Mr Majestyk (Richard Fleischer, 1974)
He didn't want to be a hero… until the day they pushed him too far
Make no mistake about it, Mr Majestyk is an unusual film. It's about melons, see? And it was made back in 1974, when you make films about… well, just about anything! Based on a book by Elmore Leonard, the story centres around Vincent Majestyk (Charle Bronson), a simple melon farmer. One fine day he is leaned on by a spineless local hoodlum Bobby Kopas (Mr 70s himself Paul Koslo), who insists Majestyk uses his crew of melon pickers. Majestyk refuses, and slaps Kopas' ass about like a l'il bitch, then sends him & his cronies packing. Because of this violent conduct, Majestyk end up behind bars where he comes across a hired killer called Frank Renda. After a daring hijack by Renda's men, Renda & Majestyk end up on the run, cuffed and cussin' each other, in a gritty tale of one man's attempt to get his melons in on time!
Bronson is pretty much Bronson as Majestyk, no bad thing, mind! But don't expect a standard tale of revenge involving vast amounts of blood and violence. Mr Majestyk has a very different feel to it. It's a slow burner, a character piece interconnected with some scenes of bloody violence and exciting motor vehicle action! Al Lettieri is excellent as the heavy (sadly, he died in 1975), and Linda Cristal puts in a strong performance as love interest/melon picker.
I reckon Mr Majestyk is my favourite Bronson film. It's not exploitation cinema like all of those 6000 revenge flicks he made for Cannon films… There's a different vibe to Mr Majestyk, a 1970s curiosity indeed.
Eurovideo's German (Region B locked) Blu-ray release is strong, but a bit dirty in places. Could've done with a full remaster and clean up. Saying that, this is a must-see for fans of 'Chuck' Bronson & 1970s action flicks. They've also released The Mechanic on Blu. Double bill…. forming...
