After his wife is murdered by street punks, a pacifistic New York City architect becomes a one-man vigilante squad, prowling the streets for would-be muggers after dark.
Acting
Bronson's eyes do more than his dialogue ever could.
Direction
Winner makes NYC feel like a rotting tooth.
Score
Herbie Hancock's jazz-funk somehow works.
Director
Michael Winner
Charles Bronson
Paul Kersey
Hope Lange
Joanna Kersey
Vincent Gardenia
Frank Ochoa
Steven Keats
Jack Toby
William Redfield
Sam Kreutzer
Stuart Margolin
Aimes Jainchill
Stephen Elliott
Police Commissioner
Kathleen Tolan
Carol Toby
Jack Wallace
Hank
Fred J. Scollay
District Attorney
Robert Kya-Hill
Joe Charles
Edward Grover
Lt. Briggs
Jeff Goldblum
Freak #1
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during NYC's 1975 fiscal crisis, it became a phenomenon with audiences craving order—Bernie Goetz cited it as inspiration a decade later.
Author Brian Garfield hated this adaptation; his novel was meant to condemn vigilantism, not celebrate it.
US
