Top Movie Cops: Frank Bullitt

Lt. Frank Bullitt, SFPD

Name: Frank Bullitt
Occupation: Police Lieutenant, San Francisco Police
First appearance: Bullitt (1968)
Number of films: 1
Enemies: Politician Walter Chalmers, The Organization
Friends: Cathy (girlfriend); Sergeant Delgetti, Detective Stanton, Captain Bennet (his boss)

Having a chat with the weaselly Chalmers

History: Super cool police detective Frank Bullitt is personally asked by the smarmy DA Chalmers to guard witness Johnny Ross, a Chicago mobster is who to turn evidence against the Organization at a hearing on organized crime. Things get botched and Ross is killed by two lethal hitmen. Bullitt is told to let the case go but gets approval from his captain to dig deeper to find out what's going on. He also has to contend with his live in girlfriend Cathy, who wonders, if she can be in a relationship with a cop. Bullitt is the kind of cop who doesn't take no for an anwser. He's not cocky but believes in justice and doing the right thing. If you are a friend, he will go beyond the call of duty to help you. But cross him, oh lord..watch out. 

Frank is all about business when on duty

But he will make time for his lovely lady, Cathy

And let's not forget his bad ass 1968 Ford Mustang 390 GT 2 + 2 Fastback. The one he engages in with for one of the best onscreen car chases you will ever see. Too bad this character was never afforded a sequel or two.

Oh yeah..burning rubber in pursuit of the bad guys

Cinematic World Tour Blogathon: California, Here I Come

Since I thought of this blogathon event I figured I needed to be the first to do a post. I was hoping to go abroad and eventually might before the summer is over, but I decided to start with California, a place I have never been before. Maybe my good friends that I met through blogger and facebook will put me for a night or two as well. Like Desiree, Kori and Valarie. I will call ahead to see if that's cool with them. Anyway some of the places that were captured on film for California feature some very cool spots that would be awesome to see up close. So let's begin shall we...

SO BEAUTIFUL!

First off I have to visit Big Sur, where The Sandpiper (1965) was filmed. Even though it stars larger than life Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the backdrop of Big Sur overshadows them both. One of the most gorgeous places in the world and so lovingly captured on film. Have to go there definitely. I mean it is so beautiful just going by what I saw on display in The Sandpiper, it has to be even more amazing when you actually see it.

Enjoy a casual drive in San Francisco....

But try not to get on the bad side of SFPD...they usually shoot first, 

then ask questions later

Probably venture over to San Francisco to check out the streets where top cops Bullitt (Steve McQueen) and Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood) performed their duties. Would be very cool to engage in a car chase but we will keep things legal and safe.

Now listen when the tourists start arriving...that's when I will give the signal...

and everyone just go crazy!

Drop by Bodega Bay for a spell, where Hitchcock set his bird frenzy fest The Birds. But the first sign of seeing birds giving me the evil eye, I'm so out of there.

Looks like fun at the park if you decide to visit Santa Rosita

Stop by the Santa Rosita State Park, home to It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) to kick back and just relax. Now if we come across a treasure map, then we're off on a little scavenger hunt then.

From a long lost era..the 60's...American Graffiti..

Also zoom over to Modesto, and cruise the strip where American Graffiti (1973) took place. That would be wicked cool!

Just don't expect gifts from Richard Gere

If you can afford a trip to Beverly Hills, then you have to stay at The Wilshire Hotel...home to such films as Pretty Woman and Beverly Hills Cop.

And to wrap things up, how about a visit to the quaint small town of Santa Rosa that was the setting for Shadow of a Doubt (1943). Small town life is very appealing to me, so Santa Rosa is definitely a place I would want to stop at and visit. So that ends my trip to California as I know there are tons more films I could have included in this post, but it's all I had time for as things are very hectic this weekend with a new AC unit being installed and family get togethers.  I will probably do another post with a different location before the summer is out. And to everyone that is doing a post for this non-traditional blogathon all I ask is that you send me an email letting me know when you post on it on your blog and include a link in it to my blog. Then I can do a write-up on here letting everyone else know that yours is up. Thanks to everyone who is participating and hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

My love of classic movies is beyond measure

Monty

Steve McQueen at his super cool best in BULLITT (1968)

Steve McQueen is San Francisco cop Lt. Frank Bullitt who becomes embroiled in a complicated case involving a witness who was murdered under his protection. The witness was a Chicago mobster who was going to turn evidence against his organization. Making things difficult for Frank is an ambitious congressman named Chalmers (played by Robert Vaughn) who wants to make a name for himself by taking on the mob in this high profile case. Bullitt is definitely a police procedural with scenes of collecting evidence and discussing cases and shaking down informants. But it is an excellent police procedural which benefits from a stellar turn by McQueen. He is so perfect in the role there is no doubt that this is his movie. But he gets outstanding support from Vaughn, Robert Fell, George Sanford Brown, Robert Duvall (as a wily cab driver) and the breath-taking Jacqueline Bissett as Frank's girlfriend. And let's not forget that awesome car chase sequence involving Frank's Shelby mustang and the bad guys Dodge Charger. It is arguably one of the greatest car chases on film ever made. And it's cool seeing McQueen doing most of his own driving. Bullitt is one of my favorite films of all time. It's awesome! Plus it has that cool jazzy music score!
B+

Summer Under The Stars - Steve McQueen August 3rd on TCM

The king of cool is on display today on TCM as part of their summer under the stars. Steve McQueen, a true movie icon, will be featured all day long in such classics like Nevada Smith, The Magnificent Seven, Never So Few, The Cincinnati Kid and of course Bullitt. Enjoy.