Hotel Choice

It's one of the main reasons I suspect Chalmers wanted "Ross" to be hit, or even helped arrange it.

Maybe he was actually in the Organization's pocket and looking for public noteriety and to get rid of Bullitt at the same time?

This theory doesn't quite hold together for me.

Granted, the choice of the hotel wasn't a clever one; I suspect it appealed to Chalmer's publicity-seeking, overdeveloped sense of melodrama, just as his selection of Bullitt for the job did:

BULLITT: "Did Chalmers ask for me?"

BENNETT: "Uh-huh."

BULLITT: "Do you happen to know why?"

BENNETT: "Yes, I know why. He's grooming himself for public office, and you make good copy. They love you in the papers, Frank."

So Chalmers expected Bullitt would help generate the most colorful and attention-grabbing publicity...as might a sleazy, waterfront hotel on The Embarcadero for a mob embezzler/stool pigeon's hideout when the story was reported following his testimony.

Granted also that it would have made more sense for Bullitt to move the man he was to guard to a location of his own choosing after meeting him at the Daniels. When Bennett warns Bullitt that Chalmers "may try to make up some mileage by layin' it on us," he adds, "Play it by the book from now on," suggesting that procedure hasn't been followed. So when, in his typical ass-covering fashion, Chalmers indeed does so, it stings Bullitt somewhat:

"You knew the significance of his testimony, yet you failed to take adequate measures to protect him. So to you, it was 'a job;' no more."

For a man clearly as wealthy, publicly-known, well-connected and influential as Chalmers to be enlisted by Chicago mobsters in the assassination of an embezzler who'd stolen $2 million, how close to that figure would it have taken to do so? And what would have been in it for Chalmers to single out Bullitt as part of such a plan just to take him down?

Why did Chalmers so calmly watch Ross run back in the terminal and not shout "Here he is!" or something; he just watches...

From the way that scene is edited, it does indeed appear that Chalmers is observing the foot pursuit. If so, and he could see Bullitt to call out to, there'd be no reason for him to do so, as he'd also be able to see that Bullitt is already right behind Ross.

...and does not seem upset when he drives away from the airport.

He certainly doesn't look happy or satisfied. If you think about Chalmer's demeanor throughout the film, it remains pretty much controlled and inexpressive at all times, even during those scenes when it's clear he's upset: in the hospital after the shooting; when Bullitt has hung up on Baker and him or walked away from them outside the morgue; when Bullitt points out, "You sent us to guard the wrong man, Mr. Chalmers;" even after being told by Bullitt to, basically, [beep] off at the airport.

Among the things I think the film establishes are that cold and calculating Chalmers isn't as clever as he thinks he is, and that Bullitt screwed up. Your viewpoint and mine about Chalmers beyond that are matters of interpretation, and the film makes no overt statement about any involvement on his part one way or the other, so there isn't really any "right or wrong."

But without such clear signals, I don't believe it was the film makers' intent for viewers to conclude by the end that Chalmers was in on it. I do think, however, that we were meant to wonder about it at some point along the way.



Poe! You are...avenged!

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