MURPHY'S LAW

US, 1986, 100 minutes, Colour.
Charles Bronson, Kathleen Wilhoite, Carrie Snodgress, Robert F. Lyons, Richard Romanus, Angel Tompkins, Lawrence Tierney.
Directed by J. Lee Thompson.

Murphy's Law is one of many Charles Bronson vigilante cop thrillers, made towards the end of his career as a star. In the early '80s he appeared in a number of similar films from Death Wish II and III to Ten Minutes to Midnight, The Evil That Men Do, The Assassination. It was directed by J. Lee Thompson who directed a number of these Bronson vehicles. The supporting cast is quite strong, especially Kathleen Wilhoite as the wisecracking Arabella McGee? and includes Carrie Snodgress as the villain.

The film is in the vein of the vigilante cop films, more violent than most and relying on audience response to Charles Bronson. The film was co-produced by his wife Jill Ireland.

1. The impact of this kind of police thriller? Police violence? The vigilante police? The burnt-out police? Mafia and conspiracies? A Charles Bronson vehicle?

2. The atmosphere of Los Angeles, the city, the use of light and darkness, sleazy atmospheres, crime? Musical score and mood?

3. The title and its ironic application? Murphy rectifying the law?

4. The introduction to Murphy: Charles Bronson and his style, as a person, the car, Arabella, the confrontation with Frank Vincenzo, the deaths and Tony Vincenzo? The phone calls from Joan Freeman? Murphy's relationship with his wife? The information from the computers? The tracking down of the crimes? The final confrontation with Joan? The death of his wife and her lover? The violence with Arabella? The irony in the hospital - a happy ending? Action, police thriller, justice?

5. Joan Freeman and her background, coming out of prison, the madness, the return, the various murders, tracking those she wanted to kill, the violence of their deaths, seduction, taunting? The phone calls to Murphy? The build-up to the finale, the fight, her death?

6. Arabella and her cheekiness, stealing, her bad mouth, helping Murphy, becoming his buddy, involved in the final confrontation?

7. Frank Vincenzo, his empire, violence, sexuality, Tony, the deaths, crime, the shoot-out?

8. The police, suspicions, action? Computers? Ed Reineke and his suspicions?

9. The victims of Joan Freeman? Justice and revenge?

10. The ugliness of the police thriller, realism, entertainment? Context? Issues of law and order and responsibility?