Mr. Majestyk (1974) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error A melon farmer battles organized crime and a hit man who wants to kill him. Director: a list of 46 titles created 14 Apr 2011 a list of 22 titles created 12 Nov 2012 a list of 38 titles created 19 Dec 2013 a list of 24 titles created 27 Jul 2014 a list of 31 titles created 28 Jan 2015 Search for " Mr. Majestyk " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. An aging hitman befriends a young man who wants to be a professional killer. Eventually it becomes clear that someone has betrayed them.

Director: Michael Winner John Deakin is being transported, as a prisoner, on a train with supplies and medicine to Fort Humboldt, Nevada. Director: Tom Gries In 1931 Canada, Yukon trapper Johnson has a feud with a dog owner who later retaliates by publicly accusing Johnson of murder and thus triggering a police manhunt in the wilderness. Director: Peter R. Hunt The adventures of a drifter turned illegal prize-fighter during the Depression Era in New Orleans. Director: Walter Hill A Los Angeles detective is sent to New York where he must solve a case involving an old Sicilian Mafia family feud. Director: Michael Winner A professional killer comes out ot retirement to investigate and avenge the brutal murder of an old friend. Director: J. Lee Thompson After Pardon Chato, a mestizo, kills a US marshal in self-defense, a posse pursues him, but as the white volunteers advance deep in Indian territory they become more prey than hunters, ... See full summary » Director: Michael Winner A bush pilot is hired for $50,000 to go to Mexico to free an innocent prisoner.

Director: Tom Gries A New York City architect becomes a one-man vigilante squad after his wife is murdered by street punks in which he randomly goes out and kills would-be muggers on the mean streets after dark. Director: Michael Winner Abner Procane, top L.A. burglar, finds that somebody stole his plans for next ambitious heist. He hires Raymond St. Ives, crime books writer, to negotiate the return of those documents. Director: J. Lee Thompson A LAPD detective is on the trail of a very handsome young man who had been seducing and slashing many young women to death. Director: J. Lee Thompson Architect Paul Kersey once again becomes a vigilante when he tries to find the five street punks who murdered his daughter and housekeeper, this time on the dark streets of Los Angeles. Director: Michael Winner Edit Storyline Vietnam veteran Vince Majestyk just wants to grow his watermelons and live in peace on his farm. But the local mob boss has different ideas. When his workers are threatened Mr. Majestyk decides to lend them a hand but then the wrath of the mob is turned onto Mr. Majestyk himself. The poor mobsters don't stand a chance.

Written by Steve Crook <steve@brainstorm.co.uk> He didn't want to be hero... until the day they pushed him too far. See more » Genres: 17 July 1974 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Das Gesetz bin ich See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia The main villain's name in this film is Frank Renda. Frank Renda is also the name of the main villain in Elmore Leonard's earlier Western novel, Escape From Five Shadows. See more » Goofs Just prior to the big chase in which the Ford truck does all of the big jumps, Majestyk pulls the truck into the driveway and parks in front of the house. He then unhooks the trailer and leaves it behind the truck. When he runs out of the house and jumps into the back of the truck as the woman drives it away, the truck is facing the other direction and the trailer is not in sight. See more » Quotes Bobby Kopas : It ain't sunk into that thick brain of yours yet. See, everything goes a lot easier and a lot less trouble when you're doing business with me. You understand what I'm talking about?

Vince Majestyk : You make sounds like you're a mean little ass-kicker... only I ain't convinced. You keep talking and I'm gonna take your head off. Mr. Majestyk (1974) YIFY - Download Movie TORRENT - YTS Reviewed by bkoganbing 8 / 10 "He Was Really Trying To Kill Me" Mr. Majestyk is one of my favorite Charles Bronson action films. The plot which is a bit complex for an action film does not get in the way of any of the action. By the way Bronson whose real name was Buckinski must have been happy to play a person of Polish ancestry in this one, I believe it is one of the few times he did. Bronson is Vincent Majestyk former army ranger who is now running a watermelon ranch. He's being squeezed by time because he needs to get his melons picked and to market in a matter of days and a local strong arm guy played by Paul Koslo tries to muscle him into hiring his crew. Big mistake for Koslo, but not right then because he has sheriff Frank Maxwell arrest Bronson.

While in jail Bronson also runs afoul of big time hit man Al Lettieri and when Lettieri finally escapes he's out to get him. Bronson's willing to live and let live, but Lettieri crowds him and he's not given a choice. So he settles matters in the usual Bronson way. Lettieri was really coming into his own during the early Seventies with villainous roles in The Godfather, The Getaway, and McQ. A year later the cinema lost him, a real tragedy because he was superb in any part he played. Two women figure prominently in the proceedings. Linda Cristal who is an organizer for the United Farm Workers who Bronson aids and she in turn becomes pretty valuable to him. The second is Lee Purcell who plays a more modern version of a gangster moll from the Thirties. Over 30 years since I first saw Mr. Majestyk in the theater and I still love the way Bronson turns from the hunted to the hunter. Reviewed by Righty-Sock ( [email protected] ) 8 / 10 Bronson, an action-violence king!

Like Clint Eastwood, Bronson never had real success until he went to Europe in 1968... Then he hit, and hit big... In one year he becomes a star, and an action-violence king... Bronson has a strong Slavic face, invisible slit eyes, a gently menacing smile-something like Jack Palance, but more humane... Social themes are not the usual stuff of Bronson films, but in 'Mr. Majestyk,' he looks tough, yet manages to convey a sympathetic streak in the character he portrays... He stars as a cool fighting loner who finds his efforts far to be carried out, and solves his problems with muscle and firearms - this time a formidable shotgun.. Vince Majestyk, a Colorado melon grower who haven't clipped his melons yet, gets trouble from a local racist labor racketeer Paul Koslo (Bobby Kopas) who attempts to force him to do business with him, using his crew rather than the hand-picked Chicano migrants he employed... Majestyk straight advise to the unscrupulous punk is clear: Not to interfere... In this moment, Richard Fleisher's film looks as an action picture about labor and race troubles....

But the script twists it on throwing our genuine working man in prison on false charges... Accidentally in the same jail is gangster Frank Renda (Al Lettieri). When Renda's mafia associates stage a breakout for their boss, Majestyk seizes Frank and frustrates their carefully-schemed plan... He then offers to exchange the mafia thug for his own freedom... However, his own plan is ruined when Frank escapes from him, promising bloody revenge... Al Lettieri, the ruthless hoodlum, is probably best known as Solozzo in "The Godfather," and as a loan shark in 'Rocky.' Dragging along with Bronson, while he battles the mafia and cops, is Linda Cristal (Nancy Chavez), the beautiful Labor Organizer who provides all the necessary help to our hero... Nancy is quite clear with her Latin accent: 'If you want to go to bed with me, why don't you say so?' If you like to watch the machine-gun slaughter of hundreds of defenseless watermelons, this is the movie to watch...

Reviewed by Mika Pykäläaho ( [email protected] ) 5 / 10 Two words: Bronson rules Why do I love Charles Bronson when he is at his best? "Mr. Majestyk" alone gives about 103 minutes of good reason to do so. It's an excellent proof that Bronson really was the biggest action stars of cinema history and alongside with terrific classics like "Once upon a time in the west", "The Mechanic" and "Death wish" this is the film Bronson lovers will remember him by. I love everything about this movie. I love the inventive action scenes, silly yet exciting story, the amusing baddies, Charles Bernstein's cool score and 53 year old Bronson's irresistible performance as the toughest melon farmer the world has ever seen. If you call yourself a Bronson fan and you haven't seen this you have to do something about it immediately or you can't watch yourself in a mirror. Download Mr. Majestyk (1974) YIFY Torrent for 1080p mp4 movie in yify-torrent.org Screenshots (click to view large image) The Reviews for Mr.

Majestyk (1974) 1080p "You make sounds like your a mean little a** kicker..." Reviewed byRyan McNabbVote: 9/10 This is great stuff, if not perfect. Charles Bronson gives a great performance here as the wronged man out for justice, which is a standard Elmore Leonard set-piece. (See "Valdez is Coming" and "Hombre".) But I never get tired of these situations as he writes them, because the stories are all unique, thrilling, well told, and (if you stretch a little) believable. Majestyk is a simple guy who just wants to get his melon crop in, but he steps on some toes, winds up in the drunk tank, and then accidentally foils a ham handed attempt to break a big time criminal out of the same jail. Well, he's too much for any of them when the crap hits the fan, and of course he can't be bought off. He just wants to get his melons in, remember? One thing leads to another, the criminals come to get him, and you can fill in the blanks from there.

But it isn't all cut and paste; there is some really good story telling here and bravura performances by the man who plays the main criminal. (His hame escapes me, but he was also the bad guy in "The Getaway".) When things get hot and heavy, he looks at Majestyk with grudging admiration and says "You know something? You move, melon picker. You don't say much...but you move!" True fact, and so does this movie, which is also the home of one of the two or three best car chases on film, along with "Bullitt", although this time it isn't a Mustang, but a good old Ford F-150. What could be more perfect? Also a nice job by the man who plays the worthless little weasel wannabe crook...you just want to slap him. Neither side likes him worth a flip. Great fun. "He Was Really Trying To Kill Me" Reviewed bybkoganbingVote: 8/10 Mr. Majestyk is one of my favorite Charles Bronson action films. The plot which is a bit complex for an action film does not get in the way of any of the action.

By the way Bronson whose real name was Buckinski must have been happy to play a person of Polish ancestry in this one, I believe it is one of the few times he did. Bronson is Vincent Majestyk former army ranger who is now running a watermelon ranch. He's being squeezed by time because he needs to get his melons picked and to market in a matter of days and a local strong arm guy played by Paul Koslo tries to muscle him into hiring his crew. Big mistake for Koslo, but not right then because he has sheriff Frank Maxwell arrest Bronson. While in jail Bronson also runs afoul of big time hit man Al Lettieri and when Lettieri finally escapes he's out to get him. Bronson's willing to live and let live, but Lettieri crowds him and he's not given a choice. So he settles matters in the usual Bronson way. Lettieri was really coming into his own during the early Seventies with villainous roles in The Godfather, The Getaway, and McQ. A year later the cinema lost him, a real tragedy because he was superb in any part he played. Two women figure prominently in the proceedings.

Linda Cristal who is an organizer for the United Farm Workers who Bronson aids and she in turn becomes pretty valuable to him. The second is Lee Purcell who plays a more modern version of a gangster moll from the Thirties. Over 30 years since I first saw Mr. Majestyk in the theater and I still love the way Bronson turns from the hunted to the hunter. Bronson, an action-violence king! Reviewed byRighty-Sock ( [email protected] )Vote: 8/10 Like Clint Eastwood, Bronson never had real success until he went to Europe in 1968... Then he hit, and hit big... In one year he becomes a star, and an action-violence king... Bronson has a strong Slavic face, invisible slit eyes, a gently menacing smile-something like Jack Palance, but more humane... Social themes are not the usual stuff of Bronson films, but in 'Mr. Majestyk,' he looks tough, yet manages to convey a sympathetic streak in the character he portrays...

He stars as a cool fighting loner who finds his efforts far to be carried out, and solves his problems with muscle and firearms - this time a formidable shotgun.. Vince Majestyk, a Colorado melon grower who haven't clipped his melons yet, gets trouble from a local racist labor racketeer Paul Koslo (Bobby Kopas) who attempts to force him to do business with him, using his crew rather than the hand-picked Chicano migrants he employed... Majestyk straight advise to the unscrupulous punk is clear: Not to interfere... In this moment, Richard Fleisher's film looks as an action picture about labor and race troubles.... But the script twists it on throwing our genuine working man in prison on false charges... Accidentally in the same jail is gangster Frank Renda (Al Lettieri). When Renda's mafia associates stage a breakout for their boss, Majestyk seizes Frank and frustrates their carefully-schemed plan... He then offers to exchange the mafia thug for his own freedom... However, his own plan is ruined when Frank escapes from him, promising bloody revenge...

Al Lettieri, the ruthless hoodlum, is probably best known as Solozzo in "The Godfather," and as a loan shark in 'Rocky.' Dragging along with Bronson, while he battles the mafia and cops, is Linda Cristal (Nancy Chavez), the beautiful Labor Organizer who provides all the necessary help to our hero... Nancy is quite clear with her Latin accent: 'If you want to go to bed with me, why don't you say so?' If you like to watch the machine-gun slaughter of hundreds of defenseless watermelons, this is the movie to watch... The Plot Summary for Mr. Majestyk (1974) 1080p Vietnam veteran Vince Majestyk just wants to grow his watermelons and live in peace on his farm. But the local mob boss has different ideas. When his workers are threatened Mr. Majestyk decides to lend them a hand but then the wrath of the mob is turned onto Mr. Majestyk himself. The poor mobsters don't stand a chance. Director & Cast for Mr.

Majestyk (1974) 1080p Blu-ray B - United Kingdom - Signal One Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Paul Lewis (7th January 2016). The Film Mr Majestyk (Richard Fleischer, 1974) Originally intended as a vehicle for Clint Eastwood, following writer Elmore Leonard ï¿½s earlier collaboration with Eastwood on John Sturgesï¿½ Western Joe Kidd (1972), Mr Majestyk ( Richard Fleischer , 1974) was written by Leonard; reversing the usual book-to-film process, Leonard adapted his script into a novella, published the in the same year as the filmï¿½s release, which reads more like an extended film treatment in the manner of Graham Greeneï¿½s The Third Man (published in 1950). After writing the script for Mr Majestyk, Elmore Leonard retired from writing screenplays, claiming in interview that this was ï¿½Because I donï¿½t like writing screenplays. And I have never worked with a real good director.

If I had, I would probably still write one once in a whileï¿½ (Leonard, quoted in LoCicero, 2014: np). As noted above, the project was originally intended as a vehicle for Clint Eastwood, and Leonard reputedly wrote the screenplay after Eastwood telephoned Leonard one night and asked the writer to ï¿½write me another Dirty Harry, only differentï¿½ (Leonard, quoted in Challen, 2000: 78; quoting Clint Eastwood). Leonard reflected on this proposition overnight, ï¿½and I called him up the next day in Carmel, and I told him the story of Mr Majestykï¿½ (Leonard, quoted in ibid.). However, Eastwood became involved in making High Plains Drifter (1973) and Mr Majestyk was passed on to Walter Mirisch, who after considering Steve McQueen hired Charles Bronson to act in the picture (Dï¿½Ambrosio, 2012: 148).

Taking place in Colorado, Mr Majestyk begins with Vincent Majestyk (Bronson) in a small town, rounding up labourers for his 160 acre watermelon farm. Itï¿½s Majestykï¿½s second crop, and he needs to ensure that itï¿½s successful in order to stay afloat financially. In town, he meets and hires Nancy Chavez ( Linda Cristal ), a union worker, when he defends her from the prejudice of an employee at the local gas station. Returning to his farm with Nancy and the other labourers, Majestyk is met by Bobby Kopas ( Paul Koslo ). Kopas already has a crew working in Majestykï¿½s fields; itï¿½s a racket, of course, and Kopas is trying to railroad Majestyk into employing the men heï¿½s found ï¿½ mostly drunks ï¿½ and paying Kopas a finderï¿½s fee. Majestyk refuses; Kopas pulls out a shotgun and holds it to Majestyk. Majestyk quickly takes the gun from Kopas and runs him off the farm.

However, Majestyk is soon arrested by the local police when Kopas claims that Majestyk assaulted him. Majestyk is questioned by Detective Lieutenant McAllen (Frank Maxwell), who becomes aware that Majestyk is a war hero, the winner of a Silver Star; however, Majestyk has already served a prison sentence (in Folsom) for assault, and this causes McAllen to treat the farmer with suspicion. (Itï¿½s also revealed that whilst Majestyk was in Folsom, his wife left him.) Whilst in the cells, Majestyk encounters Frank Renda ( Al Lettieri ), a hitman for the mob. As the prisoners are being transported via bus, Rendaï¿½s associates stage a breakout, using firearms to halt the bus. During the confusion, Majestyk manages to free himself, driving the bus away and taking Renda hostage. Majestykï¿½s plan is to make a deal with the police: he will return Renda to their custody in exchange for the charges against himself being dropped. However, with the aid of his moll Wiley ( Lee Purcell ), Renda manages to escape from Majestykï¿½s grasp but vows to kill the melon farmer.

Cognisant of Rendaï¿½s vow to murder Majestyk, the police use Majestyk as bait, hoping to lure Renda into the open. The dialogue for Mr Majestyk has ï¿½Dutchï¿½s trademark snappiness. During their first encounter, Majestyk asks Nancy, ï¿½You looking for work?ï¿½ To this, she responds sarcastically: ï¿½Well, we forgot our golf clubs, so we might as wellï¿½. Later, towards the end of the film, Renda confronts Majestyk directly, telling the melon farmer ï¿½Iï¿½m gonna kill youï¿½. ï¿½When is this big event going to take place?ï¿½, Majestyk asks. ï¿½Whatï¿½s the difference?ï¿½, Renda reasons, ï¿½Tomorrow, next week. You can hide in the basement of that police station, but Iï¿½m gonna get you, my babyï¿½. ï¿½Seems like thereï¿½s no use trying to get on your good sideï¿½, Majestyk quips.

Chip Rhodes suggests that Mr Majestyk has some similarities with the Western Joe Kidd (John Sturges, 1972), for which Leonard also wrote the screenplay. In both films, Leonard ï¿½treats the police and the legal system with much less respect than he would in his later crime fictionï¿½ (Rhodes, 2008: 143). The police ï¿½are peripheral to the central conflictï¿½, and offer ï¿½a hindrance more than anything elseï¿½ (ibid.). The true antagonist within the film, Renda, ï¿½is tied to the forces that wish to control the workforce in a way that is reminiscent of On the Waterfrontï¿½ (ibid.). However, where Budd Schulbergï¿½s script for On the Waterfront ï¿½conflated the mob and the unions, absented the capitalists, and championed the disaffected individualï¿½, Mr Majestyk ï¿½made the mob the enemy of both the unions and the disaffected individual [Majestyk], who also happens to be the capitalistï¿½ (ibid.; emphasis in original).

After picking up Nancy, Majestyk talks with her as they drive back to his farm. Nancy tells Majestyk that she works for the union; sheï¿½s somewhat surprised to find that Majestyk ï¿½ the employer ï¿½ is okay with this. ï¿½I donï¿½t care if you work for the union or you donï¿½t work for the unionï¿½, he tells her, ï¿½as long as you know melonsï¿½. Towards the end of the film, whilst he is being used by the police as bait to lure in Renda, Majestyk is shown working in the fields with his employees, golden light behind him; itï¿½s an idealistic scenario of solidarity between worker and employer that underscores the sense of equality that Majestyk represents. Arriving back at the farm with Nancy and his new crew, Majestyk soon runs into Bobby Kopas, who uses strongarm tactics to try to ï¿½persuadeï¿½ Majestyk into employing the men that heï¿½s gathered.

(Kopas considers himself to be a gangster of sorts, but this is undermined when he comes into conflict with the real gangster, Frank Renda, later in the film.) Kopas already has a crew working in Majestykï¿½s fields, and introduces himself: ï¿½Bobby Kopas. Come over form La Junta with some top hand pickersï¿½. ï¿½I donï¿½t hire winos whoï¿½ve never slipped melons beforeï¿½, Majestyk asserts quietly. ï¿½I donï¿½t know. You hire a lot of Latins and no whitesï¿½, Kopas declares, ï¿½Looks like discrimination to meï¿½; he asks Majestyk, ï¿½What do you care who works for you, as long as you get the job done?ï¿½ In response to this, Majestyk asserts his autonomy and his independence: ï¿½I hire who I wantï¿½. ï¿½Yeah, well, you see, you want me. Only it ainï¿½t sunk into that thick brain of yours yet.

See, everything goes a lot easier ï¿½ a lot less trouble when you do business with meï¿½. In response to this, Majestyk challenges Kopas directly, delivering a threat with quiet but assured conviction: ï¿½You make sounds like youï¿½re a mean little ass-kickerï¿½, Majestyk says, ï¿½only I ainï¿½t convinced. You keep talking, Iï¿½m going to take your head offï¿½. Although Koslo is a small-time crook and Renda is a killer with ties to the syndicate, Majestyk refuses to be intimidated by either. ï¿½You got it ass backwardsï¿½, Majestyk tells Renda when Rendaï¿½s associates attempt to stage Rendaï¿½s escape, ï¿½I ainï¿½t coming with you: youï¿½re coming with meï¿½.

(For his part, Renda tells Majestyk, ï¿½I had you figured for the local clown, but you really moveï¿½.) Later, Renda tries to persuade Majestyk to take him to Los Angeles; he promises Majestyk that in LA they could ï¿½get a couple broads inï¿½ before heading for Mexico City. However, Majestyk tells Renda quite simply that ï¿½I been to LA, and I been to Mexicoï¿½ And I been laidï¿½. ï¿½Then what do you want?ï¿½, Renda asks. ï¿½To get a melon crop inï¿½, Majestyk asserts.

(When he returns to his farm later, Majestyk is mocked by Kopas: ï¿½You know, I think youï¿½re messed upï¿½, Kopas says, ï¿½standing there in deep shit, and all youï¿½re worried about is your melon cropï¿½.) Melons in the film seem to take on the value (both financial and symbolic) of the prized ï¿½Golden Delishï¿½ apples that Richard Conteï¿½s character is transporting in Jules Dassinï¿½s classic film noir Thievesï¿½ Highway (1950). Speaking to Renda, Kopas tells the hitman that Majestyk is ï¿½a stuck-up son of a bitch. Got a crop of melons; thinks heï¿½s the big roarï¿½. Meanwhile, Majestyk is equally distrusting of the police.

Taken into custody after Kopas claims that Majestyk assaulted him, Majestyk is asked by McAllen, ï¿½You understand your rights under the law?ï¿½ ï¿½I understand I should keep my mouth shutï¿½, Majestyk responds, ï¿½That seems to be about itï¿½. Later, Majestyk blows his cool for the only time in the picture when he calls McAllen to offer Renda in exchange for the assault charges against Majestyk to be dropped. Speaking on the telephone, McAllen says, ï¿½You mean, youï¿½re gonna sell him [Renda] to usï¿½. To this, Majestyk responds angrily, ï¿½Well, there ainï¿½t nothing thatï¿½s free in this worldï¿½. Later, after Renda has escaped from him, Majestyk is allowed by the police to return to his farm ï¿½ as bait for Renda. ï¿½Why is it I get a feeling from you that you hope he [Renda] pulls it off, just so you can get him for murder?ï¿½, Majestyk asks McAllen.

Later, Majestyk turns down police protection, and McAllen warns him, ï¿½Youï¿½re not going to get those melons picked if youï¿½re deadï¿½. ï¿½If Iï¿½m dead, it wonï¿½t matter, will it?ï¿½, Majestyk reasons. ï¿½Suit yourselfï¿½, McAllen asserts, ï¿½but youï¿½re on your ownï¿½. ï¿½Lieutenant, Iï¿½ve been on my own from the very beginningï¿½, Majestyk declares bitterly. Emmett Early suggests that Mr Majestyk ï¿½flirts with satire as Majestyk talks repeatedly about only wanting to harvest his melons, and when the gangsters with automatic rifles shoot up the crop, splattering red flesh from exploding fruit, it seems the melons take on the overdeveloped role of symbol, more than just the honest rewards of a poor manï¿½s laborsï¿½ (Early, op cit.: 162).

Certainly, thereï¿½s much humour in Majestykï¿½s repeated protestations ï¿½ first to the police, and later to Renda ï¿½ that all he wants to do is return home to his farm to take care of his melons. When arrested by the police, Majestyk tells McAllen he needs to return home to his farm to tend to his watermelons. ï¿½Thatï¿½s all thatï¿½s worrying you? Melons?ï¿½, McAllen asks in disbelief. When, near the filmï¿½s climax, Renda and his gang chase off Majestykï¿½s employees, they also attempt to destroy Majestykï¿½s precious melon crop. Renda begins by firing his revolver into the melons. A shot of the melons shows the bullets biting into them, splitting open the green rind to reveal the pink flesh within: as they burst open, they seem to act as a metonym for the human body and its vulnerability, the red of the flesh within the melon reminiscent of our own internal organs. Renda then orders his men to shoot into the crop using submachine guns.

The men fire into the melons in slow-motion, their bullets tearing through the fruit. The scene is both blackly comic and openly symbolic, the imagery (armed men firing into a passive, helpless target) seemingly using the melons as paradigms to refer obliquely to the imagery within photography and newsreel footage depicting roughly contemporaneous events such as the shootings at Kent State University, the massacre at My Lai, and images of the massacring of civilians in numerous other conflicts both before and, sadly, since the filmï¿½s release. In The War Veteran in Film, Emmett Early compares Mr Majestyk to First Blood (George P Cosmatos, 1982) and Clint Eastwoodï¿½s Absolute Power (1997). All three of these films feature war veterans whose status as such is revealed when they come into conflict with the law (Early, 2003: 106, 211).

The trailer for Mr Majestyk compares the picture to another couple of films: Walking Tall (Phil Karlson, 1973) and Billy Jack (Tom Laughlin, 1971), the two iconic rural/small town-set vigilante films of the early 1970s. Other than the theme of vigilantism and the small town setting, Walking Tall and Billy Jack are very different films: the protagonist of Walking Tall is a sheriff, a member of the ï¿½establishmentï¿½; the hero of Billy Jack is an outsider, a veteran of the Vietnam War who is nevertheless a pacifist, and as a Native American a member of a persecuted group. In truth, Mr Majestyk is similar to Billy Jack: like Billy Jack, Majestyk is a war veteran, and although he isnï¿½t a member of a persecuted minority group, from the outset heï¿½s established as a man who defends the persecuted. From the opening sequence, Majestyk is depicted as a character ï¿½ though heï¿½s a landowner ï¿½ who will fight for the underdog.

He chooses to employ migrant workers, hiring them at $1.40 an hour, which is more than the $1.20 that Kopas has promised the men heï¿½s trying to railroad Majestyk into employing. As the men line up and Majestyk picks them for labour, Majestyk tells the man who has brought the labourers to Majestyk that ï¿½Weï¿½re paying a buck-forty a day, ten hour day, and donï¿½t you short change themï¿½. He witnesses prejudice in action when a group of Mexican-Americans, including Nancy Chavez, arrive at the gas station where Majestyk is filling up. The gas station employee refuses to allow the Mexican-Americans to use the toilets. Nancy protests, telling the man that they will enter the toilets one by one ï¿½ so heï¿½s sure that Nancy isnï¿½t using the toilets to prostitute herself to the men, which is what the gas station employee seems to believe is taking place. Majestyk intervenes on behalf of the Mexican-Americans. The gas station employee takes Majestyk to one side and tells him, ï¿½Listen, you know how many migrants stop by here?

These people, they get in there [the lavatory], take a bath, mess the place up, steal the toilet paperï¿½. ï¿½Let them use itï¿½, Majestyk insists quietly but firmly, ï¿½You said someone else owned the place. What do you care if they use the toilet or not?ï¿½ Although the events are set in motion by Kopas, Renda is the heavy here, and as Barry Gifford has noted the character Lettieri plays in Mr Majestyk is ï¿½basically the same roleï¿½ he played in Sam Peckinpahï¿½s 1973 adaptation of Jim Thompsonï¿½s The Getaway: ï¿½cruel as Basil Rathbone in Tower of London or Laurence Olivier in Richard III. (The difference is that neither Rathbone nor Olivier wore an Italian fruit-peddler mustache.)ï¿½ (Gifford, 2001: 117). Lettieriï¿½s character, the mob hitman named Randa, is for Gifford ï¿½absolutely, thoroughly believableï¿½ (ibid.).

As the narrative progresses, building towards the final confrontation between Majestyk and Renda, Barry Gifford suggests that the film ï¿½gains a curious sort of gracefulness [ï¿½] a rhythm almost imperceptible at first, but once you see how action and landscape are wedded, itï¿½s easy to watch even with the sound turned offï¿½ (Gifford, op cit.: 117). ï¿½If Peckinpah had made itï¿½, Gifford argues, ï¿½movie lizards would consider Mr Majestyk a masterpieceï¿½ (ibid.). The film, as presented here, is uncut and runs for 103:38 mins. Video Taking up approximately 20Gb of space on its disc, Signal Oneï¿½s presentation of Mr Majestyk is in 1080p and uses the AVC codec. The film is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1.

Itï¿½s an excellent presentation, clean and free of damage and debris, the strong colour reproduction evident from the filmï¿½s title sequence ï¿½ in which images from the film are presented as still frames using the colours red and black. Skin tones are natural and consistent. The photography in the film is excellent; as the film builds towards its climax, longer focal lengths are used to flatten perspective and give the impression of the characters (Renda and Majestyk, particularly) seeming larger than life. The harsh sunlight of the setting results in bold contrast, which is carried through this presentation via excellent contrast levels, which offer a very pleasantly-balanced image. A strong level of detail is evident throughout, much improved over the filmï¿½s DVD incarnations. A strong encode ensures that the picture retains the organic structure of 35mm film. NB. Some larger screengrabs are included at the bottom of this review. Audio Audio is presented via a LPCM 1.0 mono track, which is accompanied by optional English subtitles for the Hard of Hearing.

Itï¿½s not a ï¿½showyï¿½ track by any means, though it showcases the filmï¿½s score (by Charles Bernstein) well. The track displays good range where it needs to (in gunshots, for example) and is clear and audible throughout. The optional subtitles are easy to read and grammatically correct. Extras The disc includes: - an audio commentary by Paul Talbot. Talbot, the author of the excellent books Bronsonï¿½s Loose: The Making of the Death Wish Films and Bronsonï¿½s Loose Again: On Set with Charles Bronson, offers an enthusiastic discussion of the film that is filled with interesting observations and anecdotes about this and other Bronson pictures. Itï¿½s an excellent commentary track, which for a fan of Bronsonï¿½s films is much fun to listen to. Two interviews: - ï¿½Colorado Coolï¿½ (14:00). Here in a new interview, Richard H Kline, the filmï¿½s director of photography, reflects on his experiences during the making of the picture.

Kline asserts that Mr Majestyk ï¿½is a film with a lot of action, really good actionï¿½. Kline reflects on the shooting of some specific sequences, discussing his approach to photographing the film. - ï¿½Colorado Chicï¿½ (27:56). This new interview with Lee Purcell sees the actress expressing some surprise at the cult following that Mr Majestyk has attracted in the years since its original release. Purcell discusses her acting work prior to Mr Majestyk, including Dirty Little Billy and Kid Blue. Purcell talks about how she came to act in the film after initially turning the part down. She reflects on the making of the film, and tells a story of Bronson ï¿½in his quiet, but super-menacing way, that you did see on filmï¿½ protected Purcell when somebody involved in the production threatened her. Purcell also talks about her approach to the character of Wiley, which included carrying a bible with her at all times. - Lobby Cards, Posters and Stills Gallery (0:52). - Trailer (1:33).

Overall Mr Majestyk is a wildly entertaining film, thanks in large part of Leonardï¿½s snappy script and the interplay between Bronson and Lettieri. The picture is filled with some very good actors in smaller parts too, including Koslo, Purcell and Cristal. At the time of production, Bronson asserted that Mr Majestyk required him to do ï¿½something I havenï¿½t done for a while ï¿½ acting. It [the film] has that, too, besides the actionï¿½ (Dï¿½Ambrosio, op cit.: 149). The picture certainly gives Bronson an interesting character to play, and he handles the characterï¿½s transition from moments of quiet watchfulness to explosions of violence very well. The film seems to strive for symbolism in its depiction of Majestykï¿½s desperate attempts to gather and protect his crop of melons, and in some ways the picture offers a strange and enticing mixture of social issues not usually explored in Hollywood films (the positive depiction of migrant workers, Majestykï¿½s sympathetic treatment of them) and some very impressive action setpieces.

Aside from the casting of Lettieri, the picture also has a very Peckinpah-esque feel to it, and itï¿½s difficult not to agree with Gifford ï¿½ that if it was a film with the name of a filmmaker like Peckinpah attached to it (rather than a supposed ï¿½journeymanï¿½ like Fleischer), it would be much more highly regarded. Signal One are rapidly becoming a label to watch, their releases offering excellent presentations and some superb contextual material. Their Blu-ray release of Mr Majestyk is no exception, offering a very pleasing presentation of the main feature and some very good extra features. The commentary from Talbot is superb, as are the new interviews with Kline and Purcell. For Bronson/Fleischer/Leonard fans (or fans of action films of the era more generally), this release is an essential purchase. References: Challen, Paul Clarence, 2000: Get Dutch! A Biography of Elmore Leonard. Ontario: ECW Press Dï¿½Ambrosio, Brian, 2012: Menacing Face Worth Millions: A Life of Charles Bronson.

Lulu.com Early, Emmett, 2003: The War Veteran in Film. London: McFarland and Company Gifford, Barry, 2001: Out of the Past: Adventures in Film Noir. University Press of Mississippi LoCicero, Tony, 2014: Dutch on Dutch: One of the Last Interviews with the Incomparable Elmore Leonard. TLC Media Rhodes, Chip, 2008: Politics, Desire and the Hollywood Novel. University of Iowa Press DVD Compare is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Amazon Europe S.a.r.l. Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co.uk, amazon.com, amazon.ca, amazon.fr, and amazon.de.

Question: In the 1974 film ‘Mr Majestyk’, what does the title character, played by Charles Bronson, grow on his farm?
Answer: Watermelons