Charles Bronson gives a splendidly steely and stoical performance as Arthur Bishop, a merciless and meticulous, but stressed-out aging veteran hit-man who lives by his own strict personal moral code. Cocky eager beaver Steve McKenna (excellently played by Jan-Michael Vincent) befriends Bishop. Bishop teaches McKenna the tricks of his lethal trade. But does McKenna have some other nefarious secret agenda concerning Bishop? Tautly directed in a supremely mean'n'lean stripped-down no-nonsense style by Michael ("Death Wish") Winner, with a crafty and ingenious script by Lewis John Carlino, slick cinematography by Robert H. Kline, a superbly shivery'n'spooky score by Jerry Fielding, and several stirring slam-bang action set pieces, this fine film certainly makes the grade as a very tense, exciting and suspenseful crime thriller. Popping up in nifty minor roles are Keenan Wynn as a crusty mob capo and Jill Ireland as an alluring prostitute. From its bravura laconic, virtually wordless first fifteen minutes to its startling double whammy surprise twist ending, this superior favorite never makes a single false step and delivers the immensely satisfying goods with exceptional skill and efficiency.
Plot summary
Arthur Bishop is a veteran hit man who, owing to his penchant for making his targets' deaths seem like accidents, thinks himself an artist. It's made him very rich, but as he hits middle age, he's so depressed and lonely that he takes on one of his victim's sons, Steve McKenna, as his apprentice. Arthur puts him through a rigorous training period and brings him on several hits. As Steven improves, Arthur worries that he'll discover who killed his father.
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November 24, 2014 at 01:55 PM
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Movie Reviews
One of Charles Bronson's best 70's action thrillers
I liked the way this ended...I am sure many fans didn't.
This is the original version of "The Mechanic" and I have not seen the remake....mostly because I am not a big fan of remakes. I do know the remake has a different ending
The film follows the exploits of Arthur Bishop (Charles Bronson), a hired killer or 'mechanic'. Much of the film just shows the complex way that Bishop plans and executes the killings...as if his actions as works of art. And, in most cases he wants to make these deaths look like accidents. But this very cold and calculating killer lets his guard down a bit when he takes a young apprentice under his wing. Steven McKenna (Jan-Michael Vincent) is actually the son of one of Bishop's contracts...and like Bishop, Steven seems to have little conscience or remorse. To see where all this is headed, see the film.
Considering the plot, it isn't very surprising that is a violent action film. However, the violence wasn't generally gratuitous and the plot quite exciting. Not Bronson's best, but among his best...though I am pretty sure many will hate the downbeat ending. I actually thought the ending was great.
Charles Bronson at his Charles Bronsoniest
The first 15 minutes has no dialog whatsoever. Arthur Bishop (Charles Bronson) is a hired killer and we see him at work as he stalks his target for the opening of the movie. He is the iconic lone gunman. He ends up with a young protégé Steve McKenna (Jan-Michael Vincent). Jill Ireland plays a call girl.
The action is a cross between gritty brutality and unlikely Bond action. It's somewhat watchable. There's enough explosions to keep us entertained. It's violent but it doesn't have a viewpoint like Death Wish. If you're a Charles Bronson Death Wish fan, you'll like this. Or then again, maybe you're a Jan-Michael Vincent fan.