A classic of late-60s cinema, Bullitt is a high-octane crime thriller acclaimed for its gritty realism. It stars Steve McQueen as tough San Francisco cop Frank Bullitt who is tasked by ambitious politician Walter Chalmers with protecting a mob witness over the weekend. After the witness is killed by hitmen while in police custody, Frank, through some unofficial investigating, discovers that Chalmers's precious witness was not who he claimed to be.
Filmed amid the rollercoaster-steep streets of San Francisco, Bullitt offers a glimpse into many of the city's lesser-known corners. Vibrant and diverse, each neighbourhood has its own unique character. Fashionable Nob Hill, for example, is home to historic architecture, upscale boutiques, and at 1153 Taylor (where it intersects with Clay), the stately three-story house where Frank and his girlfriend Cathy live. Across the street you can even still shop at the market (called VJ's Groceries in the film) where McQueen's character stocks up on TV dinners.
Only two blocks south is Notre Dame-esque Grace Cathedral, the third largest Episcopal church in the country, on the steps of which Chalmers serves the police chief with a writ of habeas corpus for the missing witness. A few blocks north-east, at the intersection of Broadway and Kearney, is the always-bustling cafe Enrico's, site of the scene where Frank meets his informant Eddie.
The neighbourhood of Pacific Heights is one of San Francisco's most scenic, located atop a hill with breathtaking panoramas of the Golden Gate bridge, Alcatraz island and the Presidio. As you're taking in the views and the architectural styles – a mixture of Victorian, Mission Revival and Edwardian – be sure to admire the elegant white mansion at 2700 Vallejo Street, home to Walter Chalmers in the film.
The most famous scene in Bullitt is the legendary car chase, when Frank pursues two hitmen up and down the hills with tyre-squealing ferocity. The real chase was filmed discontinuously, but you can relive some of the most spectacular parts of it by heading eastbound on Filbert Street under the commanding gaze of Coit Tower, north-west on Columbus Avenue through North Beach – home to San Francisco's thriving Italian community – then east on Lombard, which for a quarter-mile becomes "the crookedest street in the world". Head north on steeply-inclined Taylor Street, which affords incredible views of the bay. They also sped along Marina Boulevard, gateway to the Marina District and its attractions such as the lagoon-fringed Palace of Fine Arts and renowned Exploratorium science museum.
To fully appreciate everything this great city has to offer, though, it's best to take the slow lane.
Watch Bullitt on Sky Movies Modern Greats on Sunday 6 February at 8pm
