McQueen still the king of cool

Steve McQueen's Bullitt has topped a poll of the coolest films of all time.

16:31 03 December 2004

Steve McQueen's Bullitt has topped a poll of the coolest films of all time.

The top ten, compiled by the TV Times, put the 1968 hit ahead of Paul Newman's Cool Hand Luke and early James Bond offering Goldfinger.

Bullitt sees McQueen play hard-nosed cop Frank Bullitt chasing corrupt city officials and crime bosses through the streets of San Francisco after a witness in his protection is murdered.

The film also features one of the most memorable car chases in cinematic history.

Only three modern hits made the top ten. The Matrix (1999) came in at number five, Out Of Sight (1998) was sixth and Pulp Fiction (1994) was eighth.

Also featuring in the list were Clint Eastwood classic Dirty Harry (seventh) and Michael Caine's The Ipcress File (tenth).

The poll cements Steve McQueen's reputation as one of the coolest actors of all time.

After first appearing in kitsch horror flick The Blob, McQueen starred in Hollywood classics like The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape and The Towering Inferno. He died of cancer in 1980 aged 50.

Top ten in full...

1 - Bullitt (1968)
2 - Cool Hand Luke (1967)
3 - Goldfinger (1964)
4 - The Wild One (1953)
5 - The Matrix (1999)
6 - Out Of Sight (1998)
7 - Dirty Harry (1971)
8 - Pulp Fiction (1994)
9 - Casablanca (1942)
10 - The Ipcress File (1965)