MovieChat Forums > Bullitt (1968) Discussion > shotgun in chase

shotgun in chase

posted 11 years ago by denham
13 replies | jump to latest

Is there a good reason (I mean other than it looking dramatic) for the hitman to be carrying an empty shotgun in the car when following Bullitt and to only start loading it when he’s in the car being pursued? Are we to believe that he’s keen on complying with California law forbidding transport of a shotgun in a vehicle if loaded (come to think of it, do hitmen tend to hold gun licenses)? Also, isn’t the Mustang’s windshield remarkably shot-resistant?

"I beseech ye in the bowels of Christ, think that ye may be mistaken."

[–] wrfarley 11 years ago

I just think that it's one of the tropes of an action movie. I've seen that move enough (the bad guys load up in the chase in THE SEVEN-UPS, too) that I take it for granted; that is, until it's pointed out by smarty-pants viewers.

My movie cliche of the week is why do filmmakers always use empty Chinese food containers on a desk or table to show late night or overtime work activity?

[–] davidwile 11 years ago

Hey Denham,

If you will recall, when the shooter was finished doing his shooting in the hotel room, he broke the shotgun down, put the barrel and tubular magazine in one inside pocket of his coat, and he put the stock and receiver in a second inside pocket on the other side of his coat. When broken down as described, shotshells will not remain in the tubular magazine. The magazine spring will push them out. Accordingly, when breaking down a pump shotgun for concealment, all shotshells would have to be removed from the magazine.

During the chase scene, I think it is a reasonable assumption that the shooter had the shotgun broken down when they first started to follow Bullitt. Once he realized he was going to have a shootout with Bullitt, he re-assembled the shotgun and then had to load the shotshells in same.

Seems reasonable to me.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[–] Clintessence 11 years ago

Hey Denham,

I also have seen this movie so many times that I can't count it. I have always thought that the windshield was amazingly shotgun resistent, too. Why didn't the hitman shoot the tire? Steve McQueen was a better driver however, because his Mustang was able to push the heavier Charger off the road.

Here's another movie cliche: How come whenever someone jumps into a dumpster or a passing truck, they land on soft trash bags or empty boxes?

Best wishes,
Clintessence

[–] DavidStHubbinsUSA 10 years ago

First off, like was said, after the assassination attempt the shotgun was broken down for concealed carry. Second, it's a pump shotgun... Have you ever held a fully loaded tube loaded shotgun? Those shells weigh a lot, a pain to carry. And lastly the windshield shot is accurate as well. There are many different loads for a shot gun. Lets give the shooter the benefit of a doubt and say it's a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with .00 buckshot which is very powerful, take your head clean off. He hit it at a 45 degree angle from a little distance and the windshield was safety glass. Those pellets at that angle on a flat surface like a windshield would deflect and graze. It wouldn't have nearly the power of a straight on shot, especially on a windshield. Have you ever tried breaking one? The are really tough and the have a plastic inner liner...

[–] Clintessence 10 years ago

Hey Seattleland,

You make a good case. I believe you. In fact,I watched "Bullitt" again two nights ago, and the part with the windshield looks convincing as you describe it. Still the grand-daddy of all chase scenes.

Clintessence

[–] liscarkat (16530) 5 years ago

Before the 1980s, there were discarded cars dumped all over the California desert. It was fun to shoot at them. Cars used to have thicker body metal than they do today. I've shot a 12-gauge shotgun at car bodies, and unless you're within a few feet, it will usually just make a dent. It will also sometimes deflect off a slanted windshield instead of shattering it. Windshields are hard to bust.

[–] Cavitcat 10 years ago

Another cliche, when someone has a shotgun they always pump it before the action

occurs. Any self respecting cop or thug would have the shotgun loaded.

[–] marknathanziff 10 years ago

The only way you flatten a tyre instantly with a shotgun is with a rifled slugs. As the point to a shotgun is to do that spread thing, they would be disinclined to carry slugs.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] marknathanziff 10 years ago

Because they wanted a man stopper not a road blocker.

[–] Jefbecco-1 10 years ago

OO buckshot is very effective against people. A OO buckshot load contains nine .32 caliber soft lead pellets. Very effective against humans which I imagine is what a hitman would be thinking about.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] bpress54 9 years ago

I haven't read the other replies, so forgive me if I'm repeating someone's answer. No one in their right mind who knows anything about guns would not keep a weapon loaded. When I say loaded, I mean with a live round in the chamber, unless you're in a combat situation. That being said, it would have been prudent of him to have at least had some shells in the magazine and to load the gun (by load I mean operate the slide to bring the gun into battery) when he was ready to fire. As for the windshield, if the shot was a glancing one it could have produced the effect seen in the film; a straight on shot would have totally destroyed the glass.