This classic '60s cop film is set in San Francisco where Lt Frank Bullitt has been asked to guard Johnny Ross. Ross was previously in 'The Organisation' in Chicago but is now planning to give evidence to a senate committee. Things go wrong very quickly; a hitman strikes leaving Ross and a policeman critically injured. Walter Chalmers, the ambitious local politician who saw the committee meeting as a way to launch himself of a national stage is furious that his key witness may be unavailable, makes it clear that Bullitt will take the fall if Ross doesn't testify. Bullitt sets about trying to find those behind the attack.'Bullitt' is best remembered for the iconic car chase through the streets of San Francisco... it wasn't the first film to feature a car chase but for a while afterwards it seemed that every cop film had to include a chase scene... and this one remains one of the best with Bullitt's Ford Mustang growling as he pursues the villains Dodge Charger. The film may be known for that one scene but it is just a small part of a fine film. It may not be as action packed as films made these days but the details feel real which keep it gripping. Steve McQueen is on top form as Frank Bullitt and Robert Vaughn is solid as Chalmers. When we learn the identity of the person behind the attack it proved to be quite a surprise... all I'll say about it is; I didn't see it coming until just before the big reveal... by which time we'd been shown plenty of clues. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to fans of the genre; it is still fresh fifty years on.

'Bullitt (1968)' is mostly remembered for its standout car chase sequence over the sun-drenched streets of San Francisco but, though that sequence is just as compelling and entertaining as its reputation would suggest, the rest of the picture is oddly paced and at times quite dull, though never boring, and is actually much more of a slow building character piece than a fast-paced action film. There are a number of other memorable moments, though, and the violence is fairly shocking for 60s standards, allowing Steve McQueen to provide a solid central performance in this detective drama that doesn't pull its punches but has some narrative issues and ends rather abruptly. 6/10

Congratulations, it's a boy! And so we have "Bullitt," the grumpy film from 1968 that gave birth to the anti-hero and ushered in an era of scowling detectives and the women who sit around dutifully waiting for them to come home.Actually, anti-heroes existed well before "Bullitt," but Steve McQueen did manage to turn the anti-hero into a household commodity, and everything from "The French Connection" (which was produced by the same man who produced "Bullitt" by the way) to the "Dirty Harry" movies owes a debt of gratitude to this movie.The funniest thing about "Bullitt" is that Steve McQueen actually isn't even a very good detective. He's constantly one-upped and outsmarted by the men he's supposed to be keeping an eye on. But he looks awfully good being a bad cop, except for those moments when he parades around in god-awful pajamas. He's a helluva driver though, as the film's most famous set piece, an endlessly parodied car chase through the streets of San Francisco, makes plain.The film also stars Jacqueline Bissett as a nominal love interest, though good luck distinguishing her from the wall paper for all the film gives her to do."Bullitt" won the 1968 Oscar for film editing (see "car chase" above), and nabbed another nomination for its sound.Grade: B

In addition to the brilliant car chase that this film is most well known for, it also has a brilliant soundtrack, nail biting suspense and a likable lead character. I think what sets Frank Bullitt apart from other action heroes is how he doesn't spit out witty one liners like Dirty Harry or John McLean from 'Die Hard' He is instead a realistic man who you could meet anywhere. This is a film you should definitely watch if you haven't done so already. It has stood the test of time and is as exciting today as it was back in 1968. It can be slow moving at times but it makes up for it with it's brilliant action scenes, made better by the fact there is no pretentious CGI. Highly recommended...