Charles Bronson, American Samurai Part II: Death Wish and Beyond (02/16/2024) – Movie tickets in theaters, Broadway shows, London theater and more

Charles Bronson’s global popularity in the early 1970s seemed unstoppable. Everywhere except in his homeland. He was still working on projects largely funded or managed by Europeans, but the subject matter became more Western in what appeared to be an attempt to appeal to American audiences. in Charles Bronson, American Samurai Part IIwe take an in-depth look at the actor’s rise to major stardom in America, and at the memorable films that would ultimately cement his status as an on-screen legend – Ed.

WWith the Hollywood film industry seemingly falling and audiences being open to more styles of filmmaking, studio executives did what they had always done in the past, which was to exploit sex and violence. Bronson wasn’t the “go-to guy” for sex, but when it came to violence, he was finally welcomed with open arms. He starred in such international hits as Red sun (1971) with Toshiro Mifune, Alain Delon and Ursula Andress, as well as the main character of the film American Indian Revenge, Chatto land (1971), wearing little more than an apron throughout most of the picture.

– advertisement –

Then came the hugely successful action movie Killer, mechanical (1972) followed Valachi leaves (1972), in which Bronson ranges from a teenager to his mid-sixties (with minimal makeup) playing notorious mob informant Joe Valachi. All of these films were financed internationally but most were filmed in the United States. The crowd was attracting attention, and when Bronson was asked why he felt he had become so popular, he replied, “For a dozen years or so, my face was the kind that no one liked.” I wanted to be seen in movies. At least not the good guy face. But times have changed. I seem to have the right face at the right time.

FFollowing the vengeful watermelon farmer he photographed Mr. Majestic (1974), he made the film that would forever mark his career as an urban vigilante. controversial Death wish (1974) placed it in the top ten at the American box office at number seven, and the rest of his films would, like it, be American-made.

The huge success you have achieved Death wish It will garner numerous sequels and cause a huge division of debate among critics as well as audiences. It touched a chord and resonated deeply with society as a whole, especially in the New York area with high crime rates in the 1970s. In an unrelated incident in 1984, he called robbery victim Bernard Goetz a “subway guard,” similar to Bronson’s character in the movie “The Subway Vigilante.” Death wish. The film’s mainstream success is perhaps best summed up by New York Daily News critic Rex Reed, who wrote: “People who are tired of being feared, threatened and robbed on a daily basis will love Charles Bronson in… Death wish As much as I do.”

– advertisement –

nHaving finally established himself as one of his country’s box-office stars, albeit in his fifties, Charles Bronson’s film output may seem ordinary on the surface, but closer examination reveals just how fundamentally different his choices are. in go ahead (1975) He plans and participates in an elaborate escape from a Mexican prison for wrongly accused Robert Duvall. There are many Of course, there’s a very different performance by Charles Bronson, who plays his character as a charming and conniving con man. His next film remains his favorite for many fans, teaming up with Depression-era fight promoter James Coburn. hard times (1975), as an older street fighter taking on younger fighters for the right price. The production value of his upcoming film may be his most impressive yet. BRicart Pass (1975) has him as a mysterious man in the Old West among a group of strangers on a train in which the residents are murdered one by one, similar to an Agatha Christie murder.

If these previous projects weren’t enough, he has challenged his fans even more with his next film. “One day, I’d like a part where I can lean my elbows on the mantelpiece and have a cocktail,” Bronson once said. “I don’t look like someone leaning against the mantelpiece with a cocktail in my hand, you know. I look like the kind of guy with a beer in my hand.” However, in From noon until three (1975), Bronson was able to do just that when Old West outlaw Graham Dorsey courted a beautiful widow played by Bronson’s real-life wife, Jill Ireland. The quirky little comedy even made some compelling statements about the nature of celebrity.

For the remainder of the decade, Charles Bronson was a major American movie star and took full advantage of his hard-won success. His growing family now includes Jill’s children with David McCallum as well as their daughter Zulekha. The couple also adopted their daughter, Katrina Holden, when her mother, Jill’s assistant, died of cancer. The Bronsons were known for their traveling entourage of assistants and massive luggage wherever Charles was filming one of his major productions.

Most critics had a lukewarm reaction to these outstanding films, with Bronson responding: “I don’t make films for critics. They don’t pay anyway.” His fans agreed, making Bronson the number four box office champion of 1975 and number ten of 1976.

– advertisement –

WWhen Charles Bronson showed up on the first day of filming the Cold War thriller the phone (1977), veteran director Don Siegel suggested that he shave his mustache so he would look more like his character as a Russian KGB agent. Bronson gave the director a long, slow smile and said, “No mustache, no Bronson.”

This was the extent to which the Bronson brand dominated the actor’s psyche. He was no longer a top-ten box office star, but he nonetheless maintained a loyal following and paid attention to what he knew they wanted to see. There were occasionally hopeful projects, like playing Wild Bill Hickok in the weird western fantasy film, White buffalo (1977) or live action film Chasing death With Lee Marvin (1981). Unfortunately, most of Bronson’s remaining vehicles had self-explanatory monikers, as the actor seemed tired and bored. These curvy titles are included Love and bullets (1979) Border line (1980), 10 to midnight (1983), The evil that men do (’84), Murphy’s law (1986), Messenger of death (1988), and Assassination (1987).

The final film was a bittersweet experience because it would be the last time he would appear on screen with his wife and most frequent actress, Jill Ireland, after dozens of films together. Ireland has survived a very public bout with breast cancer, as well as an overdose of her son, Jason McCallum, all of which she wrote about in her best-selling memoir. Sadly, the cancer returned, and on May 18, 1990, Ireland succumbed to it. The intensely private Bronson had to admit that “one of the difficult parts of being a public person married to someone seriously ill is people asking you: ‘So, how is your wife?’ I found it difficult. They were strangers.”

a The TV movie that Bronson tried to keep off the airwaves aired with Jill Clayburgh as Ireland and Lance Henriksen as Bronson. Bronson himself had ventured into the world of TV movies with the HBO drama Law of retaliation (1986), playing real-life United Mine Worker boss Jock Yablonski. He gave one of his best performances in the now largely forgotten early cable project, even going so far as to shave off his mustache for the first time since. hard times More than a decade ago.

As for his later years, it would be safe to say that after a series of cheaply made products Death wish Bronson’s last on-screen appearance was in actor Sean Penn’s directorial debut, THe is an Indian runner (1991). Bronson had a small role (also sans moustache) as the father of the two main characters and had a particularly poignant telephone scene in which his last words were: “Good night, son.”

It could have served as a poignant cinematic epitaph for the actor but instead it did just that Death wish V (1994). He also returned to television in a series of forgettable TV movies playing the patriarch on “A Family of Cops” (’95-’99). The film featured a young actress named Kim Wicks, who became the third and final Mrs. Bronson in 1998.

FAfter hip replacement surgery, Bronson retired from acting and remained somewhat reclusive, until it was reported that he had Alzheimer’s disease. A bout of pneumonia officially ended his life on August 30, 2003, at the age of 81.

HThe legacy in popular culture is somewhat bizarre, as the writers of The Simpsons made Charles Bronson an endless source of humor, mocking him at every opportunity. A famous Japanese manga artist, Yoshiyuki Okamura, changed his name to “Boronson” in his honor and created a similar mustache. There’s also Hungarian actor Robert Bronzy who bears a remarkable resemblance to Bronson and does a low-budget rip-off of Bronson’s films. Strangest of all is the notorious British convict Michael Peterson. He wrote several highly popular memoirs as his alter ego Charles Bronson, for more obvious reasons.

British photographer Sam Haskins put it best with this anecdote: “A photographer went to a social party in New York. When he walked in the front door, the host said: ‘I love your photos – they’re great; “It’s great.” You must have a great camera. He said nothing until dinner was over, and then: “That was a great dinner.” You must have a great stove.”

Movies were never about the camera. It’s always been about the talent that makes moviegoing an enduring experience, like Charles Bronson’s Scooptown.

Read Part 1 of Charles Bronson, American Samurai here.

Bronson fans may want to check out Mario Van Peebles’ latest Western in classic form, OUTLAW POSSE opens March 1. Select tickets here.

Buy movie tickets with the app

– advertisement –