Yates ' third feature as director was the heist film , '' Robbery '' ( 1967 ) , a fictionalised version of the Great Train Robbery of 1963 starring Stanley Baker and produced by Deeley . '' Robbery '' was a critical success in the US and led to an offer to direct '' Bullitt '' ( 1968 ) , of which Bruce Weber has written , " Mr. Yates ’s reputation probably rests most securely on '' Bullitt '' ( 1968 ) , his first American film – and indeed , on one particular scene , an extended car chase that instantly became a classic . " Yates later said , " In Hollywood back then , everyone knew a British director could n't do action , so I think the studio had another motive in letting me come over . I think the reason they let McQueen bring me in was because if they let him have his way , they 'd get him out of the studio -- and out of their hair -- for a while . " Yates moved to New York . " A filmmaker must go where the stories are , " he said
Great Train Robbery
Great Train Robbery (1963)
Peter Yates