Mr. Majestyk [Blu-ray]

Director: Richard Fleischer Richard Fleischer

Overview

Elmore Leonard's script for Mr. Majestyk was, like his novel, supposed to have concentrated on the plight of Chicano migrant workers; but what emerged on screen was extensively reshaped into a standard Charles Bronson vehicle. Battle-weary Vietnam veteran Vince Majestyk (Bronson) settles down in rural Colorado, hoping to make a living as a watermelon farmer. Despite his new-found pacifism, Majestyk can't seem to stay out of trouble, and he lands in jail, where he foils a breakout engineered by Mob boss Frank Renda (Al Lettieri). Offering to bring in Renda in exchange for his own freedom, Majestyk finds himself the main target of the Mob, who is also extorting vast sums of money from Vince's fellow farmers. It is bad enough when the crooks begin roughing up Majestyk's field hands; but when they ruthlessly machine-gun his entire melon crop, they've gone too far. Teaming up with Chicano labor activist Nancy Chavez (Linda Cristal) (any relation to Cesar?), Majestyk decides to track down the mobsters one by one and mete out retribution.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/07/2021
UPC:	0738329256890
Original Release:	1974
Rating:	PG
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Language:	English
Time:	1:43:00
Sales rank:	18,603

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Charles Bronson	Vince Majestyk
Al Lettieri	Frank Renda
Linda Cristal	Nancy Chavez
Lee Purcell	Wiley
Paul Koslo	Bobby Kopas
Taylor Lacher	Gene Lundy
Frank Maxwell	Detective Lt. McAllen
Alejandro Rey	Larry Mendoza
Jordan Rhodes	Dep. Sheriff Harold Ritchie
Vern Porter	Gas Station Attendant
Burt Santos	Actor,Julio
Allen Pinson	Actor
Robert Templeton	Actor,Kopas Muscle Man
Bill Morris	Police Officer
Jim Reynolds	Actor
Eddy Reyes	Actor,Chicano Prisoner
Larry Cortinez	Actor
Howard Beasley	Actor
Bus Gindhart	Actor
Tom Hickman	Actor
Kenny Bell	Actor,Press Photographer
Max Reed	Actor,Press Photographer
Alma Lawrentz	Actor
Richard Erdman	Dick Richard
Luis Ramírez	Labor Contractor
Raoul Bova	Actor
Terence Hill	Actor
Nino Frassica	Actor
Flavio Insinna	Actor
Simone Montedoro	Actor
Maria Chiara Giannetta	Actor
Maurizio Lastrico	Actor
Francesco Scali	Actor
Pietro Pulcini	Actor
Julio Tomaz	Bert Santos
Charles Bernstein	Composer

Technical Credits

Elmore Leonard

Robert Dawson	Special Effects,Special Effects
Richard Fleischer	Director
Walter Mirisch	Producer
Elmore Leonard	Screenwriter
Paul Baxley	Stunts
Richard Portman	Sound Effects
Jack Baur	Casting
Harold M. Etherington	Sound/Sound Designer
Frank Warner	Sound Editor

Editorial Reviews

This darkly witty action tale is one of the best Charles Bronson vehicles from the 1970s. Mr. Majestyk rises above its revenge melodrama roots thanks to a quirky, inspired script by veteran crime novelist Elmore Leonard; he populates the tale with unusual characters (this must be the only action movie with a melon farmer as the hero), packs the plot with plenty of unexpected twists, and works some interesting commentary about labor unions and police corruption into the action. Director Richard Fleischer handles the proceedings with economic style, keeping the action moving at a slick, steady clip, but giving the actors enough room to flesh out their roles. This was a wise choice because the role of Majestyk brings out Bronson's underrated skill for deadpan wit and Al Lettieri is a worthy equal to Bronson, blending machismo and offhand wit to create a menacing yet charismatic antagonist. Paul Koslo also steals a few scenes with an inspired character performance as a sniveling small-time crook who gets caught in the crossfire. All in all, Mr. Majestyk is a tight, nicely understated piece of work that is a must for Bronson fans.

All Movie Guide