“Death Wish” starring Charles Bronson / Z-View

Death Wish (1974)

Director:  Michael Winner

Screenplay:  Wendell Mayes;  based on DEATH WISH by Brian Garfield

Stars:  Charles Bronson, Vincent Gardenia, William Redfield, Hope Lange, Steven Keats, Stuart Margolin, Kathleen Tolan, Olympia Dukakis, Art Evans, John Herzfeld, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Eric Laneuville, Saul Rubinek and Jeff Goldblum.

Tagline: Vigilante, city style — Judge, Jury, and Executioner

The Plot…

When his wife is murdered and his daughter raped and left for dead, Paul Kersey, a mild-mannered middle-aged architect is told that finding the killers is unlikely.  It was a random crime.  One of many that happen daily and nightly in New York City.

Kersey decides to start carrying a weapon.  When a mugger attempts to rob him, Kersey kills the thug.  Kersey is surprised to get away with the homicide.

They say that the first killing is the hardest.  Kersey discovers that to be true as he becomes Judge, Jury, and Executioner of criminals prowling the streets and subways after dark.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Death Wish is based on Brian Garfield’s novel of the same name.  Several changes were made for the adaption including changing the protagonist’s name, job and making him bigger and more physical than the mild-mannererd accountant in the book.  Brian Garfield said he thought Bronson was miscast — Garfield also didn’t like the changes made to his book.

Death Wish features the film debut of Jeff Goldblum.  John Herzfeld, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and Eric Laneuville make cameos as muggers.

Jill Ireleand, Charles Bronson’s real life wife, usually appears in his films as his wife/love interest.  Bronson didn’t want her in this film because of the scene where she would be “humiliated” by the muggers.  Bronson suggested “someone like Hope Lange”.  So the producers got Hope Lange.

Although there are rumors that Denzel Washington appears uncredited in Death Wish as a mugger, and the actor looks like him, Washington denies it is him.  Further, Washington hadn’t started acting at that time!

Death Wish is the fourth of sixth films that director Michael Winner and Charles Bronson made.

The success of Death Wish led to four sequels and a reboot starring Bruce Willis. Before Willis, Sylvester Stallone was set to direct and star in a remake.

I saw Death Wish when it was first released and many times over the years.  It holds up.  I was surprised that Paul Kersey never found/had a run-in with the punks who murdered his wife and raped his daughter.  A lot of movies would have forced that.

Death Wish (1974) rates 4 of 5 stars.