tires and crunched fenders spread out across San Francisco. Bill Hickman, the backup hit man and driver of the Charger, was experienced in driving stunts and in racing. In 2008, Motor Trend Magazine promoted the 40th anniversary edition Bullitt Mustang. The doomed informant Ross is first spotted by the baddies in the lobby of the . It is never clear whether he was hurt while filming a stunt for the movie, although one account (by the late Clyde Earl) had him taking a spill in a motorcycle race not connected with the film. 2. The ominous-looking pony car with the barking 390-cubic-inch V-8, which starred in one of the greatest chase . However, it was the car chase alongside Steve McQueen in the 1968 film Bullitt for which he is usually remembered. Plus: Windows 11 gets updated with its new Bing AI, Googles Pixel Watch gets fall detection, and recommendation algorithms are absolutely everywhere. The chase crosses Mason Street (you can see the cable car) (here is the
The chase takes place over several non-contiguous streets in and south of San Francisco. "And he drove that car, drove the hell out of it, and came back and picked up in the middle of that sentence. Its the longest car chase scene in film history, surpassing the other famous and exciting car chase, in William Friedkins 1971 Oscar winning. a used car salesman from Detroit. crossing Vallejo in 2002 (that's Alcatraz Island in the background)
The crooked part of Lombard Street was designed in 1922, after it was determined that the 27% grade of the hill was too steep for most vehicles, and even pedestrians. McQueen was keen to do as many of his own stunts as possible. Steve McQueen's cool never goes away. 7. There was the static of walkie-talkies, as filmmakers at the bottom of the hill ordered shooting to begin. The original typed letter on Steve McQueens Solar Production Companys letter head asking to buy back his car in 1977 was also on hand. Fraker remembers the entire cast and crew of "Bullitt" having a good time. 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 . Here is the view west on Army Street (now Cesar Chavez Street) in
"It's almost like foreplay when they start that little cat-and-mouse thing in the beginning. You can see a gas station in the background. The car chase between 1960s muscle cars features a third American classic, as the . The chase then continues at the intersection of 20th and Rhode Island
They turn from Laguna Street, in front of Ft. Mason, onto Marina Boulevard, in front of a Safeway store. "Bullitt" cinematographer William A. Fraker said the two-second seat belt scene was the only portion of the chase that was shot later at a studio in Los Angeles. was driven by Pat Houstis. Here is the view
Car Chase, San Francisco. I have driven some of it in North Beach, but not the whole route. Here is the
Frank Bullitt (Steve McQeen) to guard a state's witness, one Johnny Ross. 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. apartments. In the next clip, they pass in front of the Safeway again. 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. The owner refused to sell, and the car now sits in a barn. Highland Green Mustangs had 390 cubic inch engines, while the Chargers had 440 cubic inch engines. house had been repainted gray. The chase segment starts off, with the Charger trailing the Mustang, near the intersection of
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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. In 1968, Life magazine called the eye-popping 10 minute and 53 second car chase scene in the movie "Bullitt" a "terrifying, deafening shocker." . There will be no minimum bid next week when the car in the most famous chase in movie history goes on the block. The intersection looks very different in 2002. on California Street at Taylor Street. And then both muscle cars hurtled toward the cameras, soaring through the air and crunching to the ground like giant stones skipping across an asphalt stream. Marina Boulevard (2002). But he had a feel for it. And so do the tears . It started a whole new thing for car chases.". I had a hernia after that.". They were denied permission to film on the Golden Gate Bridge. Thus, the movie benefited from freedom of movement around the city, including giving up an entire hospital wing for filming, closing down multiple streets for 3 weeks for the car chase scene, and taking over San Francisco International Airport at night. Lombard and a . The chase continues into
The chase was filmed in a variety of disparate locations and there is little continuity. The actor spent off hours in an apartment on Jones Street, not a posh hotel, and had dinner with several cops during his stay -- he was more likely to spend his spare time around working-class types than movie stars and studio executives. But a limited-slip diff balances the power between left and right wheels when traction is lost on one or both sides. Few films did as much to cement the status of the Ford Mustang as the de facto "good guys" car as the 1968 drama/thriller Bullitt.Its 11-minute car chase scene, in which star Steve McQueen drives a Ford Mustang in pursuit of the baddies' Dodge Charger through the hilly streets of San Francisco, is one of the most famous, lauded chase scenes in cinematic history. During the early scenes of the car chase, a gas station is seen. In 1963, Hickman and fellow stuntman Alex Sharp witnessed a bank robber, Carl Follette, speed by them on the Ventura Freeway near the Laurel Canyon off-ramp. Here is Taylor at Vallejo looking south,
Bullitt (1968) - San Francisco. I could not believe how steep Lombard Street is ( and I walked UP the hill !! ) Loren let Meyers in on a lot of interesting little . Popular with locals and tourists alike for many years, the city's steep streets gained international fame thanks to Bullitt. "That was fixed overnight. A blue truck was dispatched in its place. All rights reserved. 5. If you feel the need to get out of your car, know that street parking is a longshot; the nearest parking garage is about six blocks away at 721 Filbert Street. which now occupies this space is the Gramercy Towers
where they cut in front of a yellow taxi cab and a Cadillac. approaching Union Street, passing Union Street,
progenitor of all subsequent movie car chases, Bullitt is an excellent film. Often times 1968 cool does not resonate 50 years later . The Charger is just barely faster than the Mustang, with a 13.6-second quarter-mile compared to the Mustangs 13.8-second. He staged the motorcycle chase in Electra Glide In Blue, starring Robert Blake, and also appeared as a driver in the 1969 Disney film The Love Bug and as the military driver for George C. Scott in the Academy Award-winning movie Patton. Still captures from the Bullitt DVD are copyright Warner Bros., are included here for review puposes,
Both Mustangs were owned by the Ford Motor Company and part of a promotional loan agreement with Warner Bros. High-speed chase: bales of pot hurled at Arizona cops by Mexican drug smugglers during car chase. However, when McQueen reported for duty to find stuntman Bud Ekinssitting in his car, dressed as McQueen, he was furious. The famous car chase features a wild drive through several picturesque parts of San Francisco. McLaren Park. . "I said, 'What's going on here?' Throughout his career, McQueen insisted on performing his own stunts. ", In another interview with James Dean expert Warren Beath, Hickman is quoted as saying, "We were about two or three minutes behind him. 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. were 4-speeds, as were the Mustangs. "Every once in a while I know it's still playing because I get a little check for 6 bucks.". HighSpeed chase in Cadilac Ends by spikebelt. for many of the chase scenes, with the Marina District only a short distance away. The Dead Pool (1988) The Dead Pool is part of the Dirty Harry series of films and the shortest of all the films, as well as being the fifth and final installment. Bullitt makes a U-turn on Army at Precita (note the Pontiac and the
In this view looking east on Chestnut the San Francisco Art College
McQueen's legend in the city was elevated by his turns behind the wheel in "Bullitt." It became the gold standard for all car-chase films. If he had lived he might have become a champion driver. 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 couldn't just willy-nilly pursue by going block after block after block in the same neighborhood.". His film career spanned from the 1950s through to the late 1970s, and included films such as Bullitt, The French Connection and The Seven-Ups. The Charger follows and this view of Army eastbound is visble
Photo of Ford's replica of the highland green 1968 Mustang used in the film Bullitt tooling around San Francisco: Ford *Maps: Google Maps/ mthaeg * Most Popular Although credited as Killer in the credits, Aprea only appears briefly in the opening credits sequence, shooting at Rosss car during his escape. It took two weeks to film
"With the centrifugal force of that speed, it was close to impossible to pan to the left and get Steve McQueen. and arriving at Filbert Street. WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Photo of Ford's replica of the highland green 1968 Mustang used in the film Bullitt tooling around San Francisco: Ford, TurboTax service code 2023: Up to $15 off your purchase, Extra 20% off sitewide - Dyson promo code, GoPro promo code: 10% off all sitewide purchases + free shipping, Samsung promo code - Up to 40% off sitewide, Enjoy $1932 off Precision 5570 Workstation with Dell coupon code, Deal of the Day - 50% off Best Buy Coupon, 2023 Cond Nast. Potrero Hill The cars materialize several blocks away on Kansas Street, and McQueen's Mustang appears in the Charger's rear-view mirror. The Steve McQueen movie Bullitt was filmed in and around San Francisco in late April 1968. The car chase is pretty unique in that the main character Harry Callahan is . There were two Ford Mustangs, one which was used in the majority of the jump shots and ultimately ended up crashing into a ravine, and another which wasnt wrecked during filming. for identifying the address). See where the "Fast and Furious" movies and "Mad Max: Fury Road" land on our list. 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. Ad Choices, While playing around with Google Maps, we discovered that a user posted a map detailing the exact route of the legendary Bullitt chase scene. 2010-2023 CarBuzz Inc. All Rights Reserved, Here's Why The Bullitt Car Chase Scene Was So Influential. Robert and son Sean began putting it back together in early 2000s, before life took over and the restoration stalled. Its mascot was a tiger, who encouraged drivers to put a tiger in their (gas) tank. in the Potrero Hills district again. Here is
The bad guys drive a 1968 Dodge Charger 440 Magnum. Here is one of the main entrance in 1968,
and as it appeared in August of 1999. Theyre affordable, but the app store is extremely limited. The story behind the 'hero' car that McQueen actually drove was similarly fascinating. Bill Hickman was already an established stuntman by the time The Wild One was being filmed and his expertise on motorcycles landed him work on the Stanley Kramer production.