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Today's Hollywood action stars have nothing on the ones who came before them in the '70s and '80s. It's not their fault, really, as everything from audience tastes to the new streaming reality has shifted the idea of what action movies are these days, but once upon a time it was character and charisma that ruled the day over pretty faces and social media follower counts. From Sylvester Stallone and Clint Eastwood to Chuck Norris and Steve McQueen, action on the big screen used to be more interested in tangible thrills and personality.

Charles Bronson was a member of that class, and after kicking off his film career in the early '50s, he saw his star rise dramatically in the decades that followed playing cool as hell characters who knew that action speaks louder than words. He delivered more than a few genre gems, action hits, and...

Director Sergio Sollima sets the template for twenty years of violent action cinema for Rough Tough Charles Bronson. Precise stunt scenes and clever direction are at the service of a script that can’t produce a convincing line of dialogue. It’s a mishmosh of sex, bullets and car chases. Bronson is betrayed by his love for Jill Ireland, and Telly Savalas is shoehorned in as a (surprise!) nasty gangster. Much of it does play like gangbusters — the opening and closing especially — and the dynamic title instrumental is one of maestro Ennio Morricone’s best.

Violent City

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1970 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 109 + 96 min. / Città violenta, The Family, Final Shot / Street Date May 17, 2022 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95

Starring: Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Michel Constantin, Telly Savalas, Umberto Orsini.

Cinematography: Aldo Tonti

Production Design: Francesco Bronzi

Art Director: Franco Fumigalli

Film Editor: Nino Baragli

Stunts: Rémy Julienne, Goffredo Unger

Original...