MovieChat Forums > Act of Vengeance (1986) Discussion > This movie meant a lot to Bronson

This movie meant a lot to Bronson

posted 14 years ago by bneal123
14 replies | jump to latest

I'm sure the story connected with Charlie and brought up emotions that allowed him to give such a great performance. Both him and Joseph Yablonski grew up during the depression in Western Pennsylvania, worked in coal mines, and fathers died as a result of mining. Charlie saw first hand corruption from the mining companies by growing up in Ehrenfield, Pennsylvania. Everything was owned by the company and it was very similar to serfdom. Charlie always wanted to make a bio movie of his life and this is the closest he ever got.

[–] WarpedRecord 14 years ago

I didn't realize Bronson had such a personal connection to mining and that his father had died as a result, but it doesn't surprise me. This film does look like a labor of love on his part.

This is a solid drama, and though I don't know much about the mining industry, it feels very honest. Bronson had every right to be proud of his work here, and it's too bad he didn't get more roles like this outside of the action genre (although he was excellent in those). It's also a pity this this film is not better known.

[–] filmscholar35 13 years ago

I remember around the time this film first aired, it was an HBO Original TV movie, in February of 1986, Bronson was interviewed about it. He said he would like to do more straight-up, dramatic acting roles. Sadly, only a couple of people took him up on that after this film. Sean Penn gave him a wonderful little character part in "The Indian Runner", he played a reporter in the family TV-movie remake, "Yes, Virginia, There IS a Santa Claus", and he did solid made-for cable adaptation of "The Sea Wolf" with Christopher Reeve. Other than that, it was mainly those action cop, direct to video movies that took up most of the rest of his career.

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

Bronson is terrific in "The Indian Runner," but the role gives only a glimpse of his talent as a dramatic actor. I'm glad he had "Act of Vengeance" as a document to his possibilities to a side of his career that never was developed.

His action films are irresistibly entertaining, but I wish he had done more drama. Unlike many action stars, Bronson could easily have crossed over to drama -- and even comedy, I believe.

[–] filmscholar35 13 years ago

Well, way earlier on, he had some dramatic work. He became the action guy after "Once Upon a Time in the West", really. You should see him in "This Property is Condemned", from 1966. He is there with Natalie Wood and Robert Redford, from a script by Francis Coppola, directed by Sydney Pollack.

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

I have seen "This Property Is Condemned," and I remember him in it. I also saw him in Vincent Price's "House of Wax" and Elvis Presley's "Kid Galahad," though as I recall, he had barely if any speaking parts in those films. It looks like almost all of his early films were Westerns.

A lot of stars "graduate" from action films in their later years, but Bronson kept making them. He was certainly a crowd-pleaser until the end and completely believable in the roles. It's just too bad they had to end, but that's life (or, rather, death).

[–] filmscholar35 13 years ago

Yeah, there aren't many actors who are just as convincing as a tough cop well into their 70s, but you never heard anyone say Bronson was too old. He was still a bad ass.

I wonder though how many of those yesteryear stars who got , or stayed, famous well into their years really would today have that opportunity. Ageism is really super bad now. Today, they think you're over the hill after about 40 for guys, and 30 for women.

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

Indeed. Bronson didn't make "Death Wish" until he was well into his 50s, and that was when most audiences discovered him. The idea of an actor beginning a crucial point in their career at that age – even for men – is unheard of today.

Every day this site posts "celebrity" news flashes for people I've never heard of and, frankly, have no interest in. Lots of upstarts and "reality"-show contestants. The nature of celebrity has changed, and not for the better.

Bronson paid his dues with decades of solid performances, and he reaped his rewards fairly late in his career because he persevered and the studios gave him a chance. Good for him. Good for us. Not so good for today's actors of a certain age, or their fans.

[–] filmscholar35 13 years ago

Exactly. Bronson didn't really become an A-List leading man in Hollywood until "Death Wish", when he was 53 years old. He was one of the biggest action macho leading men for the next 15 years or so. He did a lot of TV work in his last decade.

For that matter, Clint Eastwood didn't even start to get that big (other than Rawhide on TV early on) in Europe until his mid-30s, and in America until his late 30s. He took off after the Leone spaghetti westerns. He was 38 by the time he did "Coogan's Bluff". He's STILL around. But his biggest era of commercial success as an action leading man was from the late 60s until the early 90s (or, his late 30s until his early 60s). Again, today an action hero guy would be nearing the end of his career around 38-40, not JUST starting it.

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

Very well said. Clint Eastwood is a real piece of Americana, enduring beyond the spaghetti Westerns into his action phase and, today, one of our most important directors. Age and experience are assets, not liabilities. I also found it very sweet that his mother was such a major presence in his life and at award shows until she passed away five years ago.

[–] loulou1992 13 years ago

Eh, actually Stallone 65 and still around as action star, bruce willis still knocking about, Arnold will come back with something. A real action star should really be early 40's, thats what i'm brought up on. I can not stand Matt Damon doing these action films, such a wanna be. Never will be no matter how hard he trys, no matter what is grosses will he ever follow the lead of People such as Bronson, Eastwood, Sly , Arnold. He people like Kurt Russell and Scoot Glenn are better.

Also look around, Act of Vengeance is on dvd. DVD MOVIE CLASSICS

[–] bek-12 12 years ago

I think you guys must be young. Bronson made a name for himself far before the Death Wish series.

[–] loulou1992 12 years ago

yes i am young but i admire Bronson for who he was and the actor he was. And yes he was a big name before death wish. Farewell Friend put him there as he's own actor, before that a very good character actor

[–] MWallace77 12 years ago

Keanu Reeves is a great action star, in fact I think he is probably the best of his generation.

[–] nmc-7 10 years ago

I guess Charlie & I got a lot more in common, I am 30+ year coal miner in same area.
I remember when Yablonski was murdered. That was a very hotly contested UMWA election.