Death Wish | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Michael Winner |
Screenplay by | Wendell Mayes |
Based on | Death Wish by Brian Garfield |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Arthur J. Ornitz |
Edited by | Bernard Gribble |
Music by | Herbie Hancock |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 94 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $3.7 million[2] |
Box office | $30 million (US/West Germany) $20.3 million (worldwide rentals)[2] |
Death Wish is a 1974 American vigilante action film directed by Michael Winner. The film, loosely based on the 1972 novel of the same title by Brian Garfield and the first film in the Death Wish film series, stars Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey, alongside Hope Lange, Vincent Gardenia, William Redfield, Kathleen Tolan and Christopher Guest. In the film, Paul Kersey, an architect leading a peaceful life, resorts to vigilantism after his wife gets murdered and daughter raped during a home invasion.
At the time of release, Death Wish was criticized for its apparent support of vigilantism and advocating unlimited punishment of criminals.[3] The novel allegedly denounced vigilantism, whereas the film embraced the notion. The film was a commercial success and resonated with the public in the United States, which was experiencing increasing crime rates during the 1970s.[4]