Charles Bronson : International Superstar

One of my favorite vintage TV shows, is "The Millionaire." Available episodes are hard to find.

Several years ago, a local station aired a program called "The Time Machine," whereon they presented rare installments from classic shows.

I recall when they ran an episode of "TM" from 1957, starring Bronson, who wasn't very well known at the time. The story line featured him as an insecure man who considered himself to be physically unattractive. (Are you kidding?!?!?!) Charles Bronson as ugly/unattractive is something that never would have occurred to me.

With his special facial features he was immediately recognizable as silent Igor in House of Wax 1953, early in his career.

He was also in two early episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents 1956, And So Died Riabouchinska with Claude Rains and There Was an Old Woman with Estelle Winwood (who played an absolute earie nut case).

He was also played parts in the obvious big movies of the 1960s The Magnificent Seven 1960, The Great Escape 1963, The Battle of the Bulge 1965 and The Dirty Dozen 1967.

Guns for San Sebastian 1968 Henri Verneuil western-like movie where Anthony Quinn is mistaken for a priest. I thoght it was entertaining.

Once upon a Time in the West 1969 Sergio Leones western classic

Red Sun 1971, a movie I also thought was entertaining.

Death Wish 1974, is actually a great movie, as he becomes violent because of circumstances, but Vincent Gardenia's eternal nezzings became annoying in the long run.

Breakheart Pass 1975, entertaining western who-done-it with trains.

Raid on Entebbe 1976, made-for-tv, but showed in cinemas in many Eurpean countries, and well made.

Telefon 1977, also a movie I liked.

Love and Bullets 1979 and The White Buffalo 1977 (Jaws on on the prairie), though I thought were both dissapointing.

Borderline 1980, much better than I've read about it, critics wrote that Bronson looked tired, but that is exactly what the role is about, that he is tired watching the border.

The Evil That Men Do 1984, a bit too b-movie trashy.

Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus 1991 made-for-TV, Bronson as a "normal" person in a warm christmas story, could that work) Yes it actually did, and it was very well made.

I've only mentioned movies and television productions above that I'm certain I've seen.

two of his most unusual roles:

as teenager susan george's husband in LOLA (1970). i picked up an old video cd of the film when i was a bored young man living alone in bombay. it is a charming comedic film.

another one was in sean penn's THE INDIAN RUNNER (1991) as a quite and depressed elderly man.

Bronson played a huge part in the creation of the modern action movie, all the Stallone and Schwarzenegger fans should bow down.

I saw The Mechanic for the very first time not long ago, it's a great movie, a real golden nugget for us fans of 70's cinema. He managed to stand out as well in The Dirty Dozen, which I also saw recently.

Bronson always played such tough guy roles, and yet, gave off vibes which made you think he was probably just a regular nice guy off screen.

The Mechanic was ok the first time I saw it, but because I had grown used to seeing him in several of the 80s Cannon pictures, just mowing down bad guys, with no emotion, I was not prepared for how different his  early 70s movie was, compared to the more "b-movie" style a decade later on.
But, the second time I watched The Mechanic, it hit right home, great script, characters and the opening was something else, thats for sure.
Among Hard Times and Death Wish as my favorite Bronson film, quality wise to say.

I am not sure if this story is one is true or not, but I remember hearing/reading about some "unlucky" burglars/thiefs trying to break into his apartment/house, and this was when Bronson was in his late 60s/early 70s (I think), and either both or one of them ended up in a hospital, with serious damages. 

Another, is that he was so intimidating against several of his fellow actresses so that his beautiful wife Jill Ireland had to step in and that is why she appeared in so many of his film.
I also remember a quote or little story that he put several big actresses in their place, by having none of their primadonna act going, whenever he was around on the set.

A nice tribute  from Danny Trejo after working with Bronson on set on one of his late 80s films, (I think Danny showed up twice, once as a prisoner, and later he were blown to pieces in one of the Death Wish sequels):

Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989)—“Prison Inmate”



DT: You know what? I did a movie with Charles Bronson before that, Death Wish 4. I met him, and one of the guys on the movie, one of the young guys, got shitty with an old character actor named Perry Lopez, who was like 80 years old and had emphysema. He couldn’t even blow out a candle on a cake. He’s been in the movies since like the ’30s. He was trying to set up our little scene, and then all of the sudden, out of the clear blue sky, this guy who thought he was cute says, “Who the fuck nominated you director?” And I laughed; I thought he was joking. This guy’s 80 years old. Perry says, “No, no, I’m trying to set up this little scene so we all won’t be standing here.”



So this punk comes up, he says, “I went to blah blah,” just some, I don’t know what the hell it is, Lee Strasberg or some bullshit training, “and I don’t need no has-been actor to give me direction.” Then I realized this guy wasn’t kidding. I’m thinking, “This guy’s 80. Anybody over 40 is an older person. You better give them some respect.” So I just jacked this punk up and told him, “You know what, bitch? I’ll beat your ass. I nominated him director. Now fuck you. Do whatever he says.” This guy looks at me, almost starts crying, and says, “Hey, I’m trying to stay in character.” I was, “Well, your character’s about to get his ass beat.”



So then I turn around. Charles Bronson is standing right behind me, and he’s watching this. And the last thing you want anybody to see is that you could be violent on a movie set. I look at Charlie, and he saw what I was doing. But he says, “You know, Danny. I like the way you deal with people.” [Laughs.] And then he walked away. Then, about two months later, he called me and said, “Danny, I’ve got this little movie, Forbidden Subjects. You want a little role in it?” I go, “Yeah, sure.” I’ll never forget that. We had a long talk. Charlie was cool. He was awesome.



AVC: He was fairly old at that point, too, wasn’t he? In his 60s?



DT: Oh, yeah. He was in great shape. He wasn’t buffed up, but he was slim and cut up pretty good. That’s the way I try to stay.



AVC: The joke was that he’d keep on making Death Wish sequels until he was 80 and in a wheelchair.



DT: It’s really funny, because he changed. I saw him about a month before Jill [Ireland] passed away, and he looked healthy, then she passed away, and man, he just got old. You talk about soulmates. I just saw him get really old right away once she passed away.