Bullitt

Amazon.com

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. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have For Your Movie Library!.......2007-08-31

Bullitt is Steve McQueen at his finest! It's an excellent movie with an excellent cast, a great plot, top notch acting, and the "Greatest" chase scene ever filmed. Two of the most powerful street cars of the 1960's (1968 GT 390 Mustang Fastback, and a 1968 Dodge Charger) battled it out on the streets of San Francisco! If you have a big screen TV you'll enjoy feeling yourself move in your seat with the cars as they race down the hills of frisco. Cameras are mounted in the windshields for the best special effect ever. I remember when I was a kid watching Bullitt in the theater, everyone was rocking in their seats as the cars went down the hills. This movie was made when all of the actors were stars and headliners, not like today with one or two leading actors and a bus load of newbies. Also, Bullitt was real stuff - not special effects! Bullitt was made before green screens, gimicks, and computer techology had come along. The racing was real, the crashing was real, the explosions were real, and yes - Steve really drove the Gt 390 Mustang.

Thomas

Excellent car chase scene........2007-08-09

This is one of my favorite movies. The car chase scene in San Francisco was one the best early chase scenes,and still is. Great cop movie.

Cool Hand Frank.......2007-07-21

I saw this film when it was released nearly forty years go. It holds up well after all that time. The cinematography is not to be believed, the plot has enough twists to keep you both guessing and intertained, Steve McQueen as the taciturn detective Frank Bullitt (he does a lot of acting with his baby blues) reminds us of what a fine actor we lost when he left this world far too soon, and the stunts are as good as they get.

Everybody talks about the famous car chase on the streets of San Francisco. On the other hand, there is another great chase that takes place on foot at the San Francisco airport. Don't forget how Detective Bullitt gets a free newspaper as well. According to the commentary included with the DVD, the medical personnel used in the hospital scenes were actual doctors and nurses so these scenes are completely realistic.

McQueen is joined by a very young Robert Duvall who plays a cabbie, Robert Vaughn as an ambitious politician and Jacqueline Bissett, Bullitt's lover, who has difficulty with his chosen profession, worrying that he is becoming too involved in the awfulness of the cesspool of crime that he deals with daily. (But, Sweetie, that's what police officer do.)

I certainly haven't seen all the cop movies ever made, but I cannot think of one that is any better than this one. Certainly a lot of television movies since "Bullitt" must owe a great deal to it. McQueen's Mustang chase scene is one for the ages.

Classic action with a bit of substance.......2007-07-02

Bullitt is an intense and suspenseful crime drama that features the famous car chase through San Francisco.

Steve McQueen is memorable in the lead role, with excellent support from Don Gordon as his partner, Delgetti, and Robert Vaughn as the powerful 'good guy / bad guy'. Look also for Norman Fell in a smaller role as a hardened police captain and a younger Robert Duvall as a cab driver.

Most people remember Bullitt for its car chase sequence, for better or for worse. It's good fun with a number of known continuity errors (passing the green VW Beetle at least three times, as well as the white car (Pontiac?)) and that black Dodge Charger must have about eight hubcaps on it, I swear, since about four fall off and later they seem to be back on. (Or did cars have two sets of hubcaps as standard equipment back then?) ;-) In any case, it's a must-see for classic muscle car fans, and the best moments are the "you are there" moments filmed over the drivers' shoulders.

Beyond that, Bullitt's enduring charm is its heavy atmosphere, rather than its dialogue or character development. At times, it seems so real that it almost feels like a documentary. You are taken behind the scenes into the medical and police worlds of the late 1960's.

The plot has enough twists to keep you going. However, by today's standards, some of the scenes could've been left out. I realize that the film tries to show the main character as both a distant maverick as well as a human being, but a number of scenes and subplots could've been edited out in favor of a tighter plot. I mean, do we need to watch Bullitt in a restaurant or grocery shopping or in forced, flat dialogue with his lover? I felt that these moments detracted from the film, rather than adding to it.

The soundtrack works well for the era, as composed by Lalo Schifrin. The opening titles is one of my favorite movie themes. It's jazzy and it fits the film well.

My favorite part of the film is its opening sequence. The titles are blended in creatively with the plot, which begins immediately. That, with the already mentioned music, creates the most enduring impression with me.

Bullitt is not a perfect movie, and not quite the classic that some would make it to be, but it's definitely worth seeing and owning.

"I Want to Nail Him".......2007-06-11

I saw this again last night for the first time in years and it reensured what I believe all this time: "Bullitt" is the greatest movie I have ever seen in my life. It will take a long time for me to find a movie that can top this. Not only that, but "Bullitt" is the only movie I know that grabbed my heart and moved me deeply. As evident in the scene, my favorite in which Bullitt's girlfriend Cathy (Jacqueline Bisset-what a class act angel! She's a split image of what fellow Brit Keira Knightley is; as you know they both co-stared in "Domino" in which Bisset played Knightley's mother) discovers a dead woman strangled and half-naked and later on, Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) pulls the car over the side of the highway because he knows she is pissed. As she gets out of the car and goes into the grass field, Bullitt follows her. Then she speaks by saying "Do you let anything reach you? I mean, REALLY reach you? You think violence is a way of life. Living with violence and death". Speaking of that there is a revealing scene in which the witness is shot and eventually killed in the face. Revealing because that's how Martin Luther King died from in the same year of "Bullitt"'s release. The supporting cast is great which includes Robert Duvall as the cab driver, Simon Oakland, Norman Fell as the police caption, and last but not least Robert Vaughn as Walter Chalmers-the most evil villian I have ever seen in any movie. This is a man that hates blacks and the police (including Bullitt). The movie along with the car and airport chase is a true masterpiece.

Average customer rating:

A Must Have For Your Movie Library!
Excellent car chase scene.
Cool Hand Frank
Classic action with a bit of substance
"I Want to Nail Him"

Bullitt (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Steve McQueen , Robert Vaughn , Robert Duvall , Simon Oakland , and Norman Fell
Director: Peter Yates
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0008ENHTE
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Amazon.com essential video

Peter Yates's 1968 cop drama has its existentialist pretensions, but there is something seductive about its strained seriousness and Steve McQueen's intentionally stoic performance as a San Francisco police detective on the trail of a murderer. A couple of key action sequences boost the film's stature, the most memorable of which is a vertiginous car chase that Yates almost approaches as a dance. Jacqueline Bisset provides window dressing as Bullitt's girlfriend--worried about how much his job strips away his humanity--and Robert Vaughan is almost reptilian as an opportunistic politician. --Tom Keogh

Description

His new assignment seems routine: protecting a star witness for an important trial. But before the night is out, the witness lies dying and cool, no-nonsense Detective Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) won't rest until the shooters and the kingpin pulling their strings are nailed. From opening shot to closing shootout, Bullitt crackles with authenticity: San Francisco locations, crisp dialogue and to-the-letter police, hospital and morgue procedures. An Oscar winner for Best Film Editing (1968), this razor-edged thriller features one of cinema history's most memorable car chases. Buckle up and brace for unbeatable action.

DVD Features: Audio Commentary:Commentary by Director Peter Yates Documentaries:The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool Featurette:Vintage Featurette -- Bullitt: Steve McQueen's Commitment to Reality

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have For Your Movie Library!.......2007-08-31

Excellent car chase scene........2007-08-09

This is one of my favorite movies. The car chase scene in San Francisco was one the best early chase scenes,and still is. Great cop movie.

Cool Hand Frank.......2007-07-21

Classic action with a bit of substance.......2007-07-02

"I Want to Nail Him".......2007-06-11

Average customer rating:

Great film, poor BD Quality!
Looks much better... still

Bullitt [Blu-ray]
Starring: John Aprea , Jacqueline Bisset , Joanna Cassidy , Al Checco , and Norman Fell
Director: Peter Yates
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000MV90IU
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Description

Customer Reviews:

Great film, poor BD Quality!.......2007-06-26

Well, I read reviews online before I got this and they said that it was not much of an improvement, but I wanted to replace my DVD's with BD's, so I got it anyway.

There is an imrpovement, but it is from the HD technology and not because there are improvements. Obviously, the colors are more accurate, the sound better and there are some HD elements, but overall - it looks not much better than the DVD SE on an UP-CONVERT DVD player!

There is a lot of grain and some out of focus moments, but I guess that is how it is in movie making. THe sad part is, this is the restored version that was on the SE DVD which was prepared for HD as is the case with nearly all DVD's today, which is why DVD's look better now.

My gripe is that there is no surround sound. I expect surround sound and everything video to be in HD on every disc. In the furtue I am sure that wil be the case, but you can skip this one if you have the SE DVD as this offers nothing new except being on one disc. It IS an improvement, but not by much. If you have BD, I know you will get it anyway...

Looks much better... still.......2007-06-21

This version looks much better than the original DVD. However, it shows it is an old movie and this has much more to do with the original equipment and filming techniques than with digital format. If you are a Steve McQueen fan as I am, do not hesitate. Buy it. If you're not, stick with the old standard or special edition versions.

The Essential Steve McQueen Collection (Bullitt Two-Disc Special Edition / The Getaway Deluxe Edition / The Cincinnati Kid / Papillon / Tom Horn / Never So Few)

Average customer rating:

Steve McQueen Collection
buy this set instead of the individual titles!
Incomplete collection
Overall a nice assortment of McQueen's movies at a reasonable price.
Top notch collection of McQueen classics

The Essential Steve McQueen Collection (Bullitt Two-Disc Special Edition / The Getaway Deluxe Edition / The Cincinnati Kid / Papillon / Tom Horn / Never So Few)
Starring: Steve McQueen , Robert Vaughn , Jacqueline Bisset , Don Gordon , and Robert Duvall
Director: Peter Yates , Sam Peckinpah , and Norman Jewison
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B0008ENHV2
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Description

6 Steve McQueen classic movies are now available in one giftset -- THE ESSENTIAL STEVE McQUEEN COLLECTION! BULLITT TWO DISC-SPECIAL EDITION: Buckle up for gritty police procedure and a wild, trend-setting chase over Frisco's hills with THE GETAWAY DELUXE EDITION A heist gone wrong is dead-right in the hands of McQueen and director Sam Peckinpah. THE CINCINNATI KID McQueen and Edward G. Robinson ante up. Norman Jewison guides the big-time poker flick. NEVER SO FEW Commando action in World War II Burma! McQueen's first big-budget film. Frank Sinatra stars. PAPILLON Can McQueen and Dustin Hoffman escape Devil's Island? From the director of Patton. TOM HORN True to the cowboy way! McQueen rides tall in a star-packed elegy to a changing West. Titles also available separately.

Customer Reviews:

Steve McQueen Collection.......2007-01-15

Husband very pleased with Steve McQueen collection--very happy with his Christmas present

buy this set instead of the individual titles!.......2006-08-04

i bought it mainly for bullit and the getaway special editions (great extras) and papillon... i still haven't checked the other three movies... the bullit edition has a superb documentary on movie editing

Incomplete collection.......2005-12-21

Bullitt is a masterpiece, the greatest movie of its genre and McQueen's performance in it and in Papillon are among his greatest and that's saying a lot. But I would have thought that the folks who took the trouble to produce this collection would have included two others in which he proves he was more than a great charismatic star, he was also a great actor: The Sand Pebbles, in which he gives his greatest performance (and the only one nominated for an Oscar) and Love With the Proper Stranger, a glorious comedy in which he proved how truly brilliant he was by giving a comic performance which surprises and delights me every time I see it. Arthur Knight in the Saturday Review said at the time that McQueen's performance in this movie should be required viewing for acting students. He is as subtle as always -- you have to concentrate to discover all the wonders, as in all his work -- and the result is perfection. Can you imagine anyone else in any of his roles? Thanks, Steve. We'll love you forever.

Overall a nice assortment of McQueen's movies at a reasonable price........2005-08-26

Overall this is a highly recommended set of six different Steve McQueen movies. It's a "must-have" package for McQueen fans or someone who enjoys 1960's era action or adventure films. If you have even the slightest interest in buying any two or three of the six movies offered, then it well worth buying the box set and not the individual DVDs. Here are my reviews of the six DVDs included in this package:

BULLIT

The synopsis of this film revolves around a mobster named Johnny Ross who flees Chicago after embezzling $2 million from a crime syndicate and goes to San Francisco to testify for a power-driven politician named Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn). Police Lt. Frank Bullit (Steve McQueen) is assigned to protect Ross for several days prior to testifying. Two hitmen manage to shoot Ross and this sets up the remainder of the movie where Bullit has to not only find these killers but has to appease Chalmers and Bullit's bosses in the police department since he was accountable for Ross's protection.

The signature of this film is of course the wild and fast chase between Bullit's '68 Mustang and the killers' Dodge Charger through the hilly streets of San Francisco. By today's Hollywood standards it's a very ordinary chase, but in its day, it was clearly a revolutionary segment. There were obviously car chases in movies prior to this film, but this chase brought filmmaking to a much higher energy level. But the film has more to offer than just a memorable high-speed chase. First, the character of Bullit played by McQueen is arguably the first of many to follow of young, stylish, and radical cops that a young generation could identify with. It's the coolness of McQueen under fire, his style of fast cars, a sexy girlfriend and fashionable clothes that elevate him above the typical suit-and-tie, family man, and vocally brash movie cops of the past. The other strength of the movie is that it does have a clever twist in the plot about two-thirds through the film. Another enjoyable aspect of the movie is the setting of urban San Francisco in the late `60's. We don't see hippies per se, but we do see professional people in "mod" clothes. Probably the best example of this historic era of fashion disaster is in a scene where Bullit meets an informant name Eddy who has a custom trimmed beard, trendy glasses, and a loud suit.

As for the DVD, the color picture is sharp and pristine and the audio is excellent. There are plenty of bonuses including a short feature of the filming of Bullet, the history of editing and the best feature by far, a comprehensive film biography of McQueen entitled, "The Essence of Cool". There is also real-time commentary by director Peter Yates.

Movie: B+

DVD Quality: A

THE GETAWAY

The movie opens in a Texas prison where Doc McCoy (Steve McQueen) is doing time for armed robbery. He is denied parole and has to come to terms that the only way to get out early is to bribe a prison board member, Jack Beynon (Ben Johnson) by indulging him with sexual favors with McCoy's wife Carol (Ali McGraw). The dirty deed is done and McCoy is then paroled, but Beynon coerces Doc into doing one major bank job with a collection of other crooks that Beynon has assembled. This sets up a big heist with several twists and turns along the way for an action packed film.

I've seen just about all of McQueen's movies and this is my favorite. First, I like the opening scenes in a real Texas prison. The guards and other prisoners aren't actors - they are the real deal. This rest of the movie is shot in Texas also. I don't recall seeing a single scene that appeared to be made in a Hollywood backlot. The plot of this movie is original. It's more than just a bank robbery and car chases. There are a series of interesting confrontations and slick double-crosses that add a lot of pizzazz to the film. The street-smart character of Doc McCoy played by McQueen is what sets this apart from most action films. His uncanny knack of figuring out what's going on and eluding his advisories is what makes it an extra special movie. Ali McGraw is beautiful, but her acting is suspect at times. Sally Struthers gives a wonderful performance as a ditzy, yet too sympathetic hostage. Slim Pickens also does a stellar job as an older, but very spirited cowboy.

As for the DVD, the widescreen color presentation is near pristine. The stereo audio quality is excellent. There are plenty of commentary features on this DVD.

Movie: A-

DVD Quality: A-

PAPILLON

The movie Papillon opens in France in the early 20th century. The main character is a safecracking Frenchman named Henri 'Papillon' Charriere who was convicted of killing a pimp - a crime Papillon insists he was wrongfully accused of. He is sentenced for life in prison in French Guiana. During his voyage from France to South America, Papillon befriends another prisoner named Louis Dega (Dustin Hoffman) who smuggled a small fortune of money with him. Upon arriving in French Guiana, they find the conditions and the climate of prison camp extremely arduous and learn that many inmates die within the first year of imprisonment. Together, Papillon and Dega combine their skills and resources for an escape from this prison colony.

The film is visually moving with many scenes showing the convicts in extremely hostile conditions. The remote locations used were impressive - especially in this widescreen color format. Steve McQueen gives the best performance of this career playing a prisoner who is subjected to near-death treatment is several parts of the film. While his verbal communication is decent in this film, it's his physical presence that is absolutely remarkable. Dustin Hoffman's performance is good, but nothing extra special. But overall, it's an extremely good adventure movie that should be about 130 minutes long instead of 2-1/2 hours. All in all, it's an intriguing film, but I wasn't blown away by it.

As for the DVD, although the widescreen color and clarity are impressive, the film transfer did pickup some tiny blemishes throughout the movie. For a 1973 film, it would have been nice to see a fully restored presentation of this picture. The stereo audio quality is excellent. There are only a few short bonus features.

Movie: B+

DVD Quality: B+

TOM HORN

The movie is based on a true story. Western cowboy Tom Horn (Steve McQueen) has a well-known reputation as fearless fighter for just causes. The setting is circa 1901 in Wyoming and Horn rides into a small town. After displaying his toughness in several confrontations, a local rancher named John Coble (Richard Farnsworth) hires Horn to stop a cattle-rustling problem that has been plaguing his ranch for sometime. Horn agrees to work for him and carries out justice in his own way. He does a great job for Coble - almost too good and then Horn is faced with a different set of problems.

The first hour of the movie is terrific with plenty of action and excitement. It's a stunning visual presentation of Steve McQueen in a beautiful Western setting, playing a character who enforces the law his way with excitement and skill. But then the last 35 minutes of the film is sedated and ambiguous when the story goes in a completely different direction. Furthermore in this last segment, the character Tom Horn appears punchless and apathetic. Since it is based on a true story, he may have really behaved this way, and that's fine, but that part of the story should have been condensed down to 3 or 5 minutes and stayed with the prior theme for a longer duration. The film has plenty of merits, but the screen writing for the last part was poorly done and cripples the mood of the entire movie.

As for the DVD, it's a sharp and pristine widescreen color presentation. The audio is excellent. Only two bonuses: the trailer and a `Wanted Dead or Alive' promotion.

Movie: B-

DVD Quality: A

THE CINCINNATI KID

The setting is during the Depression in New Orleans, mostly in the French Quarter. Eric Stoner also known as "The Cincinnati Kid" (Steve McQueen) is a very formidable stud poker player. He has a girlfriend named Christian (Tuesday Weld) and a longtime buddy named Shooter (Karl Malden). Shooter has a very attractive girlfriend named Melba Nile (Ann-Margaret). The movie is setup for a big showdown with poker legend Lancy Howard (Edward G. Robinson), who comes to New Orleans to play the "The Kid". Stoner's relationships with Christian, Shooter and Melba add a dynamic to the film that makes it more than just a "pure" poker movie.

There's a lot to like about this film. The color cinematography is superb and the props and setting for the French Quarter are a feast for the eyes (one major gaff however was a shot of a diesel train engine). In a fantastic opening scene, we see a Dixieland band playing a funeral march and then quickly changing the music to an upbeat jazz song with plenty of street dancing. The movie itself was masterfully crafted and the characters were unique and original. There are quite a few strong performances including great acting by Edward G. Robinson, Karl Malden and Rip Torn. I think the thing the made this movie work is that it was not about winning or losing for the sake of money. The central issues were winning for prestige and notoriety and making someone lose to destroy their ego. The ending is gutsy and I'll just leave it at that. My only critical comment of the film is that the onscreen relationship between McQueen and Weld lacked chemistry. But overall it's an extremely entertaining movie.

As for the DVD, it's a beautiful and flawless widescreen color presentation. The audio is excellent. There are a few worthwhile bonuses including commentary by director Norman Jewison and scene-specific analysis by poker commentators Phil Gordon and Dave Foley.

Movie: A-

DVD Quality: A

NEVER SO FEW

Frank Sinatra stars as Tom Reynolds, an American Army Captain who leads a group of allied forces combined with the native tribesmen in Burma to fight the Japanese in WWII. The movie is mix of war situations in the Burmese jungles coupled with a romance involving a foreign woman (Gina Lollobrigida) he meets while on leave in India. There are some good things about this movie and some bad things. By far the best thing is some nice color footage of remote areas in Southeast Asia. There are only a few battle scenes but they work effectively in this story. There are also some notable (and young) actors in this film including Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Dean Jones and Peter Lawford.

Unfortunately, the film is marred by a number of problems. First, the Sinatra character, Tom Reynolds, is a renegade leader and does things like shoot his own wounded soldier to put him out of his misery and later does a multitude things worthy for court marshal. In addition, Reynolds consistently shows blatant disrespect with every superior officer he comes in contact with. But in a very heavy-handed way near the end of the movie, Reynold's actions along with his arrogant and condescending attitude are dealt with in a way that wasn't at all believable and at the same time very disturbing. If you are someone like me who respects the military and appreciates and understands the reason for rules and protocol, and know that rebellious people have no place in the armed forces, then you will certainly be bothered with the outcome of the movie. The other problem is this romance between Sinatra and Gina Lollobrigida. Without a doubt it, there was clearly too much time devoted to this relationship which was positively boring. The final problem was the dialogue among the soldiers. Most of it seemed to be just poor attempts at witty conversations. Overall, if you are a WWII film buff, you may find some redeeming qualities in this movie, but other than that, there just isn't that much there.

As for the DVD, the widescreen color presentation is very good but there are some tiny spots of film deterioration throughout the film. The audio is very good. The only DVD bonus is a trailer.

Movie: C-

DVD Quality: B

Top notch collection of McQueen classics.......2005-06-05

You could call him the quiet one. McQueen had a talent for portraying quite a lot with minimal dialog and that's the way he liked it. He has maybe 75 lines off dialog in "The Magnificent Seven" yet his presence is equal to that of star Yul Brynner. You'd be forgiven for being confused about which Steve McQueen boxed set to purchase. MGM has recently released "The Steve McQueen Collection" which features four McQueen classics that have previously been available on DVD; "The Thomas Crown Affair", "The Magnificent Seven", "Junior Bonner" and "The Great Escape".

"The Essential Steve McQueen Collection" is a different beast entirely; it does feature 1 title that is no different than the previously issued version -"Papillon". All the rest have either never been issued or, in the case of "Bullitt", are now in two disc deluxe editions that make this set a worthwhile addition to any collection.

The crown jewel of this set is the new deluxe edition of "Bullitt". McQueen plays San Francisco detective Frank Bullitt. He's been assigned to protect a witness for a major trial. The witness, though, is murdered. Before the post-mortem has begun, Bullitt hunts for the killers and plans on nailing them. Featuring an amazing high speed chase through the streets of San Francisco and shot entirely on location, "Bullitt" was Peter Yates' first major US film and it crackles with energy.

"Papillon" tells the story of a thief nick-named Papillon for the large butterfly tattooed on his chest. (McQueen) framed for murder in France and sent to Devil's Island for life. From the moment he steps on the boat headed to the prison he's planning his escape. He agrees to protect a financial thief Louis Dega (Dustin Hoffman). Schaffner's film portrays Papillon's attempt to survive on Devil's Island until he can figure out an escape plan. Although this isn't Schaffner's best film, it has a number of powerful moments that equal his classic films "Patton", "Planet of the Apes" and "The War Lord". McQueen more than holds his own with method actor Hoffman.

"The Cincinnati Kid" features McQueen as Eric Stoner a poke playing ace who challenges the best gambler around "the Man" Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson). A terrific performance by Edward G. Robinson allows Robinson to almost steal the picture under McQueen's nose. With a terrific supporting cast, "The Cincinnati Kid" would be one of the most memorable films about gambling until "Rounders" three decades later.

"Never So Few" features McQueen in the third billed role of Bill Ringa a member of the O.S.S. fighting the Japanese during World War II in Burma. Ringa and his Captain Tom Reynolds (Frank Sinatra) are in Burma to train the Kachin natives in how to fight the Japanese. Reynolds fights dirty when Chinese rebels cross over to Burma to kill and loot the American soldiers stationed there. Although it's not one of director John Sturges ("The Magnificent Seven". "Ice Station Zebra") best films, "Never So Few" provides McQueen with a role that continued his breakthrough as a actor. It also inspired Sturges to cast McQueen in "The Magnificent Seven".

"The Getaway" almost got away without being made. Originally Peter Bogdanovich was to direct with his girlfriend actress Cybil Shepherd in the lead. When she dropped out so did Bogdanovich. Luckily director Sam Peckinpah stepped in and the rewritten script by Walter Hill was tooled for McQueen. Scandal broke out on the set when McQueen became involved with his co-star Ali McGraw (who was then married to Paramount head Robert Evans). McQueen plays thief Doc McCoy who has been paroled. The only problem is that Sheriff Beynon (Ben Johnson) expects him to do a big robbery for him. He plans on killing McCoy afterward but things don't quite work out the way that Beynon intended.

"Tom Horn" (McQueen) a tracker and "enforcer" who dispensed justice in the old west takes a job to stop cattle thieves. When things get messy and Horn has to kill some of the rustlers, the ranchers who hired him want Horn stopped. He's put on trial for the murder of a 15 year old boy. The next to last film McQueen made before he died in 1980, is a surprisingly powerful and great western. The screenplay by novelist/screenwriter Thomas McGuane ("The Missouri Breaks", "92 in the Shade", "Rancho Deluxe") and Bub Shrake ("Nightwing", "J.W. Coop", "Songwriter") portrays a character out of time; Horn's style of dispensing justice faces the gray world of corruption and politics. McQueen gives one of his best nuanced performances in a film that didn't do all that well at the box office. It's a pity as it's a great movie that deserves a wider audience. Luckily, for those who buy the boxed set they'll finally get a chance to see this classic western.

The previous DVD edition of "Bullitt" looked quite good but can't compare to the newly digitally remastered transfer here. Image clarity, color and detail for "Bullitt" is superb. The sound is surprisingly spry with a nice 5.1 remix that doesn't quite use the format to its best advantage but that's not a surprise given that the film is nearly 40 years old. "Papillon" comes with the same transfer as it received in 2000. Image quality is good but the negative could use restoration and/or digital filtering to clean up the print/improve it. It does feature a recent 5.1 remix (which wasn't advertised on the box of the previous release and I don't recall if it had it or not on the 1999 release but I suspect not).The colors aren't bright and vibrant but they fit the general atmosphere of the film and are fairly true to the original theatrical exhibition if a bit faded. "The Getaway" looks terrific again considering the age of the movie. The blacks are rock solid and the colors as vivid and bright as they've ever been. There's the occasionally soft image but, on the whole, "The Getaway" looks marvelous. "Never So Few" also looks quite good particularly when you consider the age of the negative. It receives a solid transfer with bright colors and nice image clarity. "The Cincinnati Kid" also looks exceptionally good with nice color reproduction and image quality. It's clear that some digital restoration was done to the most recent releases here and "Kid" does benefit from it. "Tom Horn" looks extremely good with sharp images, bright and vivid colors. Although a tad grainy (like most of the films here) that has more to do with the stock used to shoot the films and the condition of the negative than the transfer. In most cases, the graininess adds to the character of the films. All six films feature 2.0 Dolby Digital Surround soundtracks (in addition to the 5.1 remasters for "Papillon"). All sound crisp with nice clarity to the dialog and music.

"Bullitt" gets the most attention here. Featuring two fine documentaries on the film and McQueen, we also get the original vintage featurette on the film. "The Cutting Edge" examines the the art of movie editing with a glimpse into other films during the editing process as well. "Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool" is a terrific biography on McQueen that provides a lot of information previously unknown about the actor. There's also the original theatrical trailer included as well. "The Getaway" features the original theatrical trailer only. "Papillon" has the original promotional featurette produced for the film as part of the extras as well as the trailer. "The Cincinnati Kid", "Never So Few" and "Tom Horn" all have only the original theatrical trailer for the respective films. It's a pity that Warner chose not to do a documentary or at the very least a featurette on "Tom Horn". Since it's about a real historical figure and making the film was a passion for McQueen, it would have been appropriate and provided much needed information on the historical figure and the production of this fine overlooked film.

"Bullitt" comes with an excellent commentary by director Peter Yates. "The Getaway" features a "virtual" commentary culled from interviews of McQueen, Peckinpah and McGraw as well as a commentary by Peckinpah biographers/documentarians Nick Redman, Paul Seydor, Garner Simmons and David Weddle. "The Cincinnati Kid" has a marvelous trivia filled commentary track by director Norman Jewison.

Between this release and "The Steve McQueen Collection", McQueen fans will have most of his essential films. Although there are a few gems missing from these collections (due to contractual issues no doubt), most of the films here are among the best McQueen made. "The Getaway" and "Bullitt" receive most of the attention here with terrific commentary tracks and extras. "Papillon" probably could have used a face lift with a new digital transfer and a commentary track by a film historian (or Dustin Hoffman) but it looks like we'll have to wait for this minor classic to get its due another time. The other missed opportunity in this superb set is the lack of extras for "Tom Horn" One of McQueen's finest later films and a terrific western that presaged films like "The Unforgiven", "Open Range" and "Wyatt Earp", it's a perfect period piece about the transition of the old west into civilization and those who were lost along the way.

Average customer rating:

Wish I still had my Mustang
Sweet film, Good Transfer
Bullitt = Bad
Bullitt (HD DVD)
Wonderful experience.

Bullitt [HD DVD]
Starring: Steve McQueen , Robert Vaughn , Jacqueline Bisset , Don Gordon , and Robert Duvall
Director: Peter Yates
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MTPAHW
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Description

Customer Reviews:

Wish I still had my Mustang.......2007-06-14

I watched this in the theater when it came out many years ago. I had forgotten much of the story but not the car chase... Glad to have the high def added to my collection.

Sweet film, Good Transfer.......2007-06-01

I've always been a fan of Steve Mcqueen, him and Paul newman when i was growing up. I'm 23 now and i couldnt be happier that they put this film out on HD DVD. Its not the greatest transfer but for it being as old as it is, its pretty freakin sweet man. I also purchased the Getaway too and that was pretty cool stuff as well. Anyway if you love this film and Steve Mcqueen buy this movie on HD.

Bullitt = Bad.......2007-05-16

Not to offend anyone who liked this film, but I simply couldn't find anything inherently good about it. Except for the car chase, but then again, couldn't the two villains have had some sort of dialog! For the entire car chase the two don't utter a word! Unbelievable.

Bad script and wooden acting = bad movie.

The movie came out in '68, one year after I was born and I had always heard great things about the chase scene, but to me this alone doesn't warrant purchasing this film. Sorry.

Should have bought the SD-DVD! I should add that the transfer was pretty good.

Bullitt (HD DVD).......2007-05-07

Being this was my favorite chase scene of all time, the HD version was excellent !

Wonderful experience........2007-03-30

HD gives old movies a new lease of life. A must buy for movie buffs.

The Best of the 60s (Bonnie and Clyde/Bullitt/Cool Hand Luke/The Wild Bunch - The Director's Cut)

Average customer rating:

I've seen them all at least a

The Best of the 60s (Bonnie and Clyde/Bullitt/Cool Hand Luke/The Wild Bunch - The Director's Cut)
Starring: Steve McQueen , Robert Vaughn , Jacqueline Bisset , Don Gordon , and Robert Duvall
Director: Peter Yates , Sam Peckinpah , and Stuart Rosenberg
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00011ZBJ8
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Customer Reviews:

I've seen them all at least a .......2007-01-11

dozen times.

You should too.

Average customer rating:

Don't Bite The Bullitt
You have got to be kidding me...
Oh, Jesus Christ.....
Ditto
Disappointing DVD

The Making of "Bullitt"
Starring: Making of Bullitt
Manufacturer: PASSPORT VIDEO
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000B1ODH
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Product Description

The setting isi1968, the mean streets of San Francisco... superstar Steve McQueen has just started filming what would become a cinema classic, Bullitt. The Making of Bullitt is a behind the scenes look at the filming of Steve McQueen's 1968 ground breaking detective drama, also starring Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Vaughn. This DVD transports the viewer onto the set of one of the most exciting films ever made as you get a behind the scenes look at the preparations and filming of what many consider the finest and most hair-raising car chase scene in movie history. Shot entirely on location this program give you an inside look at not only the technical aspects of filming a complex scene on city streets, but also a better understanding of the mindset of it's star, the legendary Steve McQueen. The Making Of Bullitt is a fascinating look at the intricacies of film-making and of the inner drive that made Steve McQueen and enduring giant of the silver screen.

System Requirements:

Running Time 80 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Don't Bite The Bullitt.......2004-11-23

Beware. This is little short of false advertising. A short (15 mins?) publicity film dating from the film's release year, 1969, entitled "Steve McQueen: A Commitment to Reality", which has some McQueen commentary, as well as some commentary by director Peter Yates, with behind-the-scenes footage, is the only thing on this DVD that qualifies as "The Making of "Bullitt'". Thereafter there is a dated generic filmography of McQueen, as well as one of his "Bullitt" co-star, Jacqueline Bisset. Then there are trailers for some films that feature car chases (!) -- "Duel", "Vanishing Point", "The Driver", "Magnum Force" and "Mad Max". And that, my friends, is it! About the only thing I learned from this DVD is that Bisset's film "Secrets" was finally released because everybody liked the way she looked in a wet T-shirt in "The Deep". It appears that she is responsible for that modern phenomenon, the Wet T-Shirt Competition. Needless to say, this is not the sort of thing that one should learn from a DVD entitled "The Making of "Bullitt"".

You have got to be kidding me..........2004-01-08

I can't believe anyone on the planet would put this out on DVD. The case is actually a higher quality product. It opens and closes, it holds a DVD. (You might want to throw away the one that came in it, and use it to store something more valuable, like a Gary Coleman coaster.) The DVD itself is unmitigated garbage. It has nothing to do with the Making of Bullitt, it is a couple of bad biographies, and a short film about McQueen which you can get elsewhere. Plus, to top it all off it is "hosted" by some poor idiot who looks as though he was captured at the end of a cattle prod and made to dance in a lousy suit for his tormentors. (Who the hell is this guy? Sean McLaughlin? Never heard of him. Probably never will again. He does resemble the guy from Sex and the City, who was also in the old 80's version of Dune, and HIS name is Kyle McLaughlin. Maybe he is his lesser brother. If he is, then Kyle might want to help him with a DECENT walk on part before this disc makes him the Frank Stallone of the 21st century.) DO NOT BUY!

Oh, Jesus Christ............2003-11-26

I think Steve McQueen should have flushed this pile and then immediately seen a doctor.

The only thing that gives this steamy load any credibility is its host, Mr. Sean McLaughlin. It's nice to see him getting work again- the last I saw of this program's host, he was selling euphimisms to Catholic school children in the park.

Ditto.......2003-09-30

Basically the same as what another person said - if you already have the other "Bullitt" DVD, you already have the main feature of this rehashed, slapped-together piece of "work." It's obvious the cornballs who made these "Making of" features are just looking for a quick buck, and well, I guess they made a few bucks on us suckers who took the bait. They probably thought, "Hey! Lets take advantage of those idiots who love old car movies and make a few bucks! We'll just recycle some available stuff, throw in some trailers from existing DVDs and produce some low-budget crap that people will dish out a few bucks for!"

Save yourself the trouble and take my word -- don't waste your time and money on this. From the first few seconds of the intro (some kid with a hangover wearing a cheap tux blabbing about McQueen), then into the main "feature," then the rest are trailers from "Mad Max," "Magnum Force," "Vanishing Point," etc, etc, - just filler stuff. And the picture quality is awful. Enough said? Just buy the regular "Bullitt" DVD instead if you already don't own it.

Disappointing DVD.......2003-09-29

Anyone who owns the Bullitt video, DVD or 30th Anniversary Warner Brothers DVD SHOULD NOT BUY THIS DVD since "The Making of Bullitt" appears on the abovementioned versions under the title of "Steve McQueen: A committment to Reality." This new "The Making of Bullitt" DVD contains a cheesy, general intro from some fellow in a suit and the original Bullitt theatrical trailer (also on the video and DVDs). There are also two biographical documentaries on the DVD, one about McQueen and one about Jacqueline Bisset, both thrown together with a minimal voice over and very very very little effort into the writing. It sounded as if the narrator got the info from the inside of a book cover. These biographies show lenghtly (and poorly copied) clips from their movies and trailers. Thats it. The same goes for the "Car MOvies" extras. Again, just clips from various movies and their trailers. This whole DVD looked as if some high school student had to throw together some much needed quick cash.

Average customer rating:

A Must Have For Your Movie Library!
Excellent car chase scene.
Cool Hand Frank
Classic action with a bit of substance
"I Want to Nail Him"

Bullitt [Region 2]
Starring: Steve McQueen , Robert Vaughn , Jacqueline Bisset , Don Gordon , and Robert Duvall
Director: Peter Yates
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00004RYCS

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have For Your Movie Library!.......2007-08-31

Excellent car chase scene........2007-08-09

This is one of my favorite movies. The car chase scene in San Francisco was one the best early chase scenes,and still is. Great cop movie.

Cool Hand Frank.......2007-07-21

Classic action with a bit of substance.......2007-07-02

"I Want to Nail Him".......2007-06-11

BULLITT (1968/DVD/SPECIAL EDITION/2 DISC/WS-1.85/ENG/FR/SP SUB/O-SLEEVE)

Average customer rating:

BULLITT (1968/DVD/SPECIAL EDITION/2 DISC/WS-1.85/ENG/FR/SP SUB/O-SLEEVE)

Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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Vanishing Point

ASIN: B0008ENHT4

Description

Average customer rating:

A Must Have For Your Movie Library!
Excellent car chase scene.
Cool Hand Frank
Classic action with a bit of substance
"I Want to Nail Him"

Bullitt [Region 2]
Starring: Steve McQueen , Robert Vaughn , Jacqueline Bisset , Don Gordon , and Robert Duvall
Director: Peter Yates
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000054225

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have For Your Movie Library!.......2007-08-31

Excellent car chase scene........2007-08-09

This is one of my favorite movies. The car chase scene in San Francisco was one the best early chase scenes,and still is. Great cop movie.

Cool Hand Frank.......2007-07-21

Classic action with a bit of substance.......2007-07-02

"I Want to Nail Him".......2007-06-11

DVD: