crego
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Post by crego on May 30, 2009 1:12:16 GMT -5
Inspired by "LE SAMOURAÏ" ? I don't know... Well, both films are about free lance hitmen named "Jeff" who have problems with their bosses, but that's about it. "LE SAMOURAÏ" is an arty film noir with almost no action at all, at "VIOLENT CITY" is a "spaghetti thriller" with car chases, naked girls. [glow=red,2,300]Bronson on the "VIOLENT CITY" italian set, arguing with director Sollima.[/glow]
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crego
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Post by crego on May 29, 2009 11:37:34 GMT -5
Probably the most unusual film of Bronson's career. Shot in London, by " LETHAL WEAPON" director Donner, " TWINKY" is a love story between a 38 years old porn novelist (48 years old Bronson !) and a brit teenager (Susan George). It's a comedy, with nice songs, and Bronson looks like a fish out of the water. He did this film just after " ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST", and it's a huge contrast. It has no aged very well, but we'd like to see a decent DVD of " TWINKY" (" LOLA" in the U.S.), because all the existing editions are awful. Walter Lassally, good director of photography deserves better.
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crego
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Post by crego on May 29, 2009 10:44:57 GMT -5
Actors who worked with him, said he was always doing push ups and squeezed a tennis ball in his fist, between takes. Bronson's female partners talked about the matter, like Liv Ullmann, Michèle Mercier, Claudia Cardinale. Director Enzo Castellari who met Bronson for a project in Italy, said he was very preoccupied with his own muscles.
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crego
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Post by crego on May 29, 2009 10:03:43 GMT -5
Yes, pure Bronson ! In the DVD extras, director Sollima admits he wanted a younger actor to play Jeff (Jon Voight), but he didn't change the dialogue : Savalas, who was two years YOUNGER than Bronson, plays a friend of his father's ! But "VIOLENT CITY" is a good thriller, like an italian ancestor to John Woo's "THE KILLER".
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crego
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Post by crego on May 29, 2009 8:42:26 GMT -5
I agree, and one of Bronson's best, even if he doesn't appear very much in it, and have almost no lines at all. The mustache doesn't look very "apache" though, but it's okay. Here he is, about to have a rattle-snake for lunch...
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crego
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Post by crego on May 29, 2009 8:35:42 GMT -5
It's not a great movie, but Bronson looks great in it. In fact, it's not really HIM, but his biceps that steal the show ! His wardrobe is the same during the whole film : a black t-shirt, to make sure you don't miss the arms. He makes a strange couple with "PERSONA" star Liv Ullmann, but international coproductions have their charm.
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crego
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Post by crego on May 29, 2009 8:20:15 GMT -5
I love "ADIEU L'AMI", but I think as european Bronson movies go, "RIDER ON THE RAIN" is even better. Same writer, but a better director, an unusual love story with Marlène Jobert, and lots of suspense. I heard it was Jim Morrison's favorite film...
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crego
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Post by crego on May 29, 2009 2:07:09 GMT -5
Let's keep our eyes opened...
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crego
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Telefon
May 29, 2009 1:50:04 GMT -5
Post by crego on May 29, 2009 1:50:04 GMT -5
Too bad Bronson didn't get along with Don Siegel (read the director's book "A SIEGEL FILM"), because they would've made a great team. Better I think than the one he formed with J. Lee-Thompson... A nice picture from "TELEFON", but slightly out of focus.
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crego
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Post by crego on May 29, 2009 1:44:33 GMT -5
"HARD TIMES" were his best fights allright. But he had intersting ones too with George Hamilton in "A THUNDER OF DRUMS", in the french film "ADIEU L'AMI" (with Alain Delon), "RED SUN" (a funny one against Toshiro Mifune), and on TV in "THE VIRGINIAN" and "HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL" or "BONANZA" (a good one with Michael Landon).
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crego
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Telefon
May 28, 2009 12:55:22 GMT -5
Post by crego on May 28, 2009 12:55:22 GMT -5
"TELEFON" has just been issued on DVD, in a double bill with "ST. IVES". It's a nice spy flick, in "THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE" mood, but the picture - filmed in long lenses - is often out of focus and soft, and Bronson is not the center of the film. He makes a nice couple with beautiful Lee Remick, though and Lalo Schifrin's score is great.
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crego
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Post by crego on May 28, 2009 12:30:50 GMT -5
I read somewhere, that a "DRUM BEAT" DVD was anounced by Warner. Any recent news ?
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crego
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Post by crego on May 28, 2009 12:07:13 GMT -5
And here is the great french poster of the film.
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crego
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Post by crego on May 28, 2009 10:56:29 GMT -5
Harmonica is THE best role of his entire career. No doubt. But he was really good in "DRUM BEAT", "MACHINE GUN KELLY", "HARD TIMES" and "THE MECHANIC", too. But "ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST" gave Bronson his best role with the best director. So...
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crego
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Post by crego on May 28, 2009 3:23:12 GMT -5
They apparently stopped the "ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS" on DVD collections. And it's too bad for Bronson fans, because he was excellent in the "THE WOMAN WHO WANTED TO LIVE" episode, as exhausted escapee Ray Bardon, who kidnaps Lola Albright. The two others episodes Bronson made in the fifties are available, and very good too (especially "THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN"), but in my opinion Bardon is one of his best TV works.
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