Charles Bronson

Charles Bronson; we all know him, we love him. As popular in Europe and Asia as he was in the U.S., he was the one Hollywood tough guy actor that the whole world accepted. Trouble is, you've already seen 'Once Upon a Time in the West' & 'The Great Escape'. Where do you go from there? Well, I want to call your attention to two of Charles Bronson's lesser known films. They aren't high art by any stretch of the imagination, but they're worth seeking out if you dig movies where Charles Bronson does what he does best - speak in a gravely voice and kick butt.



First, check out 'The Mechanic' (also known as 'Killer of Killers'). No, it's not about an automotive specialist who's pushed too the brink. A mechanic is the mob code word for a hit man. And that's what Charles Bronson plays here. But it's a ruthless business, and as he gets older he sees the benefit of taking on a younger partner, in this case the son of a man he bumped off, played by Jan-Michael Vincent (remember him?). But as things heat up, it becomes clear that sooner or later one of them is going to have to go. This film is from the early 70s (1972), so the pacing may be a little slow for the X-Box generation, and while it's no 'Godfather' or 'French Connection', it certainly holds it's own when compared to the lower budget crime films of the day. Catch this original before it's butchered in a remake later this year.



The year before 'First Blood' would launch Stallone's second most popular series (after the 'Rocky' films), Charles Bronson starred in 'Death Hunt' that was either an incredible coincidence, or a movie that was directly ripped off by the makers of that first Rambo film. Instead of a Vietnam vet, here we have Charles Bronson as a Canadian fur trapper, and instead of a Sheriff, we have Lee Marvin and Carl Weathers as Mounties that are sworn to bring him in. The backdrop here is the incredibly scenic Canadian Rockies rather than the Pacific Northwest wilderness of 'First Blood', but otherwise the plot is essentially the same. One man pits his wilderness survival skills against overwhelming numbers.

I'm not saying that either of these films is the cream of the crop when it comes to Bronson's career, but I'm assuming you've already seen 'The Magnificent Seven' and the entire 'Death Wish' series more times than you can count. Why not kick back with a beer and check out some of the other films old 'Il Bruto' made?