Death Wish (1974 film)

Death Wish
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Winner
Screenplay byWendell Mayes
Based onDeath Wish
by Brian Garfield
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyArthur J. Ornitz
Edited byBernard Gribble
Music byHerbie Hancock
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • July 24, 1974 (1974-07-24)
Running time
94 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3.7 million[2]
Box office$30 million (US/West Germany)
$20.3 million (worldwide rentals)[2]

Death Wish is a 1974 American vigilante action film directed by Michael Winner. The film, loosely based on the 1972 novel of the same title by Brian Garfield and the first film in the Death Wish film series, stars Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey, alongside Hope Lange, Vincent Gardenia, William Redfield, Kathleen Tolan and Christopher Guest. In the film, Paul Kersey, an architect leading a peaceful life, resorts to vigilantism after his wife is murdered and daughter raped during a home invasion.

At the time of release, Death Wish was criticized for its apparent support of vigilantism and advocating unlimited punishment of criminals.[3] The novel allegedly denounced vigilantism, whereas the film embraced the notion. The film was a commercial success and resonated with the public in the United States, which was experiencing increasing crime rates during the 1970s.[4]

  1. ^ "DEATH WISH (X)". British Board of Film Classification. October 23, 1974. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Knoedelseder, William K. Jr. (August 30, 1987). "De Laurentiis Producer's Picture Darkens". Los Angeles Times. p. 1 Part IV.
  3. ^ "Death Wish Movie Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  4. ^ Frum, David (2000). How We Got Here: The '70s. New York, New York: Basic Books. p. 13. ISBN 0-465-04195-7.