Charles Bronson as a Lead Actor
Bronson’s Career in Europe and the United States from 1968 to 1974
Nov 3, 2009
Mired in poverty from childhood, Bronson used the American GI Bill to pursue studies in art and theater. The Pennsylvania native was first interested in set design, but quickly switched to acting in a Philadelphia theater troupe. He eventually drew notice from studio recruiters and worked his way into major film productions.
Support from Alain Delon
By the end of 1968, Bronson was well-known as a supporting actor. His résumé included The Magnificent Seven (1960), Kid Galahad (1962, with Elvis Presley) as a boxing trainer, The Great Escape (1963), and The Dirty Dozen (1967) besides many appearances on television.
Though he held a starring role in the ABC drama series Man with a Camera for 29 episodes, leading Hollywood film roles were elusive. This would change after the European film industry offered him a prominent place.
Machine-Gun Kelly, a Roger Corman-directed film with Bronson in his first starring role, became widely known in Europe despite its eight-day shooting schedule and tight budget. One of its admirers was French film star Alain Delon, who asked for Bronson to take the second lead of Adieu l’ami (Farewell, Friend) in 1968. Until this time, Bronson was averse to working in European productions; but friends such as his agent Paul Kohner and second wife Jill Ireland believed that it would increase his exposure.
A Star in Europe
Adieu l’ami pairs Bronson and Delon as veterans of the French Foreign Legion who stumble upon each other while cracking a bank vault. The film, directed by Jean Herman, was a major success in foreign (i.e., non-American) territories; it grossed $6 million in France alone and Bronson became widely known overseas. A string of international co-productions followed that would make him a box office superstar.
He finally accepted a Western role from Italian director Sergio Leone, appearing as the Man with the Harmonica in Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) after turning down an offer to appear in Fistful of Dollars, the title made famous by Clint Eastwood. Bronson remained with European filmmakers until 1971, starring in Rider on the Rain, Violent City, Red Sun, and The Valachi Papers, all international co-productions that raked in substantial earnings.
Return to America
It was in 1971 that Bronson was signed to Chato’s Land as a half-breed Apache who kills a White man in self-defense. The film, a Western that alludes to the conflict in Vietnam, was produced and directed by Michael Winner, who became an important name in Bronson’s career.
After filming Chato’s Land, Bronson followed Winner to The Mechanic (1972) and The Stone Killer (1973). All three films enjoyed major Hollywood distribution, reestablishing Bronson’s presence in the United States.
In 1974, Winner sold the movie adaptation of an obscure novel called Death Wish to Dino DeLaurentiis, the Italian film producer who was looking to expand his company in America. Death Wish was based on a novel by Brian Garfield that addresses vigilantism in an age of rampant crime.
The Death Wish screenplay, originally written by Wendell Mayes, changed hands several times due to financing issues and rejection by film companies and actors alike. With backing from DeLaurentiis and Winner, Bronson took on a role of great controversy that was to leave his mark on film and social history.
Sources
'Charles Bronson.' IMDB web site, 1990-2009.
Davidson, Bill. 'The American Discovery of Charles Bronson.' Lakeland, FL: The Ledger, September 22, 1974 [via Internet].
Severo, Richard. 'Charles Bronson, 81, Dies; Muscular Movie Tough Guy.' New York, NY: The New York Times, September 1, 2003 [via Internet, with corrections].
Talbot, Paul. Bronson's Loose!: The Making of the Death Wish Films. New York, NY: iUniverse, 2006.
Winner, Michael. Winner Takes All. London, England: Robson Books, 2004.
 |
