Bullitt
Hot on the heels of his theme for Mission Impossible, Lalo Schifrin turned to more high-powered rhythms for Peter Yates’ supercharged detective thriller—even though its most famous scene, the car chase, went without music. The film was a transitional film for Hollywood, introducing the concept of kinetic action into the gumshoe mix and making a superstar out of Steve McQueen. Ironically Robert L Pike’s source novel “Mute Witness” had been first purchased as a vehicle for Spencer Tracy as an aging New York cop. It was retrofitted for McQueen and relocated to San Francisco, where its groundbreaking car chase scenes were shot with new lightweight Arriflex cameras.
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About Alan Spencer
Alan Spencer is best known for creating the classic satirical eighties sitcom Sledge Hammer! and the recent controversial "ultra violent" comedy Bullet in the Face for IFC. For years he's been regarded as one of Hollywood's top script doctors and has never lost a patient.
I Nancy Drewed your name on this site because of your review of “Bullitt” on JustWatch. I was kinda blown-away by all the deets you were throwing out in under 4 minutes and especially impressed that you bought the green stang.. but I couldn’t believe you missed one of the most iconic things about “Bullitt” – the shoulder holster for his snub nose .38.
I remember watching “Zodiac”. The Jake Gyllenhaal character says to the detective played by Mark Ruffalo “You’re wearing your gun like Bullitt” or something similar..” The detective responds something like “No, he’s wearing his like me” which comes off just as a little bit of humor.. but it’s actually true.
McQueen based Bullitt after Toschi the San Francisco detective played by Ruffalo (Eastwood also based Dirty Harry on him) but Bullitt came out just before Toschi became really well known for his work on the Zodiac killings. FYI
I can’t lie (really, I can’t!), but I find Lalo’s score very intrusive.
Now, his music for ‘Enter The Dragon’ MADE that film (Bruce aside, of course!).