crego
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Post by crego on Jun 2, 2009 6:16:49 GMT -5
Did you know "MISTER MAJESTYK" was a vehicle written with Clint Eastwood in mind, for the title role ? Elmore Leonard had just done "JOE KIDD" for him...
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crego
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Post by crego on Jun 2, 2009 5:11:04 GMT -5
Did you know that Charles Bronson played Butch Cassidy ? And his costar was James Coburn.
It's not a joke... Bronson starred in "BUTCH CASSIDY", an episode of "TALES OF WELLS FARGO" in 1957, and Coburn was one of his men. I'd love to see that, one day...
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crego
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Post by crego on Jun 2, 2009 0:39:09 GMT -5
A nice little Jules Verne movie, with a low budget, but lots of fun. If Vincent Price eats the scenery as madman Robur, Bronson is good as U.S. agent John Strock, ancestor to James T. West from TV show " WILD WILD WEST". AIP thought of making the character a hero of a sequel, but it didn't materialize. Even if they met years ago on " HOUSE OF WAX", Price couldn't stand Bronson's behavior and even refused talking about him on talk shows, when Bronson became a big star. Anyway " MASTER OF THE WORLD" is one of Bronson's best roles in the early sixties.
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crego
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Post by crego on Jun 2, 2009 0:28:43 GMT -5
On the set of "THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN", Bronson was introduced to german actor Horst Buchholz. [glow=red,2,300]BRONSON [/glow]: "Hello, Horse". [glow=red,2,300]BUCHHOLZ [/glow]: "No, it's Horst" [glow=red,2,300]BRONSON [/glow]: "I know".
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crego
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Post by crego on Jun 1, 2009 14:06:07 GMT -5
For years, and in every book or filmography about Bronson, "TEN NORTH FREDERICK" (1958) was listed as one of his films. Some even say he had a cameo in it, playing "a man", and that he did it because he was friends with star Gary Cooper. I saw the film recently, and Charles Bronson is definitely NOT in it, even in a small role. I spotted a bit part actor, in a scene with Stuart Whitman, who may look a little bit like Bronson. Maybe someone thought he recognized him, and the mistake spreaded from there ? Funny it lasted so long. IMDB finally took this title out of Bronson's film list.
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crego
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Post by crego on Jun 1, 2009 13:31:37 GMT -5
The most intriguing thing is that Bronson is listed in sixth position in "DRUM BEAT" credits, when he should have been second or third. Captain Jack is one of his most flamboyant performances.
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crego
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Post by crego on Jun 1, 2009 11:34:37 GMT -5
Another early Bronson film, "TENNESSEE CHAMP" has never been available on VHS or DVD. It's the story of a very religious young fighter (Dewey Martin), who believes he killed a thug (Bronson) in a fistfight on a boat. It stars Shelley Winters and Keenan Wynn, and I don't think a lot of Bronson fans have seen it.
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crego
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Post by crego on Jun 1, 2009 4:58:15 GMT -5
Bronson is unusual in this B WW2 film, as a street smart bookie, sent in Germany after the war. He looks like a muscular John Garfield, and has a very good scene in jail, talking about his miserable childhood. " WHEN HELL BROKE LOOSE" is not a good film, but Bronson's worth a look.
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crego
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Post by crego on May 31, 2009 12:26:56 GMT -5
He's very good in "RIDER ON THE RAIN", the way he calls Marlène Jobert "Love Love" is unforgettable.
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crego
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Post by crego on May 31, 2009 12:17:50 GMT -5
During the filming on location of "MISTER MAJESTYK", Bronson was having dinner with director Richard Fleischer. A man came at their table and invited Bronson at his golf club any time he wanted. Bronson replied : "Where I live in L.A. the back lawn of my home is part of a golf course. And you know what I do with that golf course ? I let my dog shit on it". End of conversation. This was related in Fleischer's book "JUST TELL ME WHEN TO CRY". Love it.
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crego
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Post by crego on May 31, 2009 12:08:23 GMT -5
Yes, but IMDB is the only one to mention Bronson's name in "FRIEND OF THE FAMILY". On CTVA you can see that it was "FIRESIDE THEATRE" first episode, shot in New York. Bronson lived in New York that year... No book, no interview ever mentioned this film, related to Bronson. His character's name is "Cooper" like Gary Cooper who played in Bronson's first film. So, it could be a joke.
Who knows ?
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crego
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Post by crego on May 31, 2009 7:27:28 GMT -5
No, it's not. I saw it on VHS a long time ago, in a bad Pan & Scan copy, like "GANG WAR" and "WHEN HELL BROKE LOOSE" two other films starring Bronson in 1958. "SHOWDOWN AT BOOTHILL" is the best of the lot.
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crego
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Post by crego on May 31, 2009 3:25:49 GMT -5
In 1958, Bronson made 4 films in wich he had the lead. The western " SHOWDOWN AT BOOTHILL", is one of the best. It's a low budget film, shot in B&W, but it gives Bronson an excellent role, as Luke, a bounty hunter, who has issues with his short stature. He calls "Tall man" all his opponents, before shooting them down ! Luke finds love in the person of a shy and lonely girl, and decides to seek redemption. It's the only film using Bronson's size as a dramatic element, and he gives a realistic and moving portrait of this complex antihero.
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crego
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Post by crego on May 30, 2009 4:12:54 GMT -5
Shot in 8 days by a young Roger Corman, "MACHINE GUN KELLY" is a very good gangster biopic, and gives Bronson one of his best roles. He is cast against type, as a supersticious coward, petrified at the sight of a coffin, or even a tattoo representing a skull. Manipulated by his girlfriend who gave him his nickname, Kelly fails at kidnapping, and let the cops arrest him, without resistance. Jimmy Cagney he is not. A little big movie.
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crego
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Post by crego on May 30, 2009 1:24:49 GMT -5
It was not his first time... In "VILLA RIDES" with Yul Brynner
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