6 Great Movie Car Scenes Featuring Ford Mustangs
The Ford Mustang is something of a star in Hollywood. Check out these great scenes starring the majestic Mustang.
1. Gone in 60 Seconds
H.B. Halicki's low-budget thriller Gone in 60 Seconds functions like a feature-length commercial for the Ford Mustang. Revolving around a quick series of car thefts, the most memorable steal is a yellow 1973 Mustang they call Eleanor. In a movie where cars are given more of a spotlight than the actors themselves, the yellow Mustang is the closest thing Gone in 60 Seconds comes to having the main star. The movie's centerpiece is its 40-minute car chase, where the Mustang gets put through the ringer in escaping the cops. Oddly, there are multiple yellow Mustangs in Gone in 60 Seconds, and all of them are named Eleanor.
2. Gone in 60 Seconds (2000 Remake)
The 2000 remake recreated the Eleanor of the original with the support of H.B. Halicki's estate. When Shelby began running an official Eleanor line based on the success of the movie, Halicki's widow successfully filed a suit for trying to profit off the trademark. While it's unfortunate that the real-life relationship between Gone in 60 Seconds' creators and Shelby themselves has been soured, we can't deny how cool the movie made the 'Stang look.
3. Goldfinger
Goldfinger is the best and most cinematic film in the James Bond universe; it also has the distinction of being the first casting role for the Mustang. James Bond uses his tricked-out Aston Martin as usual, but the Mustang gets a few moments to shine throughout the film. The standout car scene is a chase between Bond's British spy machine and Tilly Masterson's white Mustang, which comes to a quick end when Bond shreds her tires.
4. Back to the Future II
We always love movies that show us a glimpse of what future cars might look like. The point is moot in the case of Back to the Future II, but an 80s look at the far-off year of 2015 offered some cool futuristic imagery. Among these was a spiced-up sci-fi Mustang, complete with an over-the-top spoiler and kitschy aesthetics.
5. I Am Legend
I Am Legend wasn't the first adaptation of Richard Matheson's post-apocalyptic tale of the same name, but it's arguably the first time they went full-on with star power. Will Smith is the only actor on screen for the majority of the film's runtime; as cool and self-assured as Smith makes his character, it doesn't hurt that he's got a 2007 Shelby GT500 at his disposal. The empty city streets offer a perfect opportunity for the Mustang to do its thing, and the bold red paint job cuts a striking contrast against the grim surroundings. Showcasing the Mustang added some much-needed levity to an otherwise glum blockbuster, and we're glad it was featured.
6. Bullitt
For those who know, the police procedural Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen, features what is arguably the most heart-stopping and dramatic 7-minute car chase of its generation. Steve McQueen had made a career on defining what it means to be "cool"; in Bullitt, his character finds a perfect match in the iconic green Mustang. This GT 390 Fastback tears across the sloped streets on San Francisco hunting would-be assassins. The San Fran hills create a disorienting effect as the two cars play cat-and-mouse. Unlike most modern car chases, there's an impeccable sense of buildup before speed takes over. From the beginning right through to its explosive end, the car chase in Bullitt is cinematic poetry with the Mustang as its muse.
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