A huge success in the Autumn of 1974, Death Wish was ripped by the usual left-wing critics as a racist, pro vigilante film. I remember my friend and I actually sat through the movie twice – that’s how much we enjoyed it. The thing is that Charles Bronson’s character, Paul Kersey was not a vigilante -- everyone that he killed was in self defense (all the men he killed pulled weapons on him first) and the only thing he could have been charged with would have been illegal possession of a gun. For those of you who are not familiar with the New York City of the 1970’s, the city was just not working! Crime was rampant, the subways were continuously breaking down (notice the graffiti on them in the film), taxes and regulations were out of control and there was a palpable sense of menace. That does not mean that New York City could not be a fun place to be at times, but films such as Death Wish, The Warriors, Panic In Needle Park, Serpico, Across 110th Street, Alphabet City, Ft. Apache: the Bronx, The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3, -- were a far cry from the sunny and cheerful city of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple and The Apartment.
Although the acting (aside from Bronson) is not very good in this film, this is a very taut and well made movie and just 1 1/2 hours (nowadays every film seems to go over 2 hours).
If you look close enough you will recognize:
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs who later played Freddie Boom-Boom Washington on Welcome Back Kotter (he was one of the thugs in Morningside Heights Park ), Olympia Dukakis who played a policewoman at a meeting with the Detective who says she would not walk more than a few blocks from any supermarket, Jeff Goldblum as one of the thugs who attacks Hope Lange (Mrs. Kersey), and Christopher Guest (who played Nigel Tufnel in “This Is Spinal Tap”) as a young policeman “Patrolman Reilly” who finds Bronson’s gun at the end.
Unfortunately there was four sequels to Death Wish none of which were particularly good. However for those of you who like to bash Rudy Giuliani -- you have a good idea about the type of city he inherited.
Tags: Charles Bronson, Death Wish
I was here in the ’70s, and although I had many good times in the city, the place was a disaster. Rudy did an amazing job.
The libs were not too fond of Dirty Harry flics either.
my grandmom went to elementary and high school with mr bronson:
i heard that from my grandmom years before i read it, so i’m gonna guess its true.
Never saw a Bronson film, although I like action/adventure. I do like Bruce Willis and Clint Eastwood. Movies drenched in blood are the norm. imo, we are facing enough problems on the planet. I’d rather not be raked over the coals for entertainment. But then, I like Downton Abbey.
I liked more movies before they got all lefty-preachy. Can’t someone just tell me a good story?
NY before Rudy was a very dangerous place. I remember the palpable feeling of fear as we drove through certain areas when i was a kid. “Lock your doors and keep your face to the front” mom would say and then we would drive in silence. This was in the late 80′s. Dad was shot on the streets of Brooklyn in the 70′s. Mom still has his blood-soaked clothes. He never talks about it.
yenta-fada wrote:
My favorite Bronson film was The Mechanic, but the Vigilante films were good to. Plenty of gratuitous mayhem.
@ yenta-fada:
heard that dude who did the honour killings was convicted. Good.
I don’t read much Debbie Schlussel, but this is her list of best movies for 2011.
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/45641/debbieschlussel-com-best-movies-of-2011/
Thanks for posting this Speranza. All the tough guys I looked up as a boy are all gone now save for Clint Eastwood. Mitchum, Wayne, Bronson, Sinatra, and now Gazzara all gone. Who do the little boys have to look up to today?
Lost wrote:
Indeed, husband, wife, and son were convicted on all counts to life in prison. They are appealing, of course. Waste of taxpayer money and oxygen. They would have had no problem in a Muslim country. That’s what people fail to understand.
MrPaulRevere wrote:
DiCaprio, Jude Law, Depp, Affleck, and a host of other interchange-ables. I will say that DiCaprio has a range of acting talent, but he’s not a guy-guy.
Lost wrote:
How is your family doing?
Say has Rodan come across Obama singing in Spanish yet?
I consider myself a big law and order kind of guy. Having said that – I have no problems with habitual trash being efficiently carted to the curb for disposal – as long it’s in the script.
yenta-fada wrote:
Lee Marvin, Jack Palance and Steve McQueen were great tough guys. I can’t think of one current actor that is anywhere near as tough as the old guys.
yenta-fada wrote:
You should watch this.
waldensianspirit wrote:
He sings like he dances.
@ yenta-fada:
Good. Kids started school and I’m learning to type with one hand!
MrPaulRevere wrote:
That’s Dad’s job.
@ yenta-fada:
Oh I LOVE Downton Abbey! Have you caught Upstairs Downstairs?
@ yenta-fada:
He and Chavez! They can take it on the road
@ huckfunn:
Point taken. Thats the problem with lists, someone worthy always gets left off.
@ waldensianspirit:
Oh dear Lord.
@ waldensianspirit:
More like busk on a street corner.
Lost wrote:
What’s the other one doing?
@ waldensianspirit:
via weaselzippers
@ huckfunn:
There’s a bio on Steve McQueen out now that paints him as pretty much one step up from caveman. He had a feral childhood.
@ yenta-fada:
Holding the newborn!
@ Lost:
This was in the late 80′s. Dad was shot on the streets of Brooklyn in the 70′s. Mom still has his blood-soaked clothes.
Damn. My brother lives in Jersey and announced that he it taking his family back to Ohio this year. The money is good, but he hates Jersey with a passion and more money isn’t going to change that.
m wrote:
It’s been around forever. You recommend it, I’ll find it.
MrPaulRevere wrote:
Not really trying to make a point; just filling in the blanks
. Kirk Douglas is currently 96 years old. He was a great tough guy. When my dad was going to USC in the early 40′s, he and his frat brothers would get pocket money by going to the studios and being as extras. He was in a movie with Robert Mitchum and another one with Glenn Miller.
Lost wrote:
Of course! Now I remember. AWWWWWWWWWWW. Sometimes I wish I used facebook.
@ Buckeye Abroad:
I can relate. We left New York for Australia in 2003. Everyone asks me why I did it. When you hate a place with a passion, it’s easy to move. Pity we couldn’t move to another state. We still hope to come back one day. Depends on what happens in the world…
@ yenta-fada:
Not the old one from PBS, the new one from BBC. I liked the old one too, though ~:)
@ yenta-fada:
I’d post a pic of her but I don’t know how to do that on the blog.
@ huckfunn:
He was in a movie with Robert Mitchum and another one with Glenn Miller.
The movie with Glen Miller wouldn’t have been “Sun Valley Serenade” per chance?
waldensianspirit wrote:
Hugo has him beat!
@ Lost:
I grew up during the late 80′s and early 90′s. It was practically a war zone.
Xeon wrote:
He would have made an excellent POTUS.
Xeon wrote:
Not hey weren’t although Clint is now one of them. The price he paid to be accepted.
m wrote:
Thanks, I didn’t know there was a new one. I just ordered Season 1 of ‘The Good Wife’ A friend reco’d it. I don’t have much destination TV. It’s a treat to watch without the commercials.
Buckeye Abroad wrote:
I honestly don’t know. Glenn Miller appeared in only 2 movies, Sun Valley Serenade and Orchestra Wives. I can’t say that I’ve seen either one.
@ Rodan:
Yeah, Rudy really turned NYC around. I shudder to think what 9/11 would have been like if anyone other than Rudy was Mayor of the City.
huckfunn wrote:
Mine was a film he made with James Coburn in 1975 called “Hard Times” in which he played a bare knuckled fighter during the Depression.
@ Speranza:
I agree, but he did not execute a plan that would allow him a chance.
yenta-fada wrote:
She is a whack job. A real nasty piece of work.
Lost wrote:
You’re probably too busy!
MrPaulRevere wrote:
I just learned of Ben Gazzara’s passing. He was a great actor.
@ Lost:
We left New York for Australia in 2003. … When you hate a place with a passion, it’s easy to move. Pity we couldn’t move to another state. We still hope to come back one day. Depends on what happens in the world…
I would stay in Australia and never look back. Oz is the one place I would immigrate too without a thought. I spent several weeks there about 5 years ago and it really felt like home… and I’ve been around the block. The US is about to go through some rough times and it won’t be the same afterwards.
huckfunn wrote:
Certainly not Sylvester Stallone.
yenta-fada wrote:
He had something of a rivalry with Paul Newman.
Speranza wrote:
I just happened to pick up the movie reviews a couple of times. She gave some movie 4 Karl Marxes and a Janet Napolitano. lol. I would not like to live in the Hezbollah/Arab capital of North America.
That mess spilled over into Windsor, Ontario where there is a cozy leftist/Islamist axis.
Buckeye Abroad wrote:
New Jersey has nothing, nada, zilch – to recommend it.
Speranza wrote:
I remember that. Interesting note about Bronson. After he died there was some debate about how old he was when he died. The way I understand it, he was actually about 10 years older than his official biography stated.
Lost wrote:
Mike Bloomberg is no Rudy Giuliani that’s for shit sure.
Speranza wrote:
McQueen treated women like dirt. Ali McGraw gave up her career for him and got nothing in return but infidelity and complete lack of communication.
*it’s great having a movie gossip thread*
Xeon wrote:
Too bad because unlike McCain – he actually would have been it to win it.
Speranza wrote:
The dems switched from Weiner to Wasserman since she is highly unlikely to phone message pics of her johnson
Buckeye Abroad wrote:
yenta-fada wrote:
He was not a saint but he was a fine actor and his womanizing was well known. I prefer Steve McQueen to a sensitive girlie man like Robert Redford.
Related: Vigilante Films and the Left
Liberals have a knee-jerk reaction against vigilante films. http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/290029/vigilante-films-and-left-anthony-paletta
@ huckfunn:
I honestly don’t know. Glenn Miller appeared in only 2 movies, Sun Valley Serenade and Orchestra Wives. I can’t say that I’ve seen either one.
I only asked because my mother-in-law’s favorite movie of all time is Sun Valley Serenade. Don’t ask.
The most left-wing actor in my opinion is Ed Asner.
MrPaulRevere wrote:
Unless conservatives are the ones being killed.
@ Lost:
One day I’ll get bunk to teach me how to use those blockquote thingys.
I make a mess of them!
Rodan wrote:
Your comparison of Chavez and Ozero was prophetic.
Lost wrote:
Sweetie! Look at all that dark hair. Keep the avatar.
Lost wrote:
Highlight the text that you want to blockquote and then hit the “b-quote” button.
Yenta, I changed my gravatar ( for a limited time only!) to a picture of her so you can see. I’ll have to do it again when NT2U, Calo, Lilly and the other girls are around. CW will probably want to compare!
As I wrote in my introduction – everyone that Bronson killed in this movie was in self defense.
@ yenta-fada:
You beat me to it!@ huckfunn:
No matter how many times I try…I always muck it up. The annoying part is that it’s not so complicated!
@ Speranza:
James Wood/s?, James Caan. Very few.
yenta-fada wrote:
James Woods does not play tough guys.
@ Lost:
Lost, I see it.
She is just precious. A blessed addition to your family I am sure.
@ Lost:
AAWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!
Speranza wrote:
More so than the Fondas, Sheens, or Sean Penn?
@ Calo:
@ m:
Thanks guys! I’m quite proud myself!
Brick wrote:
Yes. He is practically an admitted communist.
@ Brick:
or Brad Pitt?
m wrote:
Hey girl turn your cell phone on.
Lost wrote:
You have a new baby? I guess I missed that. Congrats to you… and the new baby.
Lost wrote:
Pitt is just ***** whipped.
@ huckfunn:
Thanks Huck!
I didn’t say anything until I was in my 9th month and then I was here so fleetingly it was easy to miss.
Thanks again for your good wishes.
@ m:
Heh, don’t you have teenagers too? Ah, if only the clock ticked backwards some days.
I miss the smell of babies.
@ Speranza:
Oh, sorry! It’s on the charger in another room! I’ll hollah!
@ Speranza:
Another tough guy was Burt Lancaster. A great film, but rarely on TV, was “Valdez is Coming”. Valdez was a Mexican sheriff in Arizona or somewhere. His character has the meekness of a saint. He ends up killing every one of the bad guys.
@ Speranza:
New Jersey has nothing, nada, zilch – to recommend it.
He sends out resumes every week in 3 C-ville (Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinati). He intends to move even if he doesn’t have a job lined up. His contempt for NJ is that bad.
@ Calo:
No, but I teach teenagers. My oldest is almost 9 and she’s starting the teenage years. (G-d Help Me!)
I’ve always wished it was possible to bottle the newborn smell. There is nothing like it in the world.
Speranza wrote:
I knew Asner was an “activist” had no idea he was that far off the reservation.
Sorry M and Calo,
that wasn’t even addressed to me! My sleepless nights are showing! Didn’t mean to be rude.
@ Calo:
Yes I do. Teenagers. Bleh.
:-/
Eh, they’re alright I guess!
~:)
@ m:
I reckon you’re a pretty cool mom.
Lost wrote:
It is a contact high.
@ Speranza:
Unless conservatives are the ones being killed.
Didn’t Michael Moore say something along the lines that if the “islamo-fascists committed 9-11 in fly-over-country it would have been acceptable?”
@ Lost:
No, no! Jump right in!
Lost wrote:
Has Hollywood always leaned Left?
OT:
Latest news in OZ
@ Lost:
Yep! Up to a point!
@ Brick:
I think so. How many hollywood conservatives are there?
@ Lost:
hey! more babies!
Brick wrote:
I think Hollywood has always had a leftward lean. However, during WWII, they were pro-USA all of the way. None of the anti-American crap that we see today. Those who weren’t actually in the service were involved in public service films, war bond drives and support for the troops. The current bunch would have been tarred and feathered for their hate America rants.
@ Brick:
They used to be patriotic. Now that’s a bad thing. Hell, nowadays they don’t even want Captain America to be patriotic!
>:-/
@ Lost:
The only one I know is Jon Voit.
@ coldwarrior:
Wanna play “my baby is cuter than yours?”
JK!!!
Yours are precious too!
(and players of that game are usually first time parents, which we are not!):)
@ Lost:
It is great and we are happy but my entire family lives in the states. I go back at least once a year and the change each time is noticeable. We are closely monitoring the political changes but the social changes are what scare me.
The interesting times we live in. I come from a rural, conservative Ohio county, so it really doesn’t change much at the local level, but it is apart of the rust belt and that isn’t going to change. It was great growing up there, but over the years the manufacturing plants closed and the persuit of employment forced most of us to leave. I go home once a year as well– keeps me going.
Lost wrote:
Tom Sellick, Gary Sinise. I’m not sure who else.
@ huckfunn:
Just had an interesting thought. Since WWII we have not been united as a country.
@ coldwarrior:
Must. Get. CW. OUT. Of. L&D.
@ Buckeye Abroad:
Where do you live now?
Lost wrote:
@ Calo:
L and D?
From Zip: Pics of the Day: Cops Finally Clear Occupy DC Out of McPherson Square…
They actually had to clear the camp in hazmat suits.
Calo wrote:
i’ve been in pediatrics for 5 weeks at children’s…not as happy as l&D i’m afraind
huckfunn wrote:
Not a long list at all. Anyone else know any Hollywood conservatives?
(I hope I got those quotes right this time!)
Lost wrote:
Direct from the current White House… divide and conquer. That and the education debacle have been going on for 50 years.
Lost wrote:
labor (labour for yinz) and delivery
@ Lost:
Sure is a cutie!
@ Lost:
Where do you live now?
Deutschland.
coldwarrior wrote:
I remember how tough it was for me when my kid had so much as a cold. It must be close to unbearable to have a kid with a chronic disease.
@ coldwarrior:
Should have guessed!
Pediatrics would be much worse. At least with Labour you get mostly good deliveries. That makes the job rewarding.
(May G-d bless all the good midwives and nurses. I’m indebted to them!)
Lost wrote:
Dennis Miller?
@ Prebanned:
Like her Momma!:)
Thanks!
@ Lost:
http://www.ranker.com/list/republicans-and-hollywood-republican-celebrities-list/famous-conservatives
@ Lost:
@ huckfunn:
Tom Sellick,
He’s conservative?
OT: I have a friend who used to be his bodyguard in the old days. He said Tom was ok.
@ Buckeye Abroad:
One of my sisters visited in October. She thought it was charming.
My experience of Germany is going to remain my only one…passport control at Dusseldorf airport. I’m never going back.
@ huckfunn:
Moochelle continues to take the circus act on the road.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oXvyXlc4vr8
@ huckfunn:
@ Lost:
the kids are tougher than the parents
@ Bunk X:
good ole google!
coldwarrior wrote:
In education it’s the other way around.
@ Lost:
Didn’t want to embarrass you with this:
http://bit.ly/wgl1H8
@ Lost:
Hello Lost. I am so digging on the avatar! That dark hair just gets to me. Lovely child indeed. Congrats Momma, you did great
@ Lost:
My experience of Germany is going to remain my only one…passport control at Dusseldorf airport. I’m never going back.
That’s Germany. It doesn’t change over time, believe me.
Luckily my wife and I have loads of other expat friends… plus we live in the biggest Russian community outside of Russia. Alot of anglo-expats here in the Frankfurt region as well.
@ Lost:
A disaster.
@ Bunk X:
Google takes all the fun out of seeing what people actually know.
It’s helped to create a generation…
But it is useful!
@ NoThreat2U:
Thank you darling! Now that you’ve seen it, I can change it back!
@ Rodan:
Rodan, check this out. Watch the vid, you won’t regret it.
@ Buckeye Abroad:
Same here. Lots of Russians and expats!
@ Lost:
Do you facebook? If so, have CW send you my name and you can find me there. And no thanks necessary, I only speak the truth. Nothing better than cuddling a little newborn against your chest. They make everything right in the world.
Buckeye Abroad wrote:
The old Johnny Carson joke
“The FBI gave New Jersey three days to get out of the country.”
@ NoThreat2U:
Brick wrote:
He is way out there. He admits to being a Socialist but communist is more like it. Like Sean Penn he is a terrific actor.
@ Lost:
Thanks!
Buckeye Abroad wrote:
Yeah as if Islamists care about Red State – Blue State differences. Also up until 9/11 what on Earth did G.W. Bush do to offend Muslims? No Child Left Behind I suppose. //
Brick wrote:
Since the late 1950′s it has.
@ Lost:
Same here. Lots of Russians and expats!
Ah, you understand then. We’re good people… just don’t f*ck with us.
Good night all. It’s been a pleasure.
@ Buckeye Abroad:
Indeed it has! Take care.
@ NoThreat2U:
NT2U, you are quite entertaining on FB.
Lost, you gotta find her there.
@ Calo:
And, occasionally, she has LK’s attention – he always seems to be cleaning up the joint after she leaves.
Off to do the Sunday afternoon stuff.
Was fun. Take care everyone.
@ Calo:
That is just my sassy side showing on there. lol People who know me well enough understand my warped sense of humor. lol
Hahahaha LK, he adopted me. Not quite sure how that works but we’ll figure it out. He likes it when we litter his page. He sits back and laughs. lol I wonder if he sent his friend out for cooking lessons yet?? Hmmmm……
Damn, where did everyone go??
@ NoThreat2U:
/lurk
Just peaking at Nevada so far:
Romney 38%
Gingrich 25%
Ron Paul 22%
Santorum 13%
If those other two idiots would drop out, Gingrich would be the candidate. Instead we have to settle for Romney.
@ CynicalConservative:
LOL I knew I could count on you. Wanna talk smack on everyone else since they aren’t here to defend themselves?? lol
/stalk
@ Bagua’s Ghost:
Tres creepy dude. lol You will lure Calo back out though. lol
@ NoThreat2U:
Wouldn’t know what to say, I practice aggressive scrolling on those here who annoy me, so no ammunition for “smack”.
/lurk
@ Bagua’s Ghost:
/stalk == Aggressive lurking?
/lurk
@ CynicalConservative:
Must be the female in me…we always find something about someone to talk smack on them. lol
@ CynicalConservative:
Yup.
@ NoThreat2U:
Calo will appear if I build a good 3-play; been delinquent there. Too much study.
/lurk
@ NoThreat2U:
I neveh talk smack about any lurkers here.
I always threaten to, but somehow, somewhere, some lurker posts a tune worth stopping by to enjoy….
Truth!
@ Calo:
Yeah it is hard to talk smack on the posters here…except Dorian. lol lol (Trying to lure him out)
@ NoThreat2U:
Call him Dorina.
/lurk
War
- Bob Marley (Riddim Instrumental)
Off to Celebrate Robert Nesta Marley’s 67th Birthday.
Who knows it feels it.
@ Bagua’s Ghost:
Old, I tell you… you’re just old.
Thank you Bagua, enjoy your evening.
I always enjoy your tunes better than Dorian’s.
@ CynicalConservative:
LMAO******** hahahahahahahahahahahahaha Well with those crazy Californicator, anything goes. lol
I don’t think Calo likes me anymore, but here’s a 3 play anyway.
Cranberries
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AJsLkRbQ74&feature=relmfu
Ace of Base
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyly3JtXoy4&feature=related
Real McCoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pav2f4b-1ZE&feature=related
Bonus (Annoyance factor maybe)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRvGZffXhfk&feature=related
/lurk
@ Calo:
Heh, I’ve got that going for me then.
Jammin’
- Live
One Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PDdCmJ84LI
- Bob
@ CynicalConservative:
I happen to know for a fact that Calo loves when you post a threesome for her…and I mean videos. (just so no one gets the wrong idea)
moving up to the (recycled) oot
/lurk
Redneck Friend
@ CynicalConservative:
#1.
Bonus points for #4 though – and thanks for playing tonight CC.
what an inspiration.
Six years before Death Wish he starred in Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time In The West, which is excellent movie. I recommend you’ll see it.
@ Purre:
He also was in The Great Escape (1963).
@ Speranza:
True. The reason why I mentioned Once Upon A Time In The West was because in it the man whom Bronson plays is pursuing a vendetta. In a way it is similar role, though I dare say there’s world of difference between the two roles as in Leone’s movie he is more of a hunter in my opinion.