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The Mechanic

  • 1972
  • PG
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
15K
YOUR RATING
Charles Bronson in The Mechanic (1972)
Watch Trailer [EN]
Play trailer1:07
1 Video
75 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, box office & company info
  • 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
    • 106User reviews
    • 77Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

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

    Photos75

    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
      • 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

      Steve McKenna: You do this for money?

      Arthur Bishop: Money is paid, but that's not the motive. It has to do with standing outside of it all, on your own.

    • 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 reviews106

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    The best Bronson film ever and also one of the 70's best
    They sure don't make them like this anymore: smart, realistic, tough and fascinating. Charles Bronson is in top form here, he plays a hit man with creative and untraceable way methods of killing, he is like a "death doctor" and when he "fix something, it never works again". But things aren't so good for him lately, he suffers from anxiety and collapses in one memorable scene. He then decides to take under his wing the young Steve Mackenna (Jan Michael Vincent in one of his better roles) and teach his the skills of the trade. Director Michael Winner put together a piece of classic cinema with everything seems to work perfectly. The cinematography is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, especially the final scenes located in Italy. It's a shame that this film is almost unknown to the young generation and is way underrated here. The twisted ending certainly lifts up the already high level of the film. Highly recommended 10/10.
    helpful•61
    6
    • ed56
    • May 4, 2005

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 7, 1972 (Italy)
    • 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

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    • 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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