Steve McQueen is just fantastically cool there is no modern day equal. The filming has a nostalgic quality, difficult to pinpoint exactly, possibly the lighting or the lack of reliance on hand held jiggling to simulate action, but it gives the action a more personal, measured and sophisticated air. The dialogue is clear crisp and neat. I wouldn't cite the car chase as particularly memorable, more the characters and the feel of the film.
One of the greatest cop thrillers ever made. Exciting, gritty and with a great plot that has twists and turns with one of the best car chase sequences as a centrepoint to the film. Steve McQueen plays San Francisco detective Frank Bullitt who is assigned to guard a Chicago gangster who is to give evidence against the mob. When he is murdered Frank defies the DA Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) and goes on his own investigation to find out who did the killing. But he soon becomes embroiled in a case of mistaken identities and political intrigue. With some realistic violence and that very fast paced iconic chase sequence with McQueen doing much of the driving in a Ford Mustang fastback this is a fantastic film. The film's climactic foot chase through San Francisco airport ends what is overall one of the best cop films you'll ever see. It was very influential in films like Dirty Harry and The French Connection (both 1971) for example. Here is an action film that has mystery, film noir styling, chiaroscuro lighting especially in the night and indoor sequences and a star at the top of his game. Jacqueline Bisset supports as McQueen's girl and there's Robert Duvall in a support role too. One of those films everyone should see.