Marilyn and That “Bullitt” Mustang

McQueen visits with San Francisco kids in 1968 while filming “BULLITT”

"Bullitt" has once again hit my radar. It comes in the form of that special lady in my life alerting me to the television series “Blue Bloods” and a resulting conversation of the season 6, episode 7 installment that aired on November 06, 2015 entitled “The Bullitt Mustang.”  

 

It gave pause that Steve McQueen was only nominated once for an academy award.  It was in 1967 for his portrayal of Jake Holman in the 1966 movie “The Sand Pebbles.”  It was, for many of us, McQueen’s finest work.  But it wasn't to be, as Paul Scofield won the award for his exceptional performance in “A Man for All Seasons.”

 

McQueen didn’t grouse or pout in the press, like many before him. Instead he immediately went to work on filming "Bullitt" in 1968.

 

When that “Blue Bloods" episode was aired, it had been 47 years since “Bullitt” first hit the big screen.  Apparently the magic of this film had not diminished.  As Susan Encinas wrote in Muscle Car Review, in March, 1987; “No one has duplicated the electricity or the savage ferocity that manifested itself in BULLITT chase scenes, and it’s doubtful any one ever will.”  The eleven-minute car chase that took three weeks to film will, in all probably, never be forgotten.  Whenever the movie is referred to today the descriptive “Classic Film” always accompanies its title.

 

This really validates Steve McQueen’s contention that because movies are a visual medium, the majority of the entertainment and story should be contained in the those visual elements – NOT IN THE DIALOG. Those car chase scenes, along with the grocery store scene as well as the scenes at the very end of the “Classic” movie, solidly validates and enforces McQueen's belief.    

 

The very last scene in the 2015 “Blue Bloods" episode has all the permanent male cast members admiring one of the greatest machines ever built. Yet further validation that that car may never be forgotten. 

 

One can’t help but wonder if The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences got it right in 1967.  But then, that will always be the problem with any attempt to turn art into competition.  It may have some strong financial remunerations but, other than that, it’s just plain ludicrous.  The beauty of any art form is always and only in the eye of the beholder.  Only the beauty of Marilyn and apparently that 1968 Mustang, remain indisputable.

Marilyn Monroe – Circa 1957 –1968 “Bullitt” Mustang Valued At $4 Million

Excerpts From Blue Bloods:

“This is the Mona Lisa of cars.”

“A Car that was in the greatest car chase ever filmed

with the coolest movie star ever.”

“It's Dorothy's ruby red slippers.

It's Neil Armstrong's space suit. 

 It's Bruce Springsteen's Fender Esquire on the cover of Born to Run.  

It's a thing that you could touch that stands for a whole feeling

that you had about things, what was cool and inspired you.”

“To millions of men the stuff that dreams are made of.”