Shot-by-shot: "The Seven-Ups" car chase

[@mikemmikem2758]

Despite your cinematic 'detective work' the fact remains that this is one of the best chase scenes, and editing, ever filmed.

[@rafaelk263]

That pontiac ventura had the "steve mcqueen performance package" which included a slush box that double clutched itself up and down, rev matching included.

[@maryellenrieger1874]

Sounds of a 4-speed when the car is clearly an automatic

[@CycolacFan]

Most of the sound effects were borrowed from Bullitt.

[@niconestra]

Grew up during this time. Remember the city this way. This is a great breakdown, thanks

[@adriandrenalin6716]

It is one of the best car chases ever filmed. its too bad that kind of chase in NYC will never be filmed due to vehicle and people population explosion. you would have to shut down half of Manhattan to even come close. great movie and excellent work.

[@paktype]

That was an excellent analysis. I always knew there was something fishy about that footage on the Palisades. Why was there an exit for Briarcliff Manor on the Palisades, which is in New Jersey, when Briarcliff Manor is in Westchester County? Heh. What struck me about this chase was not the geographical inconsistencies but its almost scene to scene similarity to the chase scene in Bullitt. No surprise - the stunt coordinator in each movie, and the driver of the bad guys' car in each as well, was the same guy - the supremely talented Bill Hickman.

[@llcoolj3778]

That Pontiac Ventura is so sweet - dual exhaust, V8 goodness....

[@pl5624]

Dubbed sound of McQueen's mustang from bullitt..no stock 350 Ventura sounded like that.not even the 74 gto 200hp

[@MediaArchive]

It was a Pontiac Ventura "Sprint" - their performance version - but I don't recall the exact upgrades the Sprint had. I do know they are quite rare, and are a mega-collectible find today.

[@maddywendall2980]

One of THE BEST Car chase scenes( LOVE that big ass Pontiac Bonneville) along with Bullitt, Ronin, and The French Connection

[@TheNameisPlissken1981]

How about the chase in To Live and Die in LA? I thought that was just about as good as it gets.

[@maddywendall2980]

@@TheNameisPlissken1981 Ironic you mention that movie.🤔 It is playing on TCM Channel at 12am Fri nite/ Sat morning East Coast Time, in a few minutes. Also the Chase in Ronin is intense.

[@lenni2542]

not a pontiac bonneville its a grand ville

[@Marc816]

There were 2 locations in The 7 Ups that I drove on frequently a long time ago.....96th street in Manhattan & the George Washington Bridge......It makes me feel good to know that Bill Hickman & I have driven on the same stretches of roads.

[@billbazen9432]

A friend worked on this film.[Barry Weitz]....He and Phil went on to do a mid 1970's NBC TV series titled Movin'On.Both Barry and Phil were always at their best when collaborating.I still keep in touch with Barry.Phil passed on a few years ago.I speak often with his son in law......Both are legends in the film industry.

[@lvlimo394]

Great work. Have been obsessed with this chase since childhood, this is good therapy.

[@deedeethekingofqns]

except the NYPD markings on the car are spot-on for the era.

[@mitchellpak2795]

My question is, if Scheider had a police radio, why didn’t he call for backup right away?

[@crazeenydriver]

At 8:57 those type PD radios count not communicate with radio cars

[@KingCast65]

Great job! Brings back so many memories of my childhood.

[@deedeethekingofqns]

I'll tell you an error, growing up in NYC/NJ - NO TRUCKS ON PALISADES PARKWAY! But who gives a shit, this is the best car chase, better than Bullit, Ronin, etc.

[@Ralphie_Boy]

*That was the reason for the change of location living in Hopewell Jct. back then I use to pass that exit on the Taconic Pkwy. everyday!*

[@wa2ise]

My father knew New York City like the back of his hand, and when he saw this movie I was playing on video, he quickly noticed the errors in the geography....

[@DTD110865]

I also noticed this, but more about Upstate New York. And I grew up on Long Island.

[@BeCoShooter]

Thanks for the breakdown, but as others have said, it doesn't matter, it's a movie, and a great chase. Nice job.

[@sixxfreak58]

A very nice job of pointing out the NYC inconsistencies. Only one thing to correct: It's not a Pontiac Ventura Hatchback ... it's a Ventura Sprint. Otherwise a great step-by-step for non-NYCers.

[@maryellenrieger1874]

No it is a hatchback look close at the back after the crash

[@artieedwards]

Hey, like lvlimo394, I too have LOVED this film since I was a kid...40 years later, The Seven-Ups does look a bit dated in some scenes - - the dialog, the mannerisms. Richard Lynch tossing up his hands during car chase near-misses is hilarious, as are the kids playing in the street, TWICE interrupted by the same vehicles in hot pursuit! HAR!!! Still, I do love this movie! Thank you for the continuity gaffs! Very entertaining.

[@purveyoroffinefoodslaszlo9955]

Tremendous job! Lived on the Upper West Side for several years for. And was always a big fan of this film (more so the chase scene) and noticed some geographic inconsistencies, especially in my neck of the woods. The sequence from GW Bridge to Saw Mill (you can even see the road signs for Briarcliff Manor) were the most egregious to me, even in real time. Still, awesome scene.

[@erestube]

Now, that was interesting and a good tribute. And I've always like to notice the multiple skid marks where they have repeated a stunt several times. Saw this movie when I was 12. Even though it was PG, it was way too intense for me at the time. Blew me away!

[@R3TR0--93]

notice roys car has damaged windshield before the chase and when the chase happens he hits a cart and smashed the windshield in the same spot

[@bikefixer]

Well done. While Bill Hickman drove the Pontiac Grand Ville, most of Scheider's driving was done by stuntman, Jerry Summers. Also, Pontiac must have had the contract for this film. In addition to the chase cars, Coltello drives a Bonneville and later in the film, Vito drives a Catalina station wagon.

[@llcoolj3778]

No hate on Pontiac for getting their brand in a classic car chase. With the iconic car brand gone (I grew up on Pontiacs and have a '99 Firebird I'm fixing up), it's good to see some love for it for posterity's sake. Maybe one day, GM will do a Pontiac limited run?

[@maryellenrieger1874]

There's also a red Pontiac LeMans that keeps appearing right before and during the chase

[@mandolindleyroadshow706]

@@llcoolj3778 No hate implied. Loved Pontiacs. My brother's first car was a 1969 Grand Prix SJ.

[@gthomer1231]

if bill hickman is the stunt driver/actor in the movie you know it's going to be good, he drove in buillitt,the seven ups and the French connection

[@Dave_Boyer]

Thanks! As much of a car movie nut that I am, I just watched The Seven UPS for the first time,

[@alm8205]

Great job on the discrepancies. I grew up in upper Manhattan and knew the city well. It was good to see Arthur Ave as I frequented that locale. The biggest stunner for me was going from the PIP to the Taconic! The driving was outstanding, however...The same stunt driver performed in Bullitt, French Connection and 7-Ups.

[@atlanticcontinental]

Very enjoyable. Thank you.

[@renatateofilo9887]

David, thank you very much for this. I'm doing a essay about New York's movies and it help me a lot. Thanks again.

[@joelzenny]

Great job! Lived on the UWS for years and am also a fan of this film. I knew there were many errors, but now I see them spelled out.

[@12gauge1oz]

Nice analysis of the geography, you have to be a neighborhood guy, or a cop, lol. This and the French Connection are the best car chases ever. Great movie.

[@speeta]

At 2:42 there's a minor omission. The big black car is driven through one garage and into a second garage connected by a doorway - presumably on the other side of the block, where Roy Scheider and Victor Arnold park their car and gain entry. It's not intended to be the same garage door seen at 2:35. It's their way of "covering" the change of location.

[@FCV0511]

One of my favorite chase scenes of all time. Great work on the editing and having an incredible eye for picking out the particular locations!

[@crazeenydriver]

Great job on this video sir. I have a few notes: At 8:57 those type PD radios count not communicate with radio cars. Also, in the earlier part right before Mosholu PKWY [not shown in your clips] the weather abruptly changes from cloudy and wet with snow present to sunny and dry with no snow. Also at the very end of the chase, all NY'ers know trucks are not allowed on the parkways so that last crash could not have happened IRL. But still, like the rest of you guys, I *love* this movie.

[@Ralphie_Boy]

*Mega thanks on this production!*

[@davidsmorgan]

Type in 2303 Hoffmann Street Bronx NY into Google maps, you will see the building on the corner that is STILL Lucia Bros. Funeral Home. The elevated train tracks in the background at 3rd Avenue were torn down a few years after the movie was shot.

[@wiedep]

Russo and Rarilli would have noticed that Kalish and Cotello were not in the procession when they did not leave with everybody else and who drove the car that Ansel was with? That would have been a clue for the cops that something was up, convenient editing ignores thus. There's too many suspensions of disbelief thought the film. Also, too many jumps between overcast and sunny shots during this scene.

[@channel6133]

Great job on this man!

[@joecallanan856]

great work buddy I'll keep an eye out for more your stuff

[@shihanUKS]

Being a student of editing, I saw a lot I didnt see before. Very good eye. I saw one fun detail. The pontiac turned onto the street with the kids. They ran. You saw Hickman driving. Russo turned onto the street. The kids ran again. There is Russo's reaction. Cut to reverse Russo POV of street. Check the inside rear view mirror...its Hickman dressed as Russo driving the ventura. Look for his glasses showing in the mirror.

[@maryellenrieger1874]

That's not the Ventura, its the Grand Ville look at the dashboard

[@shihanUKS]

@@maryellenrieger1874 ...Scheider's POV frame 6:22 windshield mirror. Glasses. Thats Hickman doubling for Scheider . If thats a granville dashboard, then they needed a "filler" POV shot which makes no continuity sense because the next frame is larger showing Scheider's head and the Ventura's interior.

[@maryellenrieger1874]

@@shihanUKS got it paused at 6:21 Gran Ville dash

[@mrrobertdimaio]

Did you know Roy insisted on driving high speed pick-up shots for this film without the approval of the production insurance ? He was actually pulled over and arrested during the filming--lost his license to drive in NYC for life--true story! Bet you NYC cab drivers were jealous!!

[@tommyclark2709]

Sun Dragon, relax. Davidsmorgan wasn't "blasting" the film makers for the errors. He was simply pointing them out out of interest to an audience. Besides, he even points out at the end of his video that it's understandable that errors will happen due to weather, permits, pick-up shots done weeks later... He didn't make this video to be a douche. I personally enjoyed it.

[@maryellenrieger1874]

He forgot that in the scenes before Carmine leaves the funeral parler in the black Bonneville the roads are wet and at one point its even snowing

[@crazeenydriver]

awesome video sir! I love this movie and you pointed out many of the gaffs that bugged me. In the "reverse shot"@9:22 if you pause the footage you can actually see the film crew with their hand held camera. Also, at the end, where Schieder's car crashes in to the semi on the Saw Mill, alot of people do not know semi trucks are not allowed on any NYC parkways, he had no reason to ever be there. Lastly one more thing if i may, you started your clip with Scheider and his partner in front of Lucia Brothers funeral home on a clear cold sunny day. In the movie, the scene that precedes it shows the black detective looking for the limo driver/undercover cop [played by ken kerchaval] and you can see them driving on Pelham pkwy and the road is wet and full of puddles and the day is cloudy. Thanks for making this video it rocked!

[@kaithomas7920]

+crazeenydriver And at 6:32 we can see a crowd and a red barrier tape.

[@crazeenydriver]

@@kaithomas7920 I see that tape, but I thought it was for the CON ED construction work at that spot

[@DTD110865]

"Also, at the end, where Schieder's car crashes in to the semi on the Saw Mill, alot of people do not know semi trucks are not allowed on any NYC parkways, he had no reason to ever be there." The same goes for that intercity bus

[@randyjohnson6845]

Can you imagine drive Herbie's love bug then Bullet then driving George C Scott around in Patton then French connection then 7 Ups

[@glbrown4262]

One more thing. Schieder's Ventura does not have a horn ring, which he seems to push to blow the horn, nor the three note Cadillac horn he keeps blowing.

[@monsterajr1]

Thanks for that excellent analysis. I had always spotted many discrepancies but you nailed them all! Well, did you notice damage to bad guys front left fender right before they rammed the police car? It wasn't there in any of the previous shots nor the car wash.

[@wiedep]

well, as phil told me years ago "...the story works..."

[@mikelugo848]

Thank you so much for years I searched for that car wash thinking that it was in that bronx area I grew up in that area during the filming also I worked on 49th street and 11th and witnessed the filming of the car crashing into the fruit stand lucky me

[@MBSLC]

Bill Hickman hits two parked Opels - red and blue LOL Great video!

[@nsidor1234]

D'antonio & company created another rolling masterwork of automotive mayhem. Definitely one of the top three (which also includes Bullitt & The French connection)...

[@ThunderAppeal]

Something that also wasnt mentioned was how the driver of the Grand Ville managed to fish tail that monstrosity around a corner. I dont care how poor handling was on the cars of that era, getting those beasts to fish tail around a corner took some skill.

[@valmarsiglia]

Excellent work!

[@pressureworks]

There was a tale about the crashing into the Car Door scene, that this was an accident and the lady that owned the car was paid alot of money.

[@balconi89]

It was a stuntman. You’ll notice he throws the door open quickly and got the hell out of the way.

[@pressureworks]

@@balconi89 yes, i should have mentioned i knew that. Thank you.

[@wiedep]

Another item, clip @ 2:02 of Russo's car shows crack in windshield glass above driver's side corner which disappears @ 2:42 when the cops get out of the car. The crack shows up again when Russo drives up on the sidewalk and hits the newsstand @ 4:10.

[@user-kr1dd3ix4h]

Giving away my age but that alley at 1:57 is a NYC transit location .if you look at the drive through you see a parked transit work truck .They drove from atlantic ave to pacific thru off limits transit property.How did they find this off the path alley.Today that location has been fortified and would be difficult to get access without permission. I dont think current workers would even recognize it.

[@davidsmorgan]

Actually it's Roy Scheider.

[@jlh4jc]

1970s NYC was a great backdrop for filming action movies.

[@davidphelan8951]

that must have been quite a car wash...it turned a Catalina into a Grand Ville

[@rocketsurgery1085]

funniest comment on you tube in 20 years... lol.

[@kaithomas7920]

Don't wanna boast, but I already knew that 9:04 - 9:09 and 9:12 - 9:20 were the same scene form different perspectives ;-) Nevertheless, it's thrilling to see both cars (bad guys and police) almost hitting oncoming traffic.

[@desertdispatch]

I liked the movie and so I enjoyed watching this. I say you did a good job

[@wpl955g9]

Excellent work.

[@yefenofphoto]

Friedkin did the same thing in the French Connection. Hackman was chasing the train first in Bensonhurst and then in Ridgewood Queens and back to Bensonhurst.

[@jamiecinder9412]

2:03 the windshield on Scheider's Ventura has the damage it took from hitting that fruit stand on 9th Avenue.

[@joejohnson3479]

One who grew up in Manhattan and a NYC Police Officer I knew all the location in the movie...Hollywood movie magic with the inconsistencies are part of the cinematic license

[@CamaroWarrior]

good job

[@deedeethekingofqns]

And the walkie-talkie "on the job" business is just silly.

[@fairalways]

Nice job. davidsmorgan, save that you didn't finish. Here are the mistakes LEFT OUT of this video after they cross onto the Palisades Parkway: they enter Palisades Interstate Parkway, which they take from Palisades Interstate Park, in Ft. Lee, New Jersey, to Harriman State Park, in northern Rockland County, New York. All of the sudden, they wind up on Taconic State Parkway,on the other side of the Hudson in F.D.R. State Park, which is in northern Westchester County. You can't get from northern Rockland, to that part of northern Westchester. To make matters worse, they put a bus on the Taconic Pkwy. Buses and trucks are forbidden from using the parkways of the northeast. Finally the crash scene was located at the N.Y.S. Thruway & Cross Westchester Expressway interchange, which is in SOUTHERN Westchester.

[@deedeethekingofqns]

And of course, let's remember, this is a movie. It is unlikely that at any time in NYPD history such automotive nonsense was encouraged, or rewarded, or not harshly condemned.

[@maryellenrieger1874]

Yah and look at all the stuff they do after the chase: try to beat a confession out of Toradondo, then go to the hospital and force Carmine to talk by cutting off his oxygen, then breaking into Keilsh's house and holding him and his wife at gunpoint, then breaking into Toradondo's house...like they wouldn't get fired for all that? Like you said its a movie

[@tomodell1948]

Incredible car chase, excellent film. Does anybody know the name of the big white building at 4:57 ? Thanks.

[@jergensroberdeaux2955]

At 4:54, Scheider is blowing the horn with both hands on the riml and the car is in Park.

[@1Esprit93]

I had always assumed the Ventura was equipped with a "rim blow" horn, but after checking apparently it was not available on Pontiacs and only on some other GM cars from 1969-71.

[@valmarsiglia]

I _knew_ they shot the approach to the West Side Hwy twice.

[@GavinJ37]

Hey davidsmorgan, you think you could do a video like this for Bullitt. That one had plenty of inconsistencies.

[@bigdaddy9864]

Love the: great Bill Hickman (actor / stunt man) driving the 73 Grandville also Drove the 68 Charger R/T in Bullitt with Steve McQueen and drove the 71 Lemans for Gene Hackman in the French Connection

[@TheCactusjack1]

Film makers do this all the time. A great example is the Lost Boys witch is set in the fictional town of Santa Carla, which is actually Santa Cruz, Ca. Anyone who is a local or at least familiar with the town would see similar liberties taken with the geography. The thing is, unless it is over the top terrible editing no one will notice. It is fun to see though. Good video.

[@christopherclark279]

9:10 looks strange. Camera speed manipulation?

[@ogrebattle22763]

Yeah there were plenty of mistakes but then again the focus was on the chase itself this was a movie a crime drama not a lesson in the geography of New York City... everyone who knows movies knows that not every location is a prime location for a shoot so they pick alternate locations that they think will be just as good also in the process of editing not every scene is going to come out as geographically perfect for each location of a shoot... how come you don't mention any of this... your whole focus is on how the shots are a confusing mess only... you fail to explain why this happens..

[@chrisrobinson3494]

You're right, & adding to this this is a MOVIE, you're supposed to "suspend your disbelief"!!

[@ogrebattle22763]

@@chrisrobinson3494 LOLOLOL...

[@ogrebattle22763]

@Lurker M Fuck off you piece of shit....

[@paulzammataro7185]

You. didn't watch it to the end, did you?

[@Kuntyful]

I am sorry... but just because a movie has a few errors, doesn't take away the drama of the thing

[@svs8909]

did Roy Schneider do his own driving?

[@ERIELACKU34CH]

Well done!!

[@holdenmcgroin9774]

French Connection Bullit Seven Ups Mad Max to live and die in LA Dirty Mary Crazy Larry I grew up with these movies and I took a car up to 130 mph and still alive!

[@michaelhayes7616]

All time favorite

[@ERIELACKU34CH]

i need a little help here. im tracing the route on google maps. hoffman and 3rd doesnt quite add up. there's a subway station in the background there, and hoffman doesnt exactly meet third. do you have the right location for the funeral parlor.

[@DTD110865]

That subway line is known as the IRT Third Avenue Elevated Line. 1973 was the last year that trains ran on there. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRT_Third_Avenue_Line

[@williamlovely450]

since I dont live in new york and dont care where its filmed its a great chase

[@ERIELACKU34CH]

@davidsmorgan got it thanks

[@joelgalvan8358]

Cloudy, part 2.

[@TheNameisPlissken1981]

Great video, but it just goes to show you, if you edit something well enough then no one cares or even notices the mistakes. Also, unless you live in NYC, you will not realize the geographical mistakes. It's a thrilling chase. The French Connection, The Seven Ups & To Live and Die in LA. are my favorite chase scenes.

[@DTD110865]

Actually, I noticed these mistakes, and this was long before DVD. Not only that, I also noticed the Greyhound Bus and the truck that Scheider smashed into weren't allowed on the parkways of the northeast. I grew up on Long Island, and had relatives and friends of the family in NYC and Upstate, New York. Plus I've been a die-hard roadgeek since I was a kid. But I always had the impression that even your average resident of the tri-state area would've been able to catch these discrepancies.

[@randyjohnson6845]

Hollywood experts claim Bill Hickman was the best

[@socaldazed6076]

stop, there are continuity discrepencies in all films and certainly all chase scenes; Bullitt chase scene is all over SF and suddenly they are out on country roads, it's called movies, btw, at the end of Planet Of The Apes, it's not really 2000 years in the future & it's not really the statue of liberty on malibu beach

[@ogrebattle22763]

SoCal Dazed I was going to say the same thing but you said it all... "It's just a movie"....

[@mamish213]

Check your spelling it's Schieder. Great job on putting all of it together.

[@70goldtop]

Who cares… it's a movie

[@irt3rdavenueel172]

We got him 10-4

[@deedeethekingofqns]

Allright, yeah yeah yeah, i remember that BF Goodrich sign from days of yore - but again, it's just a movie, and such behavior was nonsense then as it is nonsense know. But damn. wouldn't it have been cool - ass to be the cop RS plays and pounding that Ventura? Fun but no ways real. AND of course PAPD would have blown those punks away, and split up their wallets...BACK THEN, 30 YEARS AGO. NOW they are true heroes, look at the 9/11 story. Those guys were running UP THE STAIRS!!! I was never so proud of guys I grew up with, since that day...my heart goes out to them, they are real, not movie, heroes.

[@tedsmith9125]

AN EXCELLENT CHASE SCENE WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN BETTER IF THE KIDS ON THE PLAY STREET IN MANHATTAN HAD BEEN SHOWN BEING MOWED DOWN BY THE GRAND VILLE.