In Memoriam: Peter Yates, Director of ‘Bullitt,' 'Breaking Away'

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CHICAGO – On the stadium set of “Breaking Away,” during the 1978 filming of the climatic bike race sequence, an extra ran up to director Peter Yates and handed him a cold beer. The filmmaker raised it high, and lustily took a drink. The onlookers roared their approval for the characteristic gesture. Peter Yates passed away yesterday at age 81.

British born, Yates graduated from London’s Royal Academy of the Arts, where he began as an actor. Afterward, he performed in repertory theater and did some race car driving, before working his way up through the British film system as an editor and assistant director. His first film as director was a 1963 musical, directing the “British Elvis,” Cliff Richard, in “Summer Holiday.”

Steve McQueen (left) is directed by Peter Yates on the set of ‘Bullitt’ Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Yates came to Hollywood for the memorable “Bullitt” (1968) starring Steve McQueen. In that film, there is an epic car chase through the streets of San Francisco, notable for its sheer audacity and duplication throughout the years. The director called for speeds of 75-80 mph during the chase, but stunt drivers and the camera cars took it up to 110 mph. The filming of the sequence took three weeks.

Moving on from that American debut, Yates had a scattershot decade in the 1970s, directing films as diverse as “John and Mary” (1969), “For Pete’s Sake” (1974), “Mother, Jugs & Speed” (1976) and “The Deep” (1977), before culminating with the popular Americana of “Breaking Away” (1979).

Set in the small Indiana college town of Bloomington, Indiana, Breaking Away was the story of a teenage townie (called “Cutters” because of a nearby limestone industry) named Dave who dreamed of bigger things outside his realm. The film ends with a frantic bike race, based on Indiana University’s annual Little 500. Breaking Away was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Director for Yates and Best Picture. Critic Pauline Kael was among the experts that thought the small but unforgettable film should have beat “Kramer vs. Kramer” for that year’s top honor.

Jackie Earle Haley, Daniel Stern, Dennis Quaid and Dennis Christopher in the Peter Yates directed ‘Breaking Away’ Photo credit: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

After that film, Yates struck gold again for “The Dresser” (1983), receiving five more Oscar nominations. The rest of his career never rose to the earlier recognition, with films like “The House on Carroll Street” (1988) and “Year of the Comet” (1992). His final theatrical feature was the appropriately titled, “Curtain Call” (1999).

Peter Yates died after a long illness in London on Sunday. He is survived by his wife Virginia Pope, two children and two grandchildren.

By PATRICK McDONALD Senior Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com