Sunday, March 08, 2009

My Favorite Charles Bronson Movies

Charles Bronson is one of my favorite actors. He generally played himself, a 4-star badass, except that he toned down his badassery on film because audiences would have fled theatres in terror if he had unleashed his full awesomeness.

His most memorable roles occurred only after he grew older, as movie directors refused to cast the younger Bronson because cameras burst into flames whenever they tried to capture his image. A handful of these later films are my favorites:

The Mechanic (1972) A professional hitman mentors a younger aspirant. The opening hit in this movie is brilliant, and the plot turns on its head in the final few seconds of the film. Magnificently directed. Here's the first scene:


[Video Link]

Death Wish (1974) Architect Paul Kersey's peaceful ideals are destroyed by the wanton rape and murder of his wife and daughter. In this controversial film, Charles Bronson stalks the streets of New York City, baits thugs into attacking him, and then guns them down. Here's the trailer:


[Video Link]

Chato's Land (1972) The wife of half-breed Apache Chato is raped by local white settlers in the American Southwest. Then they come after him, forming a posse to hunt him down. One by one, they fall. Bronson rarely speaks in this film; he lets his killing do his talking for him. I have no embeddable video available, but here's the trailer.

What is your favorite Charles Bronson movie?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

10 to Midnight.

It had just the right amount of creepy feel to it and the "handsome" sociopath worked really well.

And being a young lad, Lisa Eilbacher was quite the yummy as his co-star!

bob said...

Death Wish is awesome but The White Buffalo pitted Bronson against himself to a certain extent and made for a very interesting film.

Anonymous said...

Once Upon A Time In The West is excellent. Well worth the time spent in watching as well as considering the various sub-plots in what was just a "Spaghetti-Western."

James R. Rummel said...

Good post.

James

Dan Trabue said...

Does The Magnificent Seven count? Clearly, it is a Yul Brynner (or perhaps Ensemble) movie that features Chucko, but still, the best Bronson movie ever, by my estimation.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Majestyk is my favorite. "Come on, Frank, let's finish this!"

John said...

OMG! Steven Den Beste left a comment on my blog!

[girlish squeals of delight]

An honor to have you visit my humble blog, sir. I have seen Mr. Majestyk, although it has been a while.

Anonymous said...

October 20, 2009,


Mr. Charles Bronson;

Following reviewing the outstanding Movie called “The Valachi Papers;” and like the NAZI; Organization; that I can prove is a Society dedicated to removing all Communist infidels are truly removed from the Democratic Scene;

Mr. Joe Valachi does exist as I am told after watching this Mag' show and boy do I like my sud slow and care-full like a RYE male in flight like a Fiydriche-29; the WORLD'S #-1 FIGHTER;

..And as I am told this time at four-o-one-nine; AM; Mr. Charles is me be molecular re-configuration;

..I can prove this by a MAN making a TUK-TAK-TUK MORNING and like ESKIMOE evening The Valachi Papers Capo (Big Rig)is a Cosa Nostra (Big Feel); in Sicilian;

..In this Hit (Ler)Friend in Austrian; Blockbuster and according to Dare-Day Magazine of Standard's and Poor's rating by THE AUSTIN GUARD; the Celliod made $130-million in the first year then onto $700-million to day and on we go..;

.. And Mr. Valachi is a TRUE CIA Operative sent in from Dresden Germany based here in Edmonton, Alberta by SUPER-ENCLOSER from The Royal Canadien Mounted Pro's (Police);

..Plus a FEW grande EPS here as well; a 7-mm was used to 'nail-down' all FOOLS who MESS with TRUE BLUE, KOOL MEN OR WOMEN EN-LISTED;

..As for the GREEN setting; a red shine was introduded by Austin's involvement with the F.B.I.,

..With the HELP and equally another GREAT ARM; THE Y.A.R.D.; I prefer (Yonder-Albulm-Royal-Divison);

Finally; many people and continuing to my DREAM; were seriously HIT and not by accident;

WELL; MORE LATER FOR EVERY-ONE A FAN!!













FROM: Mr. Alex Simon; Apt. #305, 8820 – 85 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA T6C 3C2
FOR Tele-Phone+ANS. Serv., 780-466-9719; please call 'tween Stand. Mtn. 11, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Anonymous said...

HE HAS LOTS OF GREAT MOVIES..I LIKE COLD FEET BECAUSE HE DROVES MY DREAMCAR OPEL COMMODORE GS ON THAT MOVIE