Are they homosexuals?
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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.
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tdf5g — 19 years ago(August 03, 2006 12:38 PM)
Bishop and McKenna are never shown sleeping in the same house in the CA scenes.
In the Naples sequence we assume they are sharing a room, as only one is shown, but this could be Bishop's room and McKenna had his own room. -
hegstad9 — 19 years ago(August 25, 2006 04:38 PM)
At the time Charles Bronson were being carefully built up in Hollywood as the new super action hero. He was already very popular overseas after his European movies, and now Hollywood wanted in !
Gay ?
That would have ruined his image completely ! No way Hollywood producers would ever allow the upcoming biggest action hero in the world to even hint at being gay ! And I can't picture Bronson wishing to appear in any gay part in any movie.