The Stone Killer ** (1973, Charles Bronson, Martin Balsam, Jack Colvin) – Classic Movie Review 7775

The Stone Killer (1973) is another violent, unattractive Charles Bronson – Michael Winner action thriller film, released a year before their box-office bonanza with Death Wish, this time with the stone-faced Bronson as an LA cop doggedly following the trail after Mafia killers.

Bronson’s top police detective character Lou Torrey stumbles on to a mobster’s plot to settle a 40-year grudge by staging a massacre, using Vietnam veterans. Martin Balsam and Jack Colvin co-star as Al Vescari and Jumper.

Charles Bronson plays top police detective Lou Torrey in The Stone Killer (1973).

The Stone Killer is more Weary Charlie than Dirty Harry, with even more violence and even more repulsive characters. But the basic action delivers some effective easy thrills and the welcome character-actor cast is very capable. As always, Winner is good at casting and directing actors. It was a gift and a passion of his, and it paid off. And, it has to be said, that very few stars bring back the flavor of the Seventies as sharply as Bronson.

Gerald Wilson’s brisk screenplay is based on the John Gardner novel A Complete State of Death.

Also in the cast are David Sheiner, Norman Fell, Stuart Margolin, Paul Koslo, Ralph Waite, Lisabeth Hush, Kelley [Kelly] Miles, David Moody, Frank Campanella, Eddie Firestone, Stuart Margolin, Walter Burke, John Ritter, Alfred Ryder, Walter Burke, Charles Tyner, and Byron Morrow.

Bronson and Winner had just made The Mechanic together.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7775

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