Does a story like this need the detective’s partner uttering her worries that he is becoming jaded? Nope, but if it’s done well, it does add some depth to his character. Bullitt is willing to go to extremes, and this punctuates it nicely. McQueen’s sad eyes do the rest.

This is a brimming action movie, that feels like it would get either the arthouse treatment or wind up on a streaming service nowadays. Character work is a luxury.