On paper Bullitt was a by-the-numbers cop thriller, but the iconic presence of the late great Steve McQueen turned it into "a cinematic landmark". Under the direction of Englishman Peter Yates, he gives a master-class in screen acting as well as showing off his stunt driving skills in the most celebrated car chase in Hollywood history. Almost four decades after its initial release (and what would have been McQueen's 75th year) comes this two-disc Special Edition DVD.

Living In The Fast Lane

Producing Bullitt under his Solar production banner, McQueen had a vision of gritty reality which he talks about eloquently in a vintage behind-the-scenes featurette. Cameras follow the star on location with stunt co-ordinator Bill Hickman who had the privilege and/or perilous task of driving alongside him. "We felt that we should start off working in close harmony at the racetrack," he says, "so that Bill and I would be used to working close to each other at high speed." Footage from the climactic runway sequence is also included and Yates gives a nod to McQueen's love interest Jacqueline Bisset who possesses what he calls "a sincere quality" in fitting with the naturalistic tone.

Brand new for disc two is The Essence Of Cool feature documentary which brings together all the key figures in McQueen's life from his first wife Neile Adams to Richard Attenborough who co-starred in The Great Escape (1963). Even those who didn't know him are keen to talk about his influence eg Alec Baldwin sums it up, saying, "There is no other action star who had more style and masculinity at the same time." Of course there was another side to McQueen, which Robert Vaughn found bemusing on the set of The Magnificent Seven (1960): apparently he was very anxious about the size of Yul Brynner's gun...

Obviously Yates is also on hand to reminisce about those crazy days tearing up the streets of San Francisco and tells a startling anecdote about the time he got into the car with McQueen who promptly wore out the brakes at 105mph! Most poignant of all are interviews with the man himself recorded during his losing battle with cancer. "A lot of my life was wasted," he confesses, "The women and the dope and the running around..." We're left with a palpable sense that this was a man who lived too fast but also just long enough to regret it.

Shooting From the Hip

Something of a non sequitur, but fascinating all the same, is another feature-length documentary on the art of editing. Bullitt won an Oscar for the razor-edged cutting of Frank P Keller, but there's no mention of it here. Instead we're treated to instructive interviews with the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Alexander Payne, along with their editors who throw light on this critical phase in filmmaking. "We work very intensely together," reveals QT's editor Sally Menke, "It's amazing we still like each other."

Despite the 37 years since he directed Bullitt, Yates gives a sharp film commentary recalling details down to the types of lenses and lighting techniques he employed. On the matter of that car chase he talks about the complicated logistics of shooting in the hills of San Francisco and his decision to ditch music in favour of roaring engines. Still it's his recollections of working with McQueen that are most intriguing. Regarding his reputation for being difficult, Yates explains, "Steve needed help with his confidence because he didn't think he could act," adding, "Of course he was a marvellous actor."

While the print itself hasn't been re-mastered, it's brushed up to a good standard and, after all, a bit of grain lends to the grittiness. In every other way this is a fitting tribute to the man who defined movie stardom. For diehard fans of Steve McQueen (and who isn't?) Bullitt: Special Edition is sure to rev your engine.

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