Opiniones de usuarios

Fascinating film about the life and lifestyle of a professional hit-man, a Mechanic, and how dangerous that lifestyle can be not just for the person that gets "Hit" but also for the "Hitman" himself. Arthur Bishop, Charles Bronson, is the top "Mechanic" in the business and we see in the beginning of the movie how he does his job.

Getting his orders through the mail Bishop sets up his victim by casing out his hotel room and then planting an explosive in his bookcase and rigging his gas-range to leak slowly so he wouldn't notice. Then wait hidden ,across the street facing his intended victim's room, until the time is right for him to get off a shot. Not at the victim but at the bookcase to make it look like the he died in a tragic accident instead of an assassins bullet.

You see this all happening in the first fifteen minutes of the movie without a single word of dialog but it's done so well that you know exactly what's happening on the screen. The "hit job" that Bishop had at the start of the movie turned out to be a flaming success.

One afternoon Bishop gets a call from a old friend "Big" Harry, Keenan Wynn. McKenna about some trouble he's having with the organization and if Bishop can help him out. Being that Bishop's father was one of the founders of the organization "Big" Harry feels he can get whatever trouble he has with it smooths out. Bishop tells "Big" Harry he'll see what he could do.

The next morning Bishop gets an envelope in the mail from the organization for his next hit and the person Bishop is contracted to knock off is non other then "Big" Harry. Going through the motions as usual Bishop plans his "Hit" on "Big" Harry with cold calculations and no emotions at all even though he knew "Big" Harry since he was a little boy.

Getting "Big" Harry to meet him in a secluded place by the beach Bishop takes a number of shot at him but not trying to kill him but to induce "Big" Harry to have a fatal heart attack which he does. This is doe by Bishop so that the police and maybe even his fellow mobsters wouldn't be suspicious of any foul play in "Big" Harry's death.

"Big" Harry's son Steve, Jan-Michael Vincent who Bishop met when he came to see "Big" Harry begins to take a very strong liking to him after his fathers death. It's as if Steve wanted Bishop to be his fathers replacement. Even though at the time when Bishop saw Steve with his father they weren't exactly that close and Steve seemed to have a dislike and resentment for his dad even at his funeral that Bishop attended.

It seems that Steve wants to become a "Mechanic" like Bishop and wants to learn the tools of the trade from him, who's the best in the business. Steve likes Bishop's pad in the country and fancy sports car and most of all the danger of his job that is very exciting for the young man who was bored with his life of unending parties. You start to wonder if thats really the reason Steve is so interested to be around Bishop? Does Steve want to get even with Bishop, who Steve seems to know, killed his father? And why does Bishop seem to be so agreeable with Steve in teaching him about the art of killing in secret? Or is Bishop not as naive as he seems to be and is setting Steve up for something?

Intelligent film about the dirty business of the assassination game with Charles Bronson and Jan- Michael Vincent very good as cold-blooded killers who show no emotion at what they do. Slow in the action department, for a Charles Bronson movie, at first but better acted and written then most of the movies that he made back then in the 1970's. With an ending that's one of the best and most surprising finals you'll ever see in any movie.

The forty-two year old hit-man Arthur Bishop (Charles Bronson) is frequently hired to kill without a trace and he carefully studies the profiles of his victims to find the perfect and clean way to execute them.

When he is hired to kill "Big" Harry McKenna (Keenan Wynn), who was a former friend of his father, Arthur meets his son Steve McKenna (Jan- Michael Vincent) asking money to Harry at home. Later in Harry's funeral, Steve asks for a ride to Arthur and they become very close. Arthur finds potential in the twenty-four year old Steve to become a professional killer and he invites the youngster to form a partnership with him. However his attitude displeases the Powers that Be and Arthur is sent to Naples to kill a mobster. Arthur finds a file about him in a drawer at Steve's house but he invites Steve to travel with him to Italy. Sooner they learn that someone wants them to see Naples and die.

"The Mechanic" is an engaging film by Michael Winner with another great performance of Charles Bronson in the role of a "mechanic", meaning a hired hit-man that kills his victims without leaving a trace. One of the best lines in this film is when he tells to Steve that murder is only killing without a license. Jan-Michael Vincent has one of his best performances in the role of a youngster that believe that he has learned how to lure an experienced man. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Assassino a Preço Fixo" ("Killer at a Fixed Price")

Another classic Bronson movie and not to be missed. This time Charles is Arthur Bishop, a merciless, unfeeling, uncaring and strictly by the book assassin who is the standard by which all other professional killers are measured. Meticulous to a fault and as calculatingly efficient as can be, Bishop systematically completes his missions and returns to his mansion each night. Soon after eliminating one of his old friends, he becomes attached to the dead man's young and impertinent son Steve (John Michael Vincent), which quickly progresses from friendship to business relationship. Bishop agrees to mentor Steve in the tricks of the trade as an "associate" and after working with him he is free to do as he pleases. However, Bishop quickly discovers that is apt pupil is more nefarious than he appears as Steve has already accepted a contract on Bishop's life. But what Arthur doesn't realize yet is "the organization" to which Bishop belongs now wants him eliminated and will stop at nothing to achieve this goal. Bishop has broken a rule in taking Steve under his wing without first getting approval of "The Man" and is therefore marked for death. This film is filled with action, intrigue, and of course suspense as you continue to wonder the whole time which "mechanic" is gonna get his car fixed first. The ending is quite unpredictable for a 70's Bronson movie but enjoyable to the last second. Also features a cameo by Bronson's late wife Jill Ireland. One of Charles Bronson's better accomplishments on the silver screen I sure was impressed.

15. THE MECHANIC (action, 1972) Arthur Bishop (Charles Bronson) is the mechanic, a hit man hired by the Organization as an assassin. Bishop's contact to the Organization is Harry, a long time confidant of his late father. Bishop is meticulous in his work. He is without feelings or remorse, the consummate professional. Bishop's next target is Harry. He carries the job through without hesitation. Harry's son Steve (Jan-Michael Vincent) lives the life of a dilettante playboy. He suspects Bishop's involvement in his father's death, and tries to find out what his ties to the Organization truly are.

Critique: As far as spy and espionage films go 'The Mechanic' is one of the best. Not only for those Charles Bronson aficionados (like myself), but for lovers of well-made action films. Michael Winner's clever direction adds a sparkle to the genre. He sets up interesting insights into an assassin's mode of work.

A cut above Death Wish (1974- Bronson's best known film), in both content and script, Bronson's performance is the epitome of cool. He's perfect at playing a character that has been totally detached from the outside world, and a man trapped in a world he can only have created. In the same way that Steve McQueen used his laconic presence to great effect, Winner makes full use of Bronson's craggy features.

QUOTE: Bishop: "Murder is killing without a license. Everybody kills."

The first 15 minutes has no dialog whatsoever. Arthur Bishop (Charles Bronson) is a hired killer and we see him at work as he stalks his target for the opening of the movie. He is the iconic lone gunman. He ends up with a young protégé Steve McKenna (Jan-Michael Vincent). Jill Ireland plays a call girl.

The action is a cross between gritty brutality and unlikely Bond action. It's somewhat watchable. There's enough explosions to keep us entertained. It's violent but it doesn't have a viewpoint like Death Wish. If you're a Charles Bronson Death Wish fan, you'll like this. Or then again, maybe you're a Jan-Michael Vincent fan.

They sure don't make them like this anymore: smart, realistic, tough and fascinating. Charles Bronson is in top form here, he plays a hit man with creative and untraceable way methods of killing, he is like a "death doctor" and when he "fix something, it never works again". But things aren't so good for him lately, he suffers from anxiety and collapses in one memorable scene. He then decides to take under his wing the young Steve Mackenna (Jan Michael Vincent in one of his better roles) and teach his the skills of the trade. Director Michael Winner put together a piece of classic cinema with everything seems to work perfectly. The cinematography is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, especially the final scenes located in Italy. It's a shame that this film is almost unknown to the young generation and is way underrated here. The twisted ending certainly lifts up the already high level of the film. Highly recommended 10/10.

Effective thriller stars Bronson as Arthur Bishop who teaches a younger assassin named Steve McKenna (Jan-Michael Vincent) the tricks of the trade. The Mechanic emerges at break-neck pace but once it gets started it becomes an engrossingly savage thriller. Also watch for the twist ending.

This is the original version of "The Mechanic" and I have not seen the remake....mostly because I am not a big fan of remakes. I do know the remake has a different ending

The film follows the exploits of Arthur Bishop (Charles Bronson), a hired killer or 'mechanic'. Much of the film just shows the complex way that Bishop plans and executes the killings...as if his actions as works of art. And, in most cases he wants to make these deaths look like accidents. But this very cold and calculating killer lets his guard down a bit when he takes a young apprentice under his wing. Steven McKenna (Jan-Michael Vincent) is actually the son of one of Bishop's contracts...and like Bishop, Steven seems to have little conscience or remorse. To see where all this is headed, see the film.

Considering the plot, it isn't very surprising that is a violent action film. However, the violence wasn't generally gratuitous and the plot quite exciting. Not Bronson's best, but among his best...though I am pretty sure many will hate the downbeat ending. I actually thought the ending was great.

Classic Charles Bronson. I've only recently really started getting more into his older films; I'm fluent with the Death Wish series. The Mechanic is one of his best, if not one of THE best action/thriller films I've seen. Very cleverly done, particularly his methods of killing. I also like the term used to describe assassins; that's new to me. The movie had me intrigued throughout, with Bronson playing the part very well; very few people could look as wrong as Bronson. But it's the ending that makes the movie that much better, because it's totally unexpected. I want to 'spoil' it so bad but I won't....although other user reviews here may have already. I'll just say that you'll be completely amped afterwards, your jaw will drop to the floor at how cool and unexpected it is. One of the true classic action films; the rating on here should be higher.

***1/2 out of **** stars.

"The Mechanic" looks good. It was well shot, and uses good locations. Its beginning is also promising: rougly 15 minutes of no dialogue as we watch the hitman (or "mechanic") prepare for his next job.

But is doesn't hold together that well. There is little in the way of a strong thread to tie the movie together, and I have a theory about why that is. The movie is supposed to be about the relationship between an ageing hitman and the young gun he takes under his wing. But in the original screenplay, this relationship was also sexual. They weren't going to go that route in the '70s - hell, they might not even do it now - and so they had to pull back.

It leaves us with some set pieces that could have been good in a better movie, and absolutely no suspense.

Too bad, as Bronson is good, and so is Jan-Michael Vincent.

The early seventies was a great period for Bronson. Having already reached fifty and a string of classics under his belt as a support player in the sixties, the seventies was his decade. His ice cool tough guy image and immaculate physique made up for his rugged leading man looks and put him more in line ahead of the Redfords and the Newman's for gritty urban thrillers. In Basic terms Bronson could play a ruthless good guy, he had played his fair share of Indians and Mexican Bandits, but never was he better cast than when he portrayed Arthur Bishop, professional hitman for the Mob, The Mechanic.

With great locations, exciting outbursts of action and a surprise twist, this is seventies action entertainment at it's best and it was the period where Director Michael Winner's collaboration with Bronson proved to be his best work to date. They went on to make another great urban crime thriller THE STONE KILLER and then DEATH WISH, Bronson's most famous movie.

It's a shame that both Bronson and Winner's films and reputations went down hill in the eighties but perhaps age went against the seventies icon, as for Winner he returned to Britain and went back to making dire comedies.

But the seventies saw Bronson in many roles that would categorise him as typecast but perhaps he knew his limitations and knew he was never gonna be a romantic lead. Although his late wife, Jill Ireland may have disagreed, she appeared alongside him several times over the space of twenties years, check out a movie entitled FROM NOON TIL THREE, a romantic western that people didn't want to see.

Audiences want to see Bronson as tough, cool, calculated and deadly that's why THE MECHANIC is the perfect vehicle for the screen legend.

Arthur Bishop (Charles Bronson) is a very professional hit man , he is the number one killing people with a bullet whose reputation has caught up with him. Bishop makes his missions of the way more mechanic and perfect, for that reason he is known as ¨The mechanic¨. His last assignment results to be the killing an important business man . Stressed and tired plans to get out after one last job. He always works alone but he takes an apprentice (Jan-Michael Vincent) who learns the criminal lessons from his master, both have innumerable ways to murder. Both of whom form a relentless killer team but Bishop is caught in the middle of treason. As hot-headed Jan-Michael Vincent want to off Bronson and attempts to assume the position of top hit-man.

This crime thriller packs intrigue, suspense, noisy action-packed with exciting motorcycle pursuit,explosive excitement, thrills and lots of violence.Bronson with his usual stoic acting displays efficiently his weapons and killing mercilessly his objectives .It's certainly thrilling , though the morality may be questionable , even in this time, as the spectators were clearly on the Bronson's side in spite of being a cruel killer . Bronson as a wealthy murderer for a powerful organization offers the sort of monolithic acting as always. Furthermore, appears a nice secondary cast , as Keenan Wynn , Frank DeKova and brief performance of Jill Ireland, Bronson's wife, as Bishop's love interest, but the romance isn't what this movie is about and director knows his action. It packs atmospheric musical score composed, orchestrated and performed by Jerry Fielding, Sam Peckimpah's usual musician. Colorful cinematography by Richard H. Kline for US filming and Robert Paynter for scenes shot in Napoles where is partially set the action with spectacular scenes of confrontation on road and a yacht. This big hit motion picture is professionally directed by Michael Winner such as the successive films with his main star, Charles Bronson. In the mid-70 Winner had great commercial hit , a box office success he repeated when badly in need of other hit smashes made similar movies, but both, Bronson and Winner teaming again, looked increasingly passionless and mechanical in the later years of their partnership. After directing the successful ¨Death wish¨¨ he made worst sequels in which Bronson-Paul Kersey goes on to torture robbers, all of them inferior and the violence could be deemed excessive, are the following : ¨Death wish II¨ with Jill Ireland and Vincent Gardenia, ¨Death wish III¨ with Ed Lauter and Deborah Raffin. Subsequently Michael Winner career was failed ,alternating some hit as ¨the sentinel¨ and various flops as ¨Firepower,The big sleep,The wicked lady, Appointed with death, A chorus of disapproval, and Bullseye¨.

This was the first of many teamings between British action director Michael Winner and Charles Bronson, whose career rocketed to superstardom during the 1970s. In The Mechanic, Bronson plays a low-key hitman with high-tech capabilities who takes on a young apprentice (Jan-Michael Vincent). The film is a rare combination of modern and dated; the set-decoration and action is fashionable, but the score by Jerry Fielding is a little passé, and there's a similar unevenness in Winner's direction, which is cold and, well, mechanic. Only occasionally does he strike a real nerve, such as with the 16-minute wordless opening or the chilling finale. The main problem, however, is that the character-relation between Bronson and Vincent, the plot's focal-point, is underdeveloped (in screenwriter Lewis John Carlino's original script their relation was explicitly gay, which may explain why something seems to be missing here). For nostalgics, however, the film has its attraction, and Bronson exhibits some of the composed strength which made him so popular during the untalkative 70s.

Charles Bronson is a legend of cinema that's a fact & i love the rugged tough action hero with a cool moustache & my first movie i ever saw of his was his iconic classic vigilante movie Death Wish (1974) that i absolutely love.

The Mechanic is directed by Michael Winner who did lots of films with Bronson & i think this & Death Wish are the best of their work together & the most grittiest & darkest. Charles Bronson gives an excellent performance here as ageing Hitman Arthur Bishop who is troubled,lost & mentally tortured by his work & Bronson really gives that lost hopeless & lonely feel to his character but is still deadly & tough it's an excellent performance.

This is one of Bronson's best films it deserves a place next to Death Wish & Mr.Majestyk all BRILLIANT 70's Thriller movies made with power & grit & starring the original tough guy action hero Bronson.

A true old school action Thriller that's moody,dark & totally entertaining & you get lost with Bronson in this classic that has a fantastic old 70's music score it's great & Nostalgic in the way that it's a lost era the 1970's & Bronson is gone too R.I.P to a legend. A great story about training a new young hitman & things go wrong & a great character study wrapped up in a beautifully filmed 70's masterpiece.

Since the sixties, most of the movies in which I have watched Charles Bronson, he was always the tough guy...gritty man of action...macho man (The Great Escape, Magnificent Seven, Chato's Land, Mr Majestyck, Death Wish I to IV, Family of Cops I to III, Telefon, Murphy's Law, Red Sun, 10 to Midnight, The Evil That Men Do...) except for one, The Sandpiper, in which he played a painter, opposite Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor. I have always enjoyed watching his movies.

I consider this particular one as the best of his action movies.

The storyline is pretty straight-forward, except for an unexpected twist at the end: A contract hit-man, seemingly about to retire, took on a cocky young man as protégé, who eventually turned the table on the master.

Charles Bronson, played the contract hit-man (hence, the name, The Mechanic), Arthur Bishop. He was a loner but had expensive tastes. He worked for a sinister group known only as The Organisation, which issued all the contract hits. (It so happened that all the hits were criminals.) He took on Steve McKenna (played menacingly by Jan-Michael Vincent) as his protégé. His mind was cold as ice & apparently twisted. They screwed up one hit assignment while working together, after which The Organisation, was upset & put out a contract on Bishop. Apparently, McKenna took up the contract. The rest of the movie was a battle of wits among the two hit men.

What struck me most about the movie was the quiet characterization of a contract hit during the first fifteen minutes or so. No dialog at all,...only a very sober music score. Bishop studied the habits, life-style & schedule of his target, with meticulous observation & detailed planning. Thereafter, the movie went on to show Bishop, working with McKenna, going after different targets - each with different circumstances & each executed differently...ruthlessly, of course. The hot-pursuit action sequences - there were many of them - in the movie were beautifully orchestrated,...really exciting, especially the motor-cycle chase segment.

There seemed to be one puzzling part in the movie: McKenna happened to be the son of one of Bishop's hit victims. Bishop knew McKenna's father, Big Harry (played by Keenan Wynn) since he was a kid. In fact, Big Harry was an associate of Bishop's own father, who also happened to be a founding father of The Organisation. I can only conclude this way: hit men have certainly to be cold-blooded animals. Not only that, they have to be calculatingly efficient in their work.

The last fifteen minutes of the movie were quite unexpected. I would have preferred a totally different outcome. Go & watch this movie to find out what I meant.

On the whole, I find The Mechanic, to be an intelligent action thriller, with Charles Bronson in his best action role!

An existential story of an ageing hit-man. It is set in many exotic locations including italy. Charles Bronson's house in the film is something else. The supporting actors were cheesy. Jan Michael Vincent (who plays the hit-man's protégé) cannot hold his own when Bronson is around. The action scenes were too over the top when you consider that the leading man was going through some sort of personal crisis. The ending is foreshadowed in the middle of the film when Bronson takes Jan Michael to a judo match. Jill Ireland makes a token appearance. THE MECHANIC looks quite good on blu ray. Especially the beach and sea scenes filmed in Italy.

Yes, this film is exelent and shows Bronson at his very best. Although it was made 30 years ago it still rates as one of the best action movies I have ever seen. The action scenes are very well made, though they cannot be compared to how things are done today. It makes you think that there may not be need for enormous amounts of of effects and animation to make a film work. More important is a good story, actors who knows how to get the job done and a director who have the ability to create an suspenseful atmosphere. The film has sparse use of dialogue and music. Instead the images tells the story. In my opinion Bronson was never cooler than in this film.

Of course, we all remember that explosive end to this film about an aging hit-man, who makes one dire mistake, by taking on a new young protégé, which he shouldn't of. Was it out of loneliness, or has this guy, found out there's no meaning to his life anymore? His pad is unbelievable, it almost made me think of taking this career path. Made just before Death Wish, cragged faced Bronson, does what he does best. The first fifteen minutes, that has Bronson, setting up one hell of a hit, sniper rifle and all, was so impressive, where rigging that guy's apartment, tampering with the gas stove whatever, you really wondered how the hit was gonna go down. In contrast, with this part of the film, being so wowing, it makes the rest of the film look ordinary, amongst some thrilling bits, involving the other hits. Jan Michael Vincent, doesn't give his role enough clout, as the all American nice guy, a hounding and avid learner, where his intentions were clear from the start, such a predictability. The motorcycle chase was the worse one in history, as well as boring and dull, I couldn't wait for it to be over. The young girl suicide scene was absolutely pointless and stupid, where Bronson's and Vincent's indifference to it, made them at that moment, almost unlikeable. Bronson was strong in this, a mixture of good and bad, where his acting partner didn't do him justice, and really two scenes with Jill Ireland, his girl here, were almost forgettable. What The Mechanic serves to do as a film in simplistic plot, is show you shallow the life of a hit-man can be, and what attitudes you have to adapt to, and not let personal issues get in the way. But also it makes you wonder, is it time to get out of this life when the goings good. It's a choice that worries us, concerning Bronson's character. Near the end, the last turning point was exciting to see, who was gonna be gotten to first, where I guess in one sick sense, they both came out even. I have a way good feeling the remake is better and of course, more action packed and exciting, though. It just would of been great if the rest of the movie kept up it's end of bargain, to it's explosive starting, where mostly the rest of the film, sad to say, is just one of ordinary. The "Keeping up the end of the bargain" factor, is a failing that can movies really suck. Even back in 1972.