Love and Bullets (1979)

Arizona cop is sent to Switzerland to bring in the girlfriend of a dangerous mobster so she can testify against him. The mobster sends someone too - assassins.

Directors:

Stuart Rosenberg, John Huston (uncredited)

Writers:

Wendell Mayes (story), Wendell Mayes

Stars:

Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Rod Steiger

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Bronson	...	Charlie Congers
Jill Ireland	...	Jackie Pruit
Rod Steiger	...	Joe Bomposa
Henry Silva	...	Vittorio Farroni
Strother Martin	...	Louis Monk
Bradford Dillman	...	Brickman
Michael V. Gazzo	...	Lobo
Paul Koslo	...	Huntz
Val Avery	...	Caruso
Sam Chew Jr.	...	Cook (as Sam Chew)
Billy Gray	...	Officer Durant (as William Gray)
Jerome Thor	...	Senator
Joseph Roman	...	Coroner
Albert Salmi	...	Andy Minton
John Hallam	...	Cerutti

Storyline

Phoenix cop Charlie Congers develops a personal hatred for mob boss Joe Bomposa. Congers sees the devastating effects of Bomposa's drug trade on the community. He thinks it's his duty to personally go after Bomposa who's protected by an army of lawyers, money and political power. Often charged but never indicted for any offense, Bomposa continues his illegal activities. But out of the blue an opportunity presents itself when Bomposa's girlfriend, ditsy blonde Jackie Pruit, is called to testify before a Senate investigation committee. Despite Miss' Pruit unwillingness to co-operate with the Senate investigators, Joe Bomposa grows worried that she might talk to the cops, after all. His mobster friends and his lawyer advise him to send her away in Switzerland, on a vacation, far from the Senate investigators. However, when they get information that FBI agents are after her, they decide to contract a hit-man to have her killed in Switzerland. Not having a mandate to operate on Swiss soil,...

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Plot Keywords:

cigar | assassin | switzerland | police shootout | wig | 

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Taglines:

From the writer of "Death Wish" [Finland DVD]

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 1979 (UK)

Also Known As:

Love and Bullets, Charlie

Filming Locations:

Stalden, Kanton Wallis, Switzerland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC), Sir Lew Grade

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 93 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Due to hijack and terrorism threats from the terrorist organization the Baader-Meinhof Group, a permit request to film at the Geneva Airport (aka the Cointrin Airport) was denied, and as such, the intended shoot-out sequence was relocated to the same city's elegant Hotel Beau Rivage.

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Quotes

[after seeing Durant flee from a crime-scene, driving recklessly in his car, Congers finally stops him]
Charlie Congers: What's goin' on?
Durant: That girl back there... That was my old lady! I was gonna marry her!
Charlie Congers: Let's get some coffee.

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Alternate Versions

UK cinema and video versions were cut by 1 min 24 secs to remove a gunshot impact and to heavily edit the scene where Charlie makes nail darts for a homemade blowpipe. The cuts were restored in the 2000 Widescreen release.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: David Steinberg/Jill Ireland/The 'Jim' Twins (1979)

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Soundtracks

Stand By Your Man
Written by Billy Sherrill and Tammy Wynette
Performed by Tammy Wynette
Courtesy of Epic Records

User Reviews

Unsung satirical comedy masterpiece from action flop

This action flop has aged so well to the point when you leave out Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland and most of the cast, the film moves into the realms of a minor (but most certainly unintentional) masterpiece. The stars undoubtedly had a pleasant paid holiday in Switzerland while making the film. Charles Bronson preferred Europe, so this ridiculous change of scenery was probably thrown in as it suited producer, director and stars.

Paul Koslo (the actor perpetually with the worst hair in Hollywood) is as always a lackey and fallguy who gets blown away. But this film really comes into its own with such a towering performance from Rod Steiger that one has to wonder why he wasn't nominated for an Oscar. 100% brilliant comedy send up - his speech impediment is a masterstroke, masterly executed. Steiger can be watched and rewatched endlessly, he's such a scream, while the end of the film one of the best blasts you'll ever see.