Alan Trustman, screenwriter of 'Bullitt' and 'Thomas Crown Affair', dies at 95

Alan Trustman, the American screenwriter whose name is permanently etched in film history thanks to two iconic 1968 films, has died at the age of 95. His death was first reported by The New York Times on Wednesday evening, March 6, and later confirmed by leading industry media, including The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline, on Thursday, March 7. Alan Trustman was born in 1930. Before entering the film world, he graduated from Harvard Law School and worked for over a decade at a New York law firm. His decision to abandon a stable legal career for the uncertain pursuit of screenwriting in the mid-1960s was an act of unconventional courage at the time. Trustman gained fame as the co-writer of the screenplay for 'Bullitt', directed by Peter Yates. This film, starring Steve McQueen as the tough title police detective Frank Bullitt, went down in history primarily for its over-ten-minute-long car chase scene through the hills of San Francisco. This scene, executed with unparalleled realism and dynamism for its time, became a reference point for all subsequent action films. Although the official screenplay is credited to Harry Kleiner, Trustman was the author of the original story outline on which the film was based. In the same, incredibly fruitful year of 1968 for him, 'The Thomas Crown Affair', directed by Norman Jewison, also hit the screens. Trustman was the sole author of the screenplay for this elegant film about a bank heist, combining criminal and romantic threads. The role of the wealthy playboy-planner of the perfect crime brought Steve McQueen one of his most praised performances, and the chemistry between him and Faye Dunaway became legendary. „His screenplay for „The Thomas Crown Affair” was considered one of the most clever and sophisticated of its time.” (His screenplay for 'The Thomas Crown Affair' was considered one of the most clever and sophisticated of its time.) — However, Trustman's career in Hollywood after this double success did not continue as spectacularly. He wrote the screenplay for the film 'They Only Kill Their Masters' (1972) starring James Garner, and later worked mainly for television, writing episodes for series such as 'Kojak'. Despite a relatively small body of work, the influence of his two most famous works on cinematography is undeniable. 'Bullitt' defined the modern police and action film, laying the groundwork for a genre that flourished in the 1970s and beyond. Trustman, a lawyer by training, proved that a deep understanding of story structure and characters could come from a completely different field, becoming an inspiration for many later writers.