Peek Behind the Scenes of Bullitt and the Famous Car Chase
Hello, I’m Tony Piazza. My father, Anthony Piazza, Sr., worked as the San Francisco Police Department Liaison to Warner Brothers during the filming of Bullitt and other great films of the 1960s and 1970s. He served as a technical adviser and location scout, and directed the logistics of moving equipment, vehicles and traffic during shoots. He was instrumental in the success of many San Francisco-based movies.
I had the good fortune of growing up around the sets, meeting many of the actors, and serving as a SAG actor and stand-in myself in TV series such as Streets of San Francisco, and movies such as Towering Inferno and High Anxiety. On my sixteenth birthday I ate Thanksgiving dinner with Sidney Poitier. My first car was almost Inspector Callahan’s Ford from Dirty Harry, and I even wore a wig and an ascot to act as a photo double for Larry Hagman.
Some of my most cherished memories come from the filming of Bullitt and my family’s interactions with Steve McQueen. In 2013 the film will be celebrating its 45th Anniversary, and I’ve been asked to share some of these behind-the-scenes views, trivia and experiences with you. I put these memories together in an e-book called Bullitt Points: Memories of Steve McQueen and Bullitt.
Praise for Bullitt Points
Memories Beautifully Shared
I saw Bullitt back in the 60’s and was totally in love with the film. Tony Piazza, who spent time on the set, shared so much of what many of us didn’t know. I loved the quick and easy to read book that he so generously donated the funds for a good cause, Boys Republic. Tony has shared so many stories and photos that I always look forward to his books…