WHEN HELL BROKE LOOSE

[crego]

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.

[chaney]

Just watched this again from an old VHS copy. Low-budget and not very good, but Bronson is interesting as a quick-fisted GI who is sent to war rather than jail back in the states. He has a couple of passable fight scenes, though the double used for him looks nothing like Charlie. Also wish Richard Jaeckel would have had a more substantial part. He and Charlie have about a 5 second fight at the end that may even be doubles considering the distance and angle the scene is shot from. Would like to have seen those two tough guys go at if for a minute or so, which might have redeemed the rest of the so-so film.

Bronson has a shirtless scene, and I recall a still-shot of him from Jerry Vermilye's book THE FILMS OF CHARLES BRONSON that showed off a grape-fruit size bicep that used to induce awe when I was a boy.