The film which got director Peter Yates the job of directing Bullitt. One can see why: this is a cool crisp no nonense thriller with a terrific car chase (Yates was a one time racing car driver). At times it is a little too cool and crisp, and one wishes there was more character stuff - or if not character then high voltage star power. Stanley Baker is always good value but the other crims were a bit indistinguishable; Barry Foster can be a bright talent but he's blonde and so was another gang member and it was hard to tell them apart. James Booth can be a bright talent, too, but he isn't given much to do, as the investigating copper.
The film gets off to a strong start with a robbery sequence (though would have been better if Baker's character had been involved); the details involving the robbery are interesting. The robbery itself was a bit too darkly lit to be that involving, but the scenes after, with the crooks hiding out with the cash are exciting. The ending was a little flat - one feels something more could have been made of it. But a good, tough film, one of Baker's best after Zulu (he made it like that one for Embassy Pictures).
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