The Mechanic (1972)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Michael Winner

Writers:

Lewis John Carlino (screenplay)
Lewis John Carlino (story)

Release Date:

14 December 1972 (West Germany)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

Clean. Fast. Professional.

Plot:

An aging hitman befriends a young man who wants to be a professional killer. Eventually it becomes clear that someone has betrayed them.

Plot Keywords:

Hitman | Older Man Younger Man | Timebomb | Trap | Prostitute

Cast

Charles Bronson	...	Arthur Bishop
Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Steve McKenna
Keenan Wynn	...	Harry McKenna ['Big Harry']
Jill Ireland	...	The Girl
Linda Ridgeway	...	Louise, Steve McKenna's Girlfriend
Frank DeKova	...	The Man
James Davidson	...	Intern
Lindsay Crosby	...	Policeman
Steve Cory	...	Messenger
Tak Kubota	...	Yamoto (as Takayuki Kubota)
Patrick O'Moore	...	Old Man
Martin Gordon	...	American Tourist
Celeste Yarnall	...	The Mark's Girl
Athena Lorde	...	Old Woman
Alison Rose	...	Young Girl

Also Known As:

Killer of Killers

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 | UK:15 (2004) (uncut) | UK:15 (1988) (cut) | UK:AA (1972) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | USA:PG (Certificate #23380)

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Wax Museum - 6767 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Chartoff-Winkler Productions

Trivia:

Cliff Robertson was originally cast in the lead role.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the driver of the Chicken Lickin truck gets out, the door closes. In the next shot, Steve is seen closing the same door.

Quotes:

Arthur Bishop: [When Arthur is explaining to Steve about the rules in the martial art scene] They won't hit each other or one of them would dead and thats against the law.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Mach 2 (2001)

A must see for people who love "mechanics"

Another classic Bronson movie and not to be missed. This time Charles is Arthur Bishop, a merciless, unfeeling, uncaring and strictly by the book assassin who is the standard by which all other professional killers are measured. Meticulous to a fault and as calculatingly efficient as can be, Bishop systematically completes his missions and returns to his mansion each night. Soon after eliminating one of his old friends, he becomes attached to the dead man's young and impertinent son Steve (John Michael Vincent), which quickly progresses from friendship to business relationship. Bishop agrees to mentor Steve in the tricks of the trade as an "associate" and after working with him he is free to do as he pleases. However, Bishop quickly discovers that is apt pupil is more nefarious than he appears as Steve has already accepted a contract on Bishop's life. But what Arthur doesn't realize yet is "the organization" to which Bishop belongs now wants him eliminated and will stop at nothing to achieve this goal. Bishop has broken a rule in taking Steve under his wing without first getting approval of "The Man" and is therefore marked for death. This film is filled with action, intrigue, and of course suspense as you continue to wonder the whole time which "mechanic" is gonna get his car fixed first. The ending is quite unpredictable for a 70's Bronson movie but enjoyable to the last second. Also features a cameo by Bronson's late wife Jill Ireland. One of Charles Bronson's better accomplishments on the silver screen I sure was impressed.