Death Hunt

[Moltisanti]

Big thanks to HBO for allowing me to see DEATH HUNT not cut up for broadcast television. I certainly enjoyed when I first saw it with commercial interruptions, but it’s so much better with Lee Marvin’s salty, though not gratuitous, dialog intact. Not to mention all the crimson ooze that comes pouring from those who dare bring chaos to Charles Bronson’s solitary trapper existence.

Tons of familiar faces all over this film. When Bronson’s cabin is attacked there was one face I caught that I knew I had seen before but I could not place it right away. It was driving me batty for about 15 seconds and then it finally hit me that it was Seinfeld’s Uncle Leo. Then as soon as I realized I was looking at Uncle Leo in a coonskin cap, Bronson shoots him in the eyes.

Terrific shitbag performance from Ed Lauter. From his love of dog fighting to barging in on Marvin as he snuggles with Angie Dickinson, Lauter is the picture of uncouth. Somewhat brave work from Lauter as well. He doesn’t half-ass it at all when he starts macking on studly Mountie Andrew Stevens.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Moltisanti

Then as soon as I realized I was looking at Uncle Leo in a coonskin cap, Bronson shoots him in the eyes.

Sold.

[Judas Booth]

I haven't seen this since the 1980s (I think that I saw it on HBO five or six times), but I remember it being a very cool movie. It certainly merits a rewatch.

[Bluelouboyle]

Awesome movie. Bronson leaps snow-capped chasms in a single bound.

[Moltisanti]

Give me a basic stunt like that over some CGI robots any day.

I totally forgot about the husky lady that Carl Weathers sleeps with who, like Ed Lauter, has the hots for Andrew Stevens. Or Weathers' offering of "You want a piece of this Buffalo woman?" to Stevens.

[HunterTarantino]

Just DVR'd this off HBO, can't wait to check it out. Heard nothing but good things in the B-action thread.

[soylentgreen]

I love Lauter. The guy is like some character actor easter egg. When you come across him in something, a wave of self-satisfaction washes over you.

His acting chops are never clearer than in the fact that he's honed that 'asshole' persona to such a fine degree that he can literally bend it around whatever film he's in and somehow make it a breath of fresh 'asshole'.

He can be the asshole with a sincere motivation. Or he can be the asshole that can (and can't wait to) fuck your shit up.

[JudgeSmails]

I've probably seen this 34 times as it used to run constantly on AMC. I'd like to see this uncut version, need to check that out. What a great cast with so many quality character actors. I like how it ends as well.

[Peter Judson]

So many grizzled, squinty men grizzling and squinting. I haven't seen this in years, but will pull out my old copy for a rewatch. Would it make a good double feature with Emperor of the North Pole?

[Rene (Mr.Eko)]

As a kid I used to watch it on friday nights on USA. I didn't get to see it again until AMC started showing it on a constant rotation. Then I picked up the Anchor Bay dvd before it went out of print.

It's bloody, violent, and has Lauter kissing Andrew Stevens. Not to mention William Sanderson shooting a guy in the back and just shrugging it off.

I love the bit where they cheer on that guy with one eye and when he bursts into the cabin Bronson just says "Welcome!" then blows him away.

[Moltisanti]

Originally Posted by Rene (Mr.Eko)

It's bloody, violent, and has Lauter kissing Andrew Stevens. Not to mention William Sanderson shooting a guy in the back and just shrugging it off.

That's Uncle Leo! Sanderson was annoyed and finished him off because he keeps screaming "I'M BLIND! I'M BLIND!" after Bronson pops him in the eyes.

[Rene (Mr.Eko)]

Yeah, now I remember. He was in his way, and he just shot him to get him out of his way.

I like when Sanderson gets his arm stuck in the bear trap and starts screaming and Marvin and Weathers punch him to knock him out.

[Paul McCartney]

This was directed by Peter Hunt, of ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE fame. He never seemed to get the classy productions he deserved - or, if he did, he had an unerring way of making them look really cheap and feverish - but he was a bona-fide good director. He was also gay as hell, which makes it weird that his movie are so macho and have such good action.

SHOUT AT THE DEVIL also stars Lee Marvin, this time as a zany eccentric comic foil to a dapper Roger Moore (!!!), and has some good action scenes and lots of tasteless racism. Recommended, sort of.

He also directed an episode of THE PERSUADERS where Tony Curtis gets handcuffed to a briefcase with a bomb in it, and then has a sexy shower.

[Moltisanti]

SHOUT AT THE DEVIL is one I should check out.

All in all I'd say Peter Hunt did a good job with DEATH HUNT. Except for some of the musical choices and for a plane crash toward the end which utilizied some real shoddy minature work. Other than that, no complaints.

[Robert Hill]

Originally Posted by Moltisanti

SHOUT AT THE DEVIL is one I should check out.

All in all I'd say Peter Hunt did a good job with DEATH HUNT. Except for some of the musical choices and for a plane crash toward the end which utilizied some real shoddy minature work. Other than that, no complaints.

you would like SHOUT AT THE DEVIL it a good littler action flick. they blow up a German battleship. with a box of cigars.

[Paul McCartney]

That's not even the unusual part. The unusual part is when the big punch-up between hardass Lee Marvin and her majesty Roger Moore lasts for longer than 4 seconds.

It's actually a really great fight scene. One of those THEY LIVE-style marathon sessions, with Marvin and Moore throwing each other through walls, etc. The best part of the movie by a country mile.