Bill, like me, had a knack for being in the right spot at the right time.

He was driving the station wagon that was hauling the trailer that James Dean's 'Little Bastard' was normally on when hauled to races. Yes, it wasn't that day at the intersection of California State 41 and 46.

Bill Hickman was following the Porsche on the way to Monterey that day. He was the first person on the scene right after the wreck. James Dean's nickname for Bill was 'the Big Bastard'.

He did the driving, as Tabby said, doubling for Gene Hackman in the French Connection. He doubled for Roy Scheider in the chase scene for 'The Seven-Ups.' He did the chase scene in 'What's Up, Doc?'

He had stories about all of his work. I remember most of them when I see the scene he was talking about in the movie.

Capricorn One, Electra Glide in Blue, Vanishing Point, The Great Race, The Love Bug, Point Blank.... I could go on and on.

He was a special friend, sorely missed. His wife Maggie still lives in LaQuinta.

RE: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - well, it's a stretch, but when Chitty turns into a boat and gets chased by the pirates... Hey, the title character is a car, isn't it??

Yeah, Deathrace 2000 is that really cheesy movie that stars Sly Stallone and David Carradine. But it is a fun movie. Cheezy, yes, but if you hadn't guess by now, another genre I enjoy is the 'classic B-flick.' (Examples in my collection: Plan 9 from Outerspace, Evil Dead I & II & Army of Darkness, Logan's Run, and Swamp Thing. :D )

Just a note: my collection is not complete. Listed are what I personally own. The Seven Up's, The Getaway, Grand Prix, Gumball Rally, and Two-Lane Blacktop, are just a few on my 'must get' list.

Now, I've added three more:

French Connection - Thanks Tabs
The Driver - Thanks Rex
To Live and Die in LA - Thanks speeder.

These will be added to my Christmas wish-list. :D If you have any other suggestions, post 'em up!

-Z-man.

Rendezvous.

Someone got in crap last week for posting a link to a pirated copy. You can find it occasionally online, but usually not for very long... especially since it's been re-released.

Synopsis: Guy drives Ferrari through Paris at full speed with a camera mounted to the hood. No rehearsal, just flat out driving, with pedestrians jumping out of the way and several near misses with other cars & trucks. Amazing sound from the Ferrari V12, and the tires.

It's about 9 minutes long, and it's AMAZING.

watching now - love the yellow 356 - Jacqueline B is all kinds of hot. Steve is all kinds of cool.

I saw it. It was dark at the beginning but then lightened up.

it was very good.

How about The Transporter?

Gumball Rally will be on Speed next week. And boys, they didn't have Cobra kit cars when that was filmed. ;)

No one has mentioned Ronin. Frankenheimer directed that as well as Grand Prix.

Being a Mini owner, having a copy of the original Italian Job is a requirement. :)

Two Lane Blacktop is possibly the worst film I have ever seen. I don't understand why it is so popular. :rolleyes:

My personal B-movie favorite is Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry. It's actually a pretty good film, with good characters, plot, and almost never slows down from being one long car chase. It is now available on DVD with some worthwhile extras. A very successful film in it's day, it's pretty much forgotten now except among the Dodge Charger enthusiasts (yet more '69 Chargers died in this film, and they weren't orange).

ddavidv,

I don't know why, but this film appeals to me. I watch it more than some of my other films, and the wife hates it. The 57 Chevy is the same one used in American Graffiti that Harrison Ford drove. Maybe it's the idea of getting in a car and just driving across the country for no reason.

Who was it that mentioned the green VW in the Bullitt chase scene? At the start of the chase, in the San Francisco hills, a green VW is passed at least 4 times. I hadn't noticed that before, but when you're looking for it.........

Rex

I watched it yet again. Thanks for the heads-up.
A question I've had for years: In the chase scene, camera is facing his Mustang, McQueen quickly flicks the car to the right - viewer's left - then quickly makes a hard left. I read or heard somewhere that that is a maneuver that "sets up the suspension", or some such. Any drivers know about that particular maneuver and just what it's supposed to do? I have noticed it in rallye car racing, also.

I saw Bullitt for the first time last night. I had mixed feelings about the chase scene. Most of it was...well, OK. It was humorous as they just kept passing the green beetle. The only impressive part was the crash and skidding at the end. McQueen was travelling at quite a rate of speed when he was skidding off the road.

I think it was a Dodge Challenger in that movie. I always wanted one after that flick. I always wanted a girl with a gap in her teeth after that movie too.

Some of the best parts of that movie chase was Vic Morrow in a helicopter after Peter Fonda at road level. If you look closely, there were several times the rotor tips were below the skids, and the skids were 2 feet off of the ground. Ironic, Vic Morrow having fun in a helicopter.

Anyone else seen the BMW film series called the Hire? i have the dvd and it is amazing. a few of the short films arent that great but two are sweet. In Ambush clive owen throws around a 740 and in Star he does some amazing stuff in and M5

Here's a great Bullitt trailer.
http://videodetective.com/home.asp?PublishedID=2895

Singpilot:

Very nice to hear your stories of Bill H. I was/am a big fan of his work.

teo

Nope, '69 Charger with a 440 (and a/c...you can see the Airtemp decal in the quarter glass). :D

Perhaps you're confusing the Challenger with Vanishing Point? 340 4bbl car with a pistol grip shifter.

Useless trivia...the car that crashes into the dozers at the end is actually a Camaro. ;)

Thanks for the heads up! Gumball is available on DVD now - probelm is, no one stocks it, and I don't do the online ordering thing. :grr:
Um, I did mention it - it's on my collection list.
The original is really so much better than the weak remake. Fantastic stunts - great cars. In the beginning of the movie, they roll a Lambo Miura down the mountain side. Yep - that was a real one! While I rented the remake, I haven't bothered to add it to my collection at this point - too many other better made car-chase movies to get first!
It is a terrific film, for its time. The DVD is great. IIRC, the last scene is used in the opening credits of the TV flick "Fall Guy" that starred Lee Majors and brought fame to Heather Thomas.

-Z-man.

What about The Blues Brothers, and Corvette Summer?

Against All Odds is worth seeing for two reasons, IMHO. One is the race down Sunset Blvd. between an SC and a 308. The other is Rachel Ward.

You are absolutely right. I got to thinking about Peter Fonda and lost track.