Netflix's Milestone Movies - The Anniversary Collection : Death Wish (1974)

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Calaroga Shark Media. Welcome back to
TV and the Basement, where we delve

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into the depths of cinematic treasures.
In this episode, we're turning our attention

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to the gritty and iconic nineteen seventy
four film Death Wish. Before we immerse

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ourselves in this vigilante thriller. Let's
set the stage by exploring the significance of

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nineteen seventy four in the world of
cinema. It was a year that witnessed

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the release of several groundbreaking films,
and Death Wish was certainly one of them.

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In nineteen seventy four, the silver
screen was ablaze with creativity and innovation.

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It was an era when Hollywood was
unafraid to tackle challenging and thought provoking

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topics. Netflix's Milestone Movies the Anniversary
Collection pays tribute to this era, featuring

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fourteen cinematic gems from that year,
with Death Wish standing tall among them.

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Directed by Michael Winner and released in
nineteen seventy four, Death Wish is a

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vigilante thriller that follows the transformation of
Paul Cursey, portrayed by the legendary Charles

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Bronson. Cursey is a mild mannered
architect who turns into a one man army

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of justice after his wife is brutally
attacked and his daughter sexually assaulted during a

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home invasion. As Cursey grapples with
the trauma inflicted upon his family, he

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takes matters into his own hands,
arming himself and prowling the streets of New

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York City at night, targeting criminals
and delivering a violent brand of justice.

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His actions make him a controversial and
polarizing figure, both celebrated and vilified by

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the public. Charles Bronson delivers a
compelling and stoic performance as Paul Cursey,

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a character who becomes an embodiment of
revenge and lars vigilantism. His portrayal and

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death wish would become one of the
defining roles of his career. The film's

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supporting cast includes notable performances by Vincent
Gardina as Detective franc Ochoa and Jeff Goldblum

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in one of his early roles as
one of the street thugs. The ensemble

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cast brings depth to the narrative,
portraying a city grappling with rising crime rates

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and the consequences of Cursey's actions.
Death Wish sparked intense debates and discussions upon

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its release due to its portrayal of
vigilantism. While it didn't garner major awards,

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its impact on societal discourse and its
box office success made it a significant

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film of its time. Death Wish
tapped into the fears and concerns of the

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nineteen seventies, reflecting a society grappling
with urban crime and the desire for a

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hero to take matters into their own
hands. It resonated with audiences seeking a

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sense of empowerment. Death Wish is
based on a novel of the same name

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by Brian Garfield. The novel explored
the psychological effects of vigilantism, which the

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film adapted into a compelling narrative.
The film faced criticism for its perceived endorsement

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of vigilantism and its portrayal of violence. Some saw it as a commentary on

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the desire for justice in a crime
ridden society, while others viewed it as

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glorification of violence. Death Wish spawned
multiple sequels and influenced a wave of vigilante

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themed films in the nineteen seventies and
beyond, leaving an indelible mark on pop

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culture In Death Wish too, Charles
Bronson reprised his role as Paul Cursey.

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This time, Cursey relocates to Los
Angeles, but tragedy strikes again when his

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housekeeper and daughter are attacked. Fueled
by rage, he resumes his vigilante activities,

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targeting criminals with a vengeance. The
third installment sees Paul Cursey return to

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New York City, which has become
a war zone overrun by criminals. This

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time he partners with a local resident
to take on a violent gang. For

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Death Wish for the Crackdown, Kersey
faces a new threat in the form of

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the drug trade. After his girlfriend's
daughter dies from a drug overdose, Kursey

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launches a one man war against drug
dealers. This installment delves into the drug

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epidemic of the nineteen eighties and continues
to explore the theme of vigilantism. In

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the final installment of the original series, The Face of Death, Cursey becomes

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entangled with the mob after his girlfriend
is attacked. The film combines elements of

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crime and revenge, culminating in a
showdown with mob bosses. In twenty eighteen,

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Death Wish received a modern remake starring
Bruce Willis. As doctor Paul Kursey.

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Directed by Eli Roth, the remake
brings the story into contemporary times.

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Doctor Cursey is now a trauma surgeon
who takes the law into his own hands

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after his wife is killed and daughter
assaulted during a home invasion. The film

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explores the same themes of vigilantism,
revenge, and the consequences of violence.

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The remake retains the core premise of
the original, but updates it to reflect

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current societal concerns and debates on gun
violence and self defense. While it received

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mixed reviews, it sparked discussions about
the relevance of the death Wish concept in

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the twenty first century. Before Charles
Bronson was cast as Paul Cursey, the

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role was offered to several other actors, including Jack Lemon and Henry Fonda.

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Bronson's tough guy persona ultimately defined the
character. The film's gritty portrayal of New

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York City was achieved by shooting on
location, providing an authentic backdrop for the

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story. As we wrap up our
exploration of Death Wish, it's evident that

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this film stirred intense debates and left
a significant impact on both cinema and society.

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Its portrayal of vigilantism driven by personal
tragedy, continues to spark discussions about

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justice, morality, and the consequences
of violence. Thank you for joining us

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on this journey into the world of
death Wish. We hope you've enjoyed this

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deep dive into the film's history and
legacy. Until next time, keep exploring

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the complexities of cinema, one frame
at a time.