Charles Buchinsky, better known as Charles Bronson, was a World War Two veteran who went on to superstardom as one of the most iconic “tough guys” in film history.
Balladeer’s Blog has reviewed several of his westerns so far, but this time I’ll examine Bronson’s offbeat, uncharacteristic starring roles.
SOMEONE BEHIND THE DOOR (1971) – This Eurothriller directed by Nicolas Gessner was also released as Two Minds for Murder. Charles Bronson stars as an amnesiac patient of sinister brain-surgeon and psychiatrist Laurence Jeffries (Anthony Perkins himself).
Jeffries knows his wife is cheating on him and subjects Bronson – billed as the Stranger – to unethical psychological programming to make him think the brain surgeon-psychiatrist’s wife is really his wife, then manipulate him into murdering her.
In the role of unfaithful wife Frances Jeffries is Bronson’s wife Jill Ireland, since we’re in the period when Charles dragged her into everything with him like she was Linda McCartney to his Paul. The story isn’t plausible, of course, but artsy Eurothrillers always accentuated atmosphere and “what if” situations over realistic plots.
Anthony Perkins tones down his twitchiness a bit and Bronson is credible as the manipulated amnesiac thinking he’s met the wife his memory loss wiped from his mind.
To say anything more would give away too many spoilers. Continue reading
*** This unit was active from March 1916 to February 1918, at which time it was disestablished and its pilots were absorbed into the official United States armed forces because America had by then been one of the belligerent nations for nearly a year. 
NORMAN PRINCE – This founding member of the unit was a graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School. He was an early enthusiast of the new field of flying and earned his pilot’s license in 1911. 
Veterans Day is tomorrow, so here’s another World War One post. 
NUMBER FIVE FALTERS – Down in NCAA Division Three, the UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS played host to the country’s number 5 HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY COWBOYS. At the Half the score was knotted up at 7-7 but the 3rd Quarter ended with the Cowboys up 10-7. In the 4th, the Crusaders came from behind for a 21-17 Upset. 
UNLUCKY OVER LUCKY – Staying in D3 for a moment, the unlucky number 13 CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS played the visiting lucky number 7 SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEA GULLS. The Sea Gulls were up 30-28 at the midpoint of the game. From there, the Captains rallied to win out 45-42. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER EIGHT – In the NAIA, the 15th ranked COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES visited the number 8 team in the nation – the CARROLL COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS. CC led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter but by Halftime the Coyotes held a 26-7 advantage. After the break, the College of Idaho outscored the Fighting Saints 10-6 for a 36-13 manhandling. 
CAPTAIN WIZARD 
Balladeer’s Blog examines American Flying Ace Eddie Rickenbacker as we lead up to another November 11th, now called Veterans Day but formerly known as Armistice Day since November 11th, 1918 marked the end of World War One. 
FOES (1977) – Though I’m reviewing this movie under my Bad and Weird Movies category, let me be clear that Foes is not bad and it is weird in the best way possible. I’ve watched the 91-minute version with Jerry Hardin (Deep Throat from The X-Files) and Macdonald Carey (“Like sands through the hourglass …”) top billed AND the 72-minute version with just the virtual unknowns appearing. 
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