When I was in school, I remember playing truant and bunking school to go over to the Rex cinema in Mumbai (now defunct) to see a movie with Charles Bronson. If I remember correctly it was Guns for San Sebastian in which he co-starred with Anthony Quinn, another great star. Seeing Bronson in the role of a tough man, made him my hero and I saw almost all his movies, even those that were released a decade earlier in re-runs like The Magnificent Seven and the Great Escape.
The Macho Star
Charles Bronson certainly had a following in India, where
One series of films that won him popular acclaim was the Death Wish series. The last of which he acted in 1995.He stopped acting after this movie as ill health overtook him. He was also a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. In all five Death Wish movies, were churned out and they brought to the fore a man as tough as nails: he was a real American hero.
Bronson at the Top
Bronson’s place in the sun was at its
Bronson died in 2003 at the age of 82. But he left behind a legacy that will be hard to match, particularly in the genre of western and tough man's roles.
Last Word
To back up his tough man image, Bronson also supported a muscular body. Perhaps, his years as a coal miner helped form his physique after his father died when he was only 10. One other aspect of Bronson’s life was his family, which took preponderance over anything else. Married to Jill Ireland for 22 years until her death in 1990, he had a special affection for her and starred in 14 movies with her in the lead.
Charles Bronson will be remembered as a star that brought justice to roles that demanded a hero with a tough macho image. He was a star with a difference and deserves a niche of his own.
