LOVE AND BULLETS
US, 1979, 103 minutes, Colour.
Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Rod Steiger, Paul Koslo, Henry Silva, Strother Martin, Bradford Dillman, Michael V. Gazzo.
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg.
Love and Bullets is a Charles Bronson action adventure. It was one of many big-budget multi-starred films sponsored by Lord Lew Grade - which were interesting in planning and conception, but were generally flat and commonplace in execution. Charles Bronson is his usual self, he is supported by his wife, Jill Ireland. Rod Steiger enjoys himself in a scenery-chewing role as a Mafia chief. Henry Silva and Paul Koslo are about as dastardly villains. The scene is America, Phoenix Police Department, but soon moves to fine European locations. There is much action, violence. Direction is by Stuart Rosenberg, director of several fine action films including Paul Newman's Cool Hand Luke. Undemanding big-budgeted entertainment - which remains only average.
1. Audiences enjoying an action thriller? Police thrillers? American settings, European? The conception of the film - and the quality of its execution?
2. Colour photography? Phoenix and the Arizona locations? Europe? Use of location photography? Special effects especially for violence, explosions etc.? The musical score for atmosphere? Lalo Schifrin's style, the use of Tammy Wynette and 'Stand By Your Man'?
3. Audiences accepting the conventions of the police action adventure with the violent touch? American police films and television series in the '70s? Comparisons with this film? Better - the extension of the action to Europe? Mafia films of the '70s?
4. The film as a piece of Americana, the police in America, the influence of the Mafia and their violent treatment of police, the public? Hostages and witnesses? Gangsters escaping to Europe? The plausibility of the characters, the vengeance, the violence?
5. Charles Bronson as Charlie Congers? His work in Phoenix? His reaction to the explosion and the death of Mike Durant? His antagonism towards the mobster Joe Bomposa? The evil influence of Bomposa - Durant's girlfriend and the drug overdose? His relationship with the F.B.I.? His mission to Switzerland? The infiltrating into Bomposa's area? The F.B.I. agents and antagonism? Deaths? The contact with Lobo? The sadistic killing of Lobo? Congers escaping with Jackie? The trip? The pursuit? Congers attracted to Jackie - how credibly? Jackie's death? The death of Brickman in Geneva? The reaction in Phoenix about the violence in Europe? International repercussions? The irony of giving Bomposa Jackie's coffin - and its exploding and killing Bomposa and exploding the mansion? A Charles Bronson type?
6. Jackie Prewitt and her relationship with Bomposa, in hiding? Her witness value for the Senate? The F.B.I. interest? Her guards? Congers escaping with her? Pursuit and dangers? Her death? The irony of her coffin being used to destroy Bomposa?
7. Rod Steiger as Bomposa - a stylised presentation of the mobster? Relationship with Jackie? Hideout in Switzerland? Money and control? Violence? Henchmen? The pursuit of Jackie and Congers? His seeming to win - and the irony of his death?
8. The presentation of police chiefs, F.B.I. agents? Methods of detection, surveillance? Confrontations and death?
9. The portrait of mobster villains - ruthless bodyguards, sadistic killers, guards - and deals with the F.B.I.? An ugly picture of American gangsters?
10. The conventional material: confrontations. shoot-outs, pursuits? The originality of the film in its finale?
11. An entertaining enough presentation of police work, American crime and its international repercussions?
