The Mechanic (1972)

Director:

Michael Winner

Writers:

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

Release Date:

14 December 1972 (West Germany)

Genre:

Action | Crime | 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:

Professional Hit | Hitman | Wearing A Sound Wire | Telephone Call | Shot To Death

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
Howard Morton	...	Car Polish Man
Enzo Fiermonte	...	The Mark
Gerald Peters	...	Butler
Steve Vinovich	...	Party Guest (as Stephen Vinovich)
Robert Jaffe	...	Party Guest
Kevin O'Neal	...	Party Guest
Kenneth Wolger	...	1st Hippie
Trini Mitchum	...	3rd Hippie
Amando De Vincenzo	...	Priest (as Father Amando De Vincenzo)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Barclay	...	Garden Party Man (uncredited)
Louis Fitch	...	Librarian (uncredited)
Chris Forbes	...	Bikini Waitress (uncredited)
Hiroyasu Fujishima	...	Aikido Master (uncredited)
Alan Gibbs	...	1st Bodyguard (uncredited)
Linda Grant	...	Bathtub Girl (uncredited)
Hank Hamilton	...	Kori (uncredited)
Michael Hinn	...	Rifle Range Attendant (uncredited)
Ernie F. Orsatti	...	Chickin Lickin' Driver (uncredited)
Frank Orsatti	...	2nd Bodyguard (uncredited)
Sara Taft	...	Garden Party Woman (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Winner

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lewis John Carlino		screenplay
Lewis John Carlino		story

Produced by
Robert Chartoff	....	producer
Henry Gellis	....	associate producer
Irwin Winkler	....	producer

Original Music by
Jerry Fielding

Cinematography by
Richard H. Kline
Robert Paynter		(European sequences)

Film Editing by
Frederick Wilson		(as Freddie Wilson)
Michael Winner		(as Arnold Crust Jr.)

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Art Direction by
Rodger Maus
Herbert Westbrook

Makeup Department
Phil Rhodes	....	makeup artist (as Phillip Rhodes)

Production Management
Clifton Brandon	....	production manager: European sequences
Mario Mariani	....	production manager: European sequences
Hal W. Polaire	....	production supervisor (as Hal Polaire)
Vittorio Noia	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Francesco Cinieri	....	assistant director
Peter Price	....	assistant director
Jerome M. Siegel	....	assistant director
Antonio Tarruella	....	second unit director

Art Department
Eugene Booth	....	property master (as Eugene T. Booth)
Ray Traynor	....	property master
Barry Wilkinson	....	stand-by props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Russ Hill	....	dialogue editor
Brian Paxton	....	sound re-recordist
Terry Rawlings	....	dubbing editor (as Terence Rawlings)
Burdick S. Trask	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Richard Albain	....	special effects (as Richard F. Albain)

Stunts
Alan Gibbs	....	stunt coordinator (as Alan R. Gibbs)
Greg Anderson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Ferguson	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
James M. Halty	....	stunts (uncredited)
Frank Orsatti	....	stunts (uncredited)
J.N. Roberts	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Albert Bettcher	....	camera operator (as Al Bettcher)
Colin J. Campbell	....	gaffer
Clyde Hart	....	key grip (as Clyde W. Hart)
Norman Jones	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lambert Marks	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Frederick Wilson	....	supervising editor (as Freddie Wilson)

Music Department
Jerry Fielding	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Alfred Schultz	....	transportation (as Alfred F. Schultz)

Other crew
Jeffrey Benjamin	....	assistant to producer
Pamela Carlton	....	continuity
Stephen Cory	....	assistant to director
Betty Crosby	....	script supervisor
Janet Crosby	....	secretary to producer

Production Companies

• Chartoff-Winkler Productions (as Chartoff-Winkler)
• Carlino Productions (as Carlino)

Distributors

• United Artists (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1972) (Norway) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1975) (USA) (theatrical) (retitled re-release, as "Killer Of Killers")
• Warner Bros. (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• EuroVideo (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Cinemobile System  locations (as Cinemobile Systems)
• Husqvarna of Sweden  motorcycles furnished by
• Intrada  score album released by (limited edition)

Also Known As:

"Killer of Killers" - USA (reissue title)

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 | Netherlands:12 | France:U | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | USA:PG (Certificate #23380)

Filming Locations:

1235 Sierra Alta Way, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Chartoff-Winkler Productions

Trivia:

It was announced in the media on 7 May 2009 that a remake of this movie would be made starring Jason Statham in the Charles Bronson role.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Charles Bronson reads the lips of the men in the park, he hands Jan Michael-Vincent a tape recorder and tells him to turn it on, ostensibly to record what he is reading. However, he only pushes "Play", not "Record".

Quotes:

Arthur Bishop:That was pretty cold.
Steve McKenna:I knew she wouldn't do it.
Arthur Bishop:But, had she done that, would be willing to pick up the tab?

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.