Are they homosexuals?
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djensen1 — 14 years ago(January 27, 2012 07:16 PM)
And Mr. Kidd and Mr. Wint in
Diamonds Are Forever
in 1971, which was before
The Mechanic
. The Jackal has sex with a man as well as a woman in
Day of the Jackal
in 1973, right after
The Mechanic
.
Then there's Camp Freddy in 1969's
The Italian Job
, altho he's more of a gangster, not specifically a hit man. And much later, James Gandolfini played a gay hit man in
The Mexican
.
soooo, not first and not unique. Actually, about as trite as an albino hit man (
Foul Play, Stick, Lethal Weapon, Da Vinci Code, Moby Dick
*).
*lol -
dkaybee — 18 years ago(January 19, 2008 06:20 PM)
I'd heard this as well, that the story was originally about two characters who's relationship was sexually ambiguous. There is a lot of dialogue here that supports that undercurrent. Personally, I found that element added something to the film, not detracted from it.
Bronson was probably afraid that playing an openly gay character in a major film back in 1972 would sound the death knell for his career. Hopefully he didn't have anything personally against gay people. -
korevette — 10 years ago(May 30, 2015 11:16 AM)
Bronson was probably afraid that playing an openly gay character in a major film back in 1972 would sound the death knell for his career.""
Ha,hahis career would be over if he portrayed a gay manbut portraying a hit man is machoand your career zooms. -
chas77 — 14 years ago(October 18, 2011 03:15 PM)
According to Michael Winner, the original script had homosexual elements between Arthur and Steve. Winner decided to make the character straight. Winner mentioned that Charles Bronson would of refuse to be in the film if Bishop was gay.
You are correct. I read an interview with Monte Hellman recently. He was originally "attached" to this project and was working on it "in development." It was about two homosexual killers. Once Michael Winner expressed interest in the project Hellman was out and so were the homo references. You can make of it what you willthough I think the prostitute scene looks forced, like they just added it at the last minute to show that Bishop was definitely not gay. -
KeithC — 21 years ago(January 02, 2005 11:04 AM)
I read in an online review that in the book, Vincent's character plants a kiss on the lips of a dying Bronson before he leaves the hotel room in Naples. So yes, there must have been some homosexual undertones in one of the early drafts. Few, if any, show on-screen.
What bothers me about the movie is that Bronson discovers Vincent wants to kill him from the file he finds inside Vincent's desk. Who sent Vincent that file? Their Mafia organisation hated the fact Bronson brought Vincent in on the deal without notifying them. Moreover, the Mafia tried to kill them both and at the end of the movie Vincent says he wants to be a freelance hitman (unlike Bronson). If he never had a boss, where'd he get that information file on Bronson from?
It's a hole in the script necessary for the Bronson character to find out Vincent's plan, to increase tension and have the cool surprise ending. -
ciphoid_9 — 21 years ago(January 11, 2005 08:11 PM)
Well, maybe freelancing included gathering the info file on his own as well. If he did not collect that data, my only other guess would be that he lied when claiming he was picking his own targets and that in fact the organisation contracted him to remove Bishop, knowing that Bishop would find out and hopefully kill McKenna first. (They wanted McKenna dead, but Bishop wouldn't do it if they didn't 'force' him.)
As to the gay question: No, they aren't. Btw. McKenna does not even seem to sleep over at Bishop's house, the bedroom we can see him in later in the movie is in his OWN house (it's the same bedroom as earlier on, in the party scene). -
chedda18 — 20 years ago(January 02, 2006 02:30 PM)
An excellent film one of my childhood favourites , i too considered a career when i was 15 but the thought lasted about a minute ! The gay bit is irrelevant cant say i noticed it, like Hardy kissing Nelson followed by years if ribbing ! Anyway a way cool movie full five stars . BRONSON=JILL IRELAND in my world (is that right ?)
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shark-43 — 18 years ago(February 13, 2008 06:17 PM)
Kinda funny how MANY responses there are to this - I truly believe you could type the same question into ANY of the other message boards where there are two male leads and just watch the clucking and debating. I think ANY person can claim there are gay undertones in ANY film - you can see what you want to see. I dont feel there are in this particular film (it is a well made actioner) but heck - Butch Cassidy and Sundance? Clooney & Pitt in Ocean's 11? (I dont think so - just trying to illustrate the point)
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Tarasicodissa — 18 years ago(August 13, 2007 05:10 PM)
Who sent Steve that file ?
The file is identical to those he receives for his own assignments.
Wasn't Bishop just criticized for the messiness of the hit on the drug dealer ? His superior are losing confidence in him. They suspect he is past his prime. Losing his touch. And he does know too much. Steve is given the assignment of hitting him to 'retire' him.
Steve was connected through his family. The same boss Bishop reported to ("Nobody lives forever") sent Steve his new assignment. -
crisotto — 19 years ago(June 09, 2006 10:38 PM)
The characters "The Mechanic" are as gay as the main characters in "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" that is to say, very gay indeed and if I may say so, rather obviously so. The whole film in fact, plays a gay porno without any actual sex. Until you have seen "The Mechanic" (or "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" for that matter) play in a bar full of out and happy gays you simply haven't seen the film. And as far as that goes, from my experience Charles Bronson was always a bit of a gay icon, and I thought Jan Michaels Vincents fan base wasz entirely gay.