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The Mechanic

  • 1972
  • 18
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
15K
YOUR RATING
Charles Bronson in The Mechanic (1972)
Watch Trailer [EN]
Play trailer1:07
1 Video
99+ Photos
ActionCrimeThriller

An aging hitman befriends a young man who wants to be a professional killer. Eventually it becomes clear that someone has betrayed them.An aging hitman befriends a young man who wants to be a professional killer. Eventually it becomes clear that someone has betrayed them.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
  • Writers
    • Lewis John Carlino
    • Monte Hellman
  • Stars
    • Charles Bronson
    • Jan-Michael Vincent
    • Keenan Wynn
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    15K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Winner
    • Writers
      • Lewis John Carlino
      • Monte Hellman
    • Stars
      • Charles Bronson
      • Jan-Michael Vincent
      • Keenan Wynn
    • 112User reviews
    • 75Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer [EN]
    Trailer 1:07
    Watch Trailer [EN]

    Photos105

    Charles Bronson and Jan-Michael Vincent in The Mechanic (1972)
    Charles Bronson in The Mechanic (1972)
    Charles Bronson in The Mechanic (1972)
    Charles Bronson and Jan-Michael Vincent in The Mechanic (1972)
    Charles Bronson and Jan-Michael Vincent in The Mechanic (1972)
    Charles Bronson in The Mechanic (1972)
    Jan-Michael Vincent in The Mechanic (1972)
    Charles Bronson in The Mechanic (1972)
    Jan-Michael Vincent in The Mechanic (1972)
    Charles Bronson in The Mechanic (1972)
    Charles Bronson in The Mechanic (1972)
    Charles Bronson in The Mechanic (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charles Bronson
    Charles Bronson
    • Arthur Bishop
    Jan-Michael Vincent
    Jan-Michael Vincent
    • Steve McKenna
    Keenan Wynn
    Keenan Wynn
    • Harry McKenna
    Jill Ireland
    Jill Ireland
    • The Girl
    Linda Ridgeway
    • Louise, Steve McKenna's Girlfriend
    Frank DeKova
    Frank DeKova
    • The Man
    • (as Frank De Kova)
    James Davidson
    James Davidson
    • Intern
    Lindsay Crosby
    Lindsay Crosby
    • Policeman
    • (as Lindsay H. Crosby)
    Steve Cory
    • Messenger
    Tak Kubota
    • Yamoto
    • (as Takayuki Kubota)
    Patrick O'Moore
    Patrick O'Moore
    • Old Man
    Martin Gordon
    • American Tourist
    Celeste Yarnall
    Celeste Yarnall
    • The Mark's Girl
    Athena Lorde
    • Old Woman
    Alison Rose
    • Young Girl
    Howard Morton
    • Car Polish Man
    Enzo Fiermonte
    Enzo Fiermonte
    • The Mark
    Gerald Peters
    • Butler
    • Director
      • Michael Winner
    • Writers
      • Lewis John Carlino(uncredited)
      • Monte Hellman(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This picture is notable for a motorcycle stunt where a motorbike rider, at the end of a long chase, rides his bike off a 200 foot cliff. Husqvarna motorcycles were specially adapted to film the chase hitting speeds of nearly 110 miles per hour while filming on location at Indian Dunes, Newhall, California.
    • Goofs
      The Fiat car used by the Mechanic in the case in Naples area is blown up. However the car is used again a few minutes later. Not only is the registration plate the same, it still has only one brake light working.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Arthur Bishop: [voiceover as Steve reads note] Steve, if you read this, it means I didn't make it back. It also means you've broken a filament controlling a 13-second delay trigger. End of game. Bang! You're dead.

    • Alternate versions
      The 1988 UK Warner video release was cut by 7 secs by the BBFC to remove closeup shots of a lock picking. The cuts were restored in the 2004 MGM DVD.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Clock (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      String Quartet Op.18 No.6 (2nd Movement)
      Written by Ludwig van Beethoven

    User reviews112

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    A classic! One of the greatest movie endings EVER!
    Classic Charles Bronson. I've only recently really started getting more into his older films; I'm fluent with the Death Wish series. The Mechanic is one of his best, if not one of THE best action/thriller films I've seen. Very cleverly done, particularly his methods of killing. I also like the term used to describe assassins; that's new to me. The movie had me intrigued throughout, with Bronson playing the part very well; very few people could look as wrong as Bronson. But it's the ending that makes the movie that much better, because it's totally unexpected. I want to 'spoil' it so bad but I won't....although other user reviews here may have already. I'll just say that you'll be completely amped afterwards, your jaw will drop to the floor at how cool and unexpected it is. One of the true classic action films; the rating on here should be higher.

    ***1/2 out of **** stars.
    helpful•33
    5
    • lotus_chief
    • Mar 30, 2005

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    FAQ15

    • How long is The Mechanic?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 25, 1973 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Killer of Killers
    • Filming locations
      • 1235 Sierra Alta Way, Los Angeles, California, USA(Arthur Bishop's house)
    • Production companies
      • Chartoff-Winkler Productions
      • Carlino Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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