In 1972, Charles Bronson was The Man.
Butt-ugly. Short. Smug. Tough. Bronson was an actor who immediately gave the impression that he mixes scrap-metal into his Maypo in the morning. His movies, by this stage in his career, were simple vehicles designed around Bronson single-handedly killing as many people as there were pages in the script.
THE STONE KILLER is no different.
Director Michael Winner more than lives up to his last name with a film in which Bronson blows away (or runs over) dozens of characters in the brief span of 90 or so minutes.
BUT -- ironically -- surprisingly -- and somewhat disappointingly -- Bronson does NOT perpetrate today’s dummy-death. That doesn’t mean it’s not a corker!
Even if you blinked in the 5 seconds the director allows you to witness this spectacular execution, something supernatural occurs -- the lids of the viewers' eyes are magically pried apart and literally held wide open so as to enable the dummy-death to be seen each and every time it is screened.
CLOSE EXAMINATION
Mafia Don, Martin Balsam, hires a team of Viet Nam Vets to assassinate the heads of the major crime families who will be gathered in one room for a meeting.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEn6XprPJB7Tno4fTAN9taD3bqfdyPmP2_D0wUqWnr3DKMFZBetoObFV77MPb0GXJpPRZsTxIYCmglAVadXwXCPuXqZtFS7R3_LEb3chp0lmhAYIlrVBBwEImxWsOu5Ujwcd3xApeVF1wn/s400/balsam.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88g7MK96poioOa9-X4mvmzfbAc4hWIJLhTwxQrMyi6kMrfdvXXFSDZj2ZQoLMTsNsodPysgnCW46Gqjc1bqP8Xe21-x8SOnRtt0drP95F6YTap5pjvBt9leRaTa44W9FWby5a1szJOx2Q/s400/sk1.jpg)
The hit team hides under the elevator --
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RSLr7csQP7tZExPY7sTSsWyewd1B4VvCzKACmg2Oip5IL3RgLWF5P-AhXxS6t84bMUxQxonQLuVuAKegJsyaC61mDAszSVjefagf0GqyEth99BQolj_FuzGrFmI4zblt6dqk1NKMkFjc/s400/elevator.jpg)
-- rides it up to the meeting room --
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHSXxf5SemfNkPjeBWOhKLIUxFo9HRhkdGDiun4oSRYmv8ZDuCTXN7SH5eUJr1Gt5NebcXK-FXcxJL2W7KZnyN8bRUf9MDHErtwhMobecPMA21_QFLPIczCc4MaKfHYcsnrpp5EcLShIl/s400/elevator2.jpg)
-- bursts out --
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKL2rAP7-jRxn5bdKtRGgOQHhIRGDOHfoBpIJ25676hVuOfHzNtg8_HBweBHkAqJf3eeWCqiPzKmhbA3x5ux4FPX-Dq6a20eW0xI8XUCqmf73nxAVuxQ2gsM5UDpkjXEvS05h0nLHgEYft/s400/gun3.jpg)
-- and machine guns the assembled Dons.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPHzmK0NDgxNSDwCHBw4Fs-MRgmfKpJJPMMcpBiWGTL4oeTEduQCHonxmYlHxpGoMgKYzWISVjwjkS6YHEzrZxBJH5aDPVkHAWegPXNg_KhMQu9KcBFfVUrCbEznAXup7ezU0Vwk0Lp8C/s400/gun1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPqMBacDpZXDIOefLzHotUEucoLgjVdaXReOJkFn1ZodX_xCar-8n_WIqFT0JkgKHoR-vtYbcxaNfnVZPfv79P9CKCbLNiILF6_sOSBb2itbcYhuiAd9UtS-WEvlq9ZYcLVRsb0NvBD3q/s400/gun2.jpg)
One of them jumps up from the table, runs to the window, turns his back to it, faces his attackers and receives a chest-full of hot lead.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RYwrteoPVy76O2k76Ws0ncuNsAn1Pn7rjKmK7Jal_ZKfaTxgunmM1AleWlaMab8mdS-UxyHZCsRKqbQFil9PadU7qnFUZFawFpr9GRiEFY_BnEovwshpl1zcomWOQD_m4ZabFacSegWx/s400/run1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfkQFc9brOieEpSTDcoUOFDkKiemFtf-yg-g2e5hITFP5Ai_AC1R_QtHSPPp3xGK6VKl1mr4ubmdRQCWbf4Al9dop4CdhaaMQmrXS-htynDGF9NbY8y0tLOiut1hqY0tyIfGXxknpTqDx/s400/run2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUivzOdIdzS37Qh3Q5ivIqKNV9OOsKO2tAFbrv798dnIgS3V1zCVxxdQVo6IXrmcdzkZYdabPX9YzEKuqfUywLTNM2eFyeky6XaSgTEyndMQMxvoNsndn1GBp2VRPIPgRpIuccvfzXRX-/s400/run3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN1K-PvtSMDIL0mGYyYknrNVj8o8S71WWU6w5RHJWlFALLS0-4HbPm6bhkEial2KCUjXfz45BgR1hURg4XW40FgS1EO2eZKCNaMx-rUBZL-gu64Jp49zw1SVcmbOW6QiXEB1DqWDiI3Pj/s400/run4.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJAzZSPWbKU3K_tPplyqyalqpi3Fnwzmz1ph6gI67sb1KQ6Q6YlD6JP7FWGQboaBiXM3N65tTY3zjY0Q0BT1y0wXkcLC_MqIVuC8vbU-TSqQzl9Qh5OWzi0wzYpV177MS60XQRfCzm4Mc/s400/step2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3dLKT9bkfKOXZtKe1qrNWxw_-_Mf1ieCMtw0kGcTYanTH1p1tD5DHba_53meUFdfjQZ5Zan9tWNoUJpTGoto9B1GTrN_R7-KNHucYGV4mtZgJsW2nWAFqf4bPHSL_Xe9WGLcG-1vU5lG/s400/step3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49_4arF8t8TiYh3WReeY-hcNsyXYf0hRqdwu1B6dgKkg3ecskdoZ0a1CaXj839oze19K6SpWDeE_LSSCDAC97K0L8qWXSACZoIb1TJAKpPoFU_I5egRGClz2l8ioTlNFT2KVTV4nR9CYr/s400/run7.jpg)
In medium-shot the Don falls backwards through the window.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzMv9N8BDRhVUX9oJcmLo5s6yKowRRBEzlkXoCMQPaQU3qs4BzsbiQqAtBtcuQApwP8wLWiaH7uRd-9Dmusx18Vew_Q6cjVx-gth1opkTnOVbl4EBLMZ3I1OD2diOZ8BNMSoESHG-oYN8/s400/run8.jpg)
Winner cuts to an exterior long shot of the building, angled up as the Don cartwheels head over heels out the window -- screaming.
The deception is a success! Within a single edit, the actor has fully transformed into an intelligently jointed, weighted and costumed dummy!
The arms extend straight out from the body in a T formation. This has the aerodynamic effect of slowly arresting the cartwheeling motion.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMej82GiLJS0WirscP5HhqECjwe7ZtvqMiDff-wipvxhqnLMqgaouvcjVGdh9B_-PuDhxDofaoyDJ6ryz43yXo9cmQdbVlbw9Eld8c9His-TGA8M9V1rdw6p45hL2ySmRCbfm5fCj4Q9r/s400/t+formation.jpg)
The dummy then settles into a face-down swan dive with the legs bent neatly back 90 degrees at the knees.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPZXlH-za89WxC1Z5Rofam038MXI9woiUB5PLV1iu9d01QYExiCe3U0Fnw0805OLxcMV9V7djuIUiqVwT9zX9DKuel1tNUCcX90QazE1EOc0dg0_A4cxDL3H1A2nogqADysWnwF8_gXfH/s400/swan.jpg)
The screams cease somewhere around here.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbHu4H_Ta2Hw6TQ2g2vBNmLJdKI_kbCIKwbs1JPw_Q41OGnNTDCGKh4kN5q-5NSugUUVF_H9JMHin7Zai83a6B6q1AHQnWJgGa3II8Tm7yXQd3FzEP42aU8nO0RsfQA4WaYqw6mEzbOWW/s400/swan+dive.jpg)
The camera pans downward, gracefully following the death dive. Pinstripes, flapping like wings, the dummy hits the sidewalk with a loud THUMP and small bounce.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3OkFAUk56_Ps6vXjlm9Jll1bRyumY6MDxNS0navrOXHjteYaqGNfubg_1WGJ1xAReu02YmDytT-3dFL_CNAmHzRnkVhxB_T8u6o7Lgf6x6F2rT2_K_AkqA4nF0l2J-mFSaVbpTtg7oQ5/s400/bounce.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1qkQz0Ec2RXJecaPRz4tq75PtFpnmVOTkjWILNqeCY_DwZdLgxb8WJTzlxBeSLU3nEz20xLUF8ffEhJzx29fPy51sC3FXTNw02j-bl7_IoEbGTgN6qAP_NGl8Pq0siwtLGCBvAYYcCc3/s400/prone.jpg)
Bravo!
Butt-ugly. Short. Smug. Tough. Bronson was an actor who immediately gave the impression that he mixes scrap-metal into his Maypo in the morning. His movies, by this stage in his career, were simple vehicles designed around Bronson single-handedly killing as many people as there were pages in the script.
THE STONE KILLER is no different.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAh-kn1THXMnCP9tAQXtcVkZetjzHieGASE3TlW-MioXFlbvwn4e18e2DA4_-DqFGMRo768J36gLqx6Xxxt67djdjmFlb7NURuVm5tX2_0h4Fq1QsJ7dsZOWzBx7dVYBH34oraZ3LUnfEU/s400/stone+killer+title.jpg)
Director Michael Winner more than lives up to his last name with a film in which Bronson blows away (or runs over) dozens of characters in the brief span of 90 or so minutes.
BUT -- ironically -- surprisingly -- and somewhat disappointingly -- Bronson does NOT perpetrate today’s dummy-death. That doesn’t mean it’s not a corker!
Even if you blinked in the 5 seconds the director allows you to witness this spectacular execution, something supernatural occurs -- the lids of the viewers' eyes are magically pried apart and literally held wide open so as to enable the dummy-death to be seen each and every time it is screened.
CLOSE EXAMINATION
Mafia Don, Martin Balsam, hires a team of Viet Nam Vets to assassinate the heads of the major crime families who will be gathered in one room for a meeting.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEn6XprPJB7Tno4fTAN9taD3bqfdyPmP2_D0wUqWnr3DKMFZBetoObFV77MPb0GXJpPRZsTxIYCmglAVadXwXCPuXqZtFS7R3_LEb3chp0lmhAYIlrVBBwEImxWsOu5Ujwcd3xApeVF1wn/s400/balsam.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88g7MK96poioOa9-X4mvmzfbAc4hWIJLhTwxQrMyi6kMrfdvXXFSDZj2ZQoLMTsNsodPysgnCW46Gqjc1bqP8Xe21-x8SOnRtt0drP95F6YTap5pjvBt9leRaTa44W9FWby5a1szJOx2Q/s400/sk1.jpg)
The hit team hides under the elevator --
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RSLr7csQP7tZExPY7sTSsWyewd1B4VvCzKACmg2Oip5IL3RgLWF5P-AhXxS6t84bMUxQxonQLuVuAKegJsyaC61mDAszSVjefagf0GqyEth99BQolj_FuzGrFmI4zblt6dqk1NKMkFjc/s400/elevator.jpg)
-- rides it up to the meeting room --
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHSXxf5SemfNkPjeBWOhKLIUxFo9HRhkdGDiun4oSRYmv8ZDuCTXN7SH5eUJr1Gt5NebcXK-FXcxJL2W7KZnyN8bRUf9MDHErtwhMobecPMA21_QFLPIczCc4MaKfHYcsnrpp5EcLShIl/s400/elevator2.jpg)
-- bursts out --
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKL2rAP7-jRxn5bdKtRGgOQHhIRGDOHfoBpIJ25676hVuOfHzNtg8_HBweBHkAqJf3eeWCqiPzKmhbA3x5ux4FPX-Dq6a20eW0xI8XUCqmf73nxAVuxQ2gsM5UDpkjXEvS05h0nLHgEYft/s400/gun3.jpg)
-- and machine guns the assembled Dons.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPHzmK0NDgxNSDwCHBw4Fs-MRgmfKpJJPMMcpBiWGTL4oeTEduQCHonxmYlHxpGoMgKYzWISVjwjkS6YHEzrZxBJH5aDPVkHAWegPXNg_KhMQu9KcBFfVUrCbEznAXup7ezU0Vwk0Lp8C/s400/gun1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPqMBacDpZXDIOefLzHotUEucoLgjVdaXReOJkFn1ZodX_xCar-8n_WIqFT0JkgKHoR-vtYbcxaNfnVZPfv79P9CKCbLNiILF6_sOSBb2itbcYhuiAd9UtS-WEvlq9ZYcLVRsb0NvBD3q/s400/gun2.jpg)
One of them jumps up from the table, runs to the window, turns his back to it, faces his attackers and receives a chest-full of hot lead.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RYwrteoPVy76O2k76Ws0ncuNsAn1Pn7rjKmK7Jal_ZKfaTxgunmM1AleWlaMab8mdS-UxyHZCsRKqbQFil9PadU7qnFUZFawFpr9GRiEFY_BnEovwshpl1zcomWOQD_m4ZabFacSegWx/s400/run1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfkQFc9brOieEpSTDcoUOFDkKiemFtf-yg-g2e5hITFP5Ai_AC1R_QtHSPPp3xGK6VKl1mr4ubmdRQCWbf4Al9dop4CdhaaMQmrXS-htynDGF9NbY8y0tLOiut1hqY0tyIfGXxknpTqDx/s400/run2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUivzOdIdzS37Qh3Q5ivIqKNV9OOsKO2tAFbrv798dnIgS3V1zCVxxdQVo6IXrmcdzkZYdabPX9YzEKuqfUywLTNM2eFyeky6XaSgTEyndMQMxvoNsndn1GBp2VRPIPgRpIuccvfzXRX-/s400/run3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN1K-PvtSMDIL0mGYyYknrNVj8o8S71WWU6w5RHJWlFALLS0-4HbPm6bhkEial2KCUjXfz45BgR1hURg4XW40FgS1EO2eZKCNaMx-rUBZL-gu64Jp49zw1SVcmbOW6QiXEB1DqWDiI3Pj/s400/run4.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJAzZSPWbKU3K_tPplyqyalqpi3Fnwzmz1ph6gI67sb1KQ6Q6YlD6JP7FWGQboaBiXM3N65tTY3zjY0Q0BT1y0wXkcLC_MqIVuC8vbU-TSqQzl9Qh5OWzi0wzYpV177MS60XQRfCzm4Mc/s400/step2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3dLKT9bkfKOXZtKe1qrNWxw_-_Mf1ieCMtw0kGcTYanTH1p1tD5DHba_53meUFdfjQZ5Zan9tWNoUJpTGoto9B1GTrN_R7-KNHucYGV4mtZgJsW2nWAFqf4bPHSL_Xe9WGLcG-1vU5lG/s400/step3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49_4arF8t8TiYh3WReeY-hcNsyXYf0hRqdwu1B6dgKkg3ecskdoZ0a1CaXj839oze19K6SpWDeE_LSSCDAC97K0L8qWXSACZoIb1TJAKpPoFU_I5egRGClz2l8ioTlNFT2KVTV4nR9CYr/s400/run7.jpg)
In medium-shot the Don falls backwards through the window.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzMv9N8BDRhVUX9oJcmLo5s6yKowRRBEzlkXoCMQPaQU3qs4BzsbiQqAtBtcuQApwP8wLWiaH7uRd-9Dmusx18Vew_Q6cjVx-gth1opkTnOVbl4EBLMZ3I1OD2diOZ8BNMSoESHG-oYN8/s400/run8.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfb0dOOxqRr22fbOflYZGry2llGSVz6jlSWsal5fxJyaVXDC1TvBfIBrOQj9cZsM7uFzn7_51Iu_amiVf1nqln-sBvIdolBsIPSSx-xXsoW87yeOVhe-lIWzGUNlhyphenhyphen4UU4AuMvega-tKmx/s400/run9.jpg)
Winner cuts to an exterior long shot of the building, angled up as the Don cartwheels head over heels out the window -- screaming.
The deception is a success! Within a single edit, the actor has fully transformed into an intelligently jointed, weighted and costumed dummy!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegrifYRIPsJqe1zQKHd5gEHQGvmTumabMaW39BrrgwhwczxJdpLBV8tPigsakYLXJx-Z7Fr55M8fvstTNvquj1dl-sva0_o5wApNLUJS4QhseO-Ng30rBY5oTn6aNVxE-X0C4hl7QAMsM/s400/screaming.jpg)
The arms extend straight out from the body in a T formation. This has the aerodynamic effect of slowly arresting the cartwheeling motion.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMej82GiLJS0WirscP5HhqECjwe7ZtvqMiDff-wipvxhqnLMqgaouvcjVGdh9B_-PuDhxDofaoyDJ6ryz43yXo9cmQdbVlbw9Eld8c9His-TGA8M9V1rdw6p45hL2ySmRCbfm5fCj4Q9r/s400/t+formation.jpg)
The dummy then settles into a face-down swan dive with the legs bent neatly back 90 degrees at the knees.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPZXlH-za89WxC1Z5Rofam038MXI9woiUB5PLV1iu9d01QYExiCe3U0Fnw0805OLxcMV9V7djuIUiqVwT9zX9DKuel1tNUCcX90QazE1EOc0dg0_A4cxDL3H1A2nogqADysWnwF8_gXfH/s400/swan.jpg)
The screams cease somewhere around here.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbHu4H_Ta2Hw6TQ2g2vBNmLJdKI_kbCIKwbs1JPw_Q41OGnNTDCGKh4kN5q-5NSugUUVF_H9JMHin7Zai83a6B6q1AHQnWJgGa3II8Tm7yXQd3FzEP42aU8nO0RsfQA4WaYqw6mEzbOWW/s400/swan+dive.jpg)
The camera pans downward, gracefully following the death dive. Pinstripes, flapping like wings, the dummy hits the sidewalk with a loud THUMP and small bounce.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3OkFAUk56_Ps6vXjlm9Jll1bRyumY6MDxNS0navrOXHjteYaqGNfubg_1WGJ1xAReu02YmDytT-3dFL_CNAmHzRnkVhxB_T8u6o7Lgf6x6F2rT2_K_AkqA4nF0l2J-mFSaVbpTtg7oQ5/s400/bounce.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1qkQz0Ec2RXJecaPRz4tq75PtFpnmVOTkjWILNqeCY_DwZdLgxb8WJTzlxBeSLU3nEz20xLUF8ffEhJzx29fPy51sC3FXTNw02j-bl7_IoEbGTgN6qAP_NGl8Pq0siwtLGCBvAYYcCc3/s400/prone.jpg)
Bravo!
1 comment:
One more movie forever altered by the legacy of 9/11.
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