[rrpjr]

Bob Relyea, McQueen's producing partner at Solar Films, told a funny story about the origins of Bullitt during screening of the film a few years ago. Relyea had been unable to find a property that interested McQueen, who wanted to do a cop movie but only one that was "really different." Warners was growing impatient with McQueen's pickiness, and Solar's lack of output on the studio lot. One day McQueen struck up a conversation with a pizza delivery boy, who was carrying a paperback book in his pocket. The book was "Mute Witness." Bored, McQueen read it, liked it, and told Relyea to option it. This became "Bullitt." McQueen's conditions for the role were that his character would wear turtlenecks instead of the usual "Jack Webb" tie and jacket, and wouldn't say much. In fact, Relyea told us, McQueen cut out about 80% of his dialogue.

The film's director of photography was also at the screening, and told us that, contrary to myth, McQueen did not do all his driving (though he did a substantial part of it). He described the camera rig which kept pace with the two cars (which reached speeds of between 75-100 mph): a modified Corvette with a platform hanging off the front.