Death Wish II (1982)

Director:

Michael Winner

Writers:

David Engelbach (writer)
Brian Garfield (characters)

Release Date:

20 February 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

First His Wife. Now His Daughter. It's Time To Even The Score!

Plot:

Architect Paul Kersey once again becomes a vigilante when he tries to find the five street punks who murdered his daughter and housekeeper, this time on the dark streets of Los Angeles.

Plot Keywords:

Vigilante | Punk | Architect | Murder | Reporter

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Charles Bronson	...	Paul Kersey
Jill Ireland	...	Geri Nichols
Vincent Gardenia	...	Det. Frank Ochoa
J.D. Cannon	...	New York D.A.
Anthony Franciosa	...	Herman Baldwin
Ben Frank	...	Inspector Lt. Mankiewicz
Robin Sherwood	...	Carol Kersey
Silvana Gallardo	...	Rosario
Robert F. Lyons	...	Fred McKenzie
Michael Prince	...	Elliott Cass
Drew Snyder	...	Deputy Comm. Hawkins
Paul Lambert	...	New York Police Comm.
Thomas F. Duffy	...	Nirvana
Kevyn Major Howard	...	Stomper
Stuart K. Robinson	...	Jiver
Laurence Fishburne	...	Cutter (as Laurence Fishburne III)
E. Lamont Johnson	...	Punkut (as E. Lamont Johnson)
Paul Comi	...	Senator McLean
Frank Campanella	...	Judge Neil A. Lake
Hugh Warden	...	Minister at funeral
Jim Begg	...	Tourist
Melody Santangello	...	Tourists Wife
Robert Snively	...	Dr. Gofeld
Steffen Zacharias	...	Dr. I. Clark
Don Moss	...	Cabbie
Charles Cyphers	...	Donald Kay
Peter Pan	...	Chinese Landlord
David Daniels	...	Lang
Don Dubbins	...	Mike
James Galante	...	Tim Shaw
Buck Young	...	Charles Pearce
Karsen Lee	...	Nirvanas Girl 1
Leslie Graves	...	Nirvanas Girl 2
Teresa Baxter	...	Nurse 1
Cindy Daly	...	Nurse 2
Susannah Darrow	...	Nurse on Bus
Henry Capps	...	Policeman 1
Joshua Gallegos	...	Policeman 2
Paul McCallum	...	Ambulance Man
Roberta Collins	...	Woman at Party
Diane Markoff	...	Prostitute
Cynthia Burr	...	Secretary to NY DA
Michael Tavon	...	Thug 1
Ezekiel Moss	...	Thug 2
C. Ransom Walrod	...	Boat Captain (as Ransom Walrod)
Gary Boyle	...	Man in TV Soap Opera
Ava Lazar	...	Girl in TV Soap Opera
Fred Saxon	...	Newscaster
Henny Youngman	...	Himself - on TV
Ginny Cooper	...	Diner
Lesa Weis	...	Diner
Twyla Littleton	...	Diner
Diane Manzo	...	Diner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rick Schmidlin	...	Gang Member (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Winner

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Engelbach		writer
Brian Garfield		characters

Produced by
Yoram Globus	....	producer
Menahem Golan	....	producer
Hal Landers	....	executive producer
Bobby Roberts	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Jimmy Page

Cinematography by
Thomas Del Ruth
Richard H. Kline

Film Editing by
Julian Semilian
Michael Winner		(as Arnold Crust)

Casting by
Joe Scully
Beth Voiku

Production Design by
William Hiney

Set Decoration by
Rick Gentz

Makeup Department
Phil Rhodes	....	makeup artist (as Philip Rhodes)
Vivienne Walker	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Tony Wade	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roger Carlton	....	second assistant director
Russell Vreeland	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kent H. Johnson	....	property master

Sound Department
David Campling	....	sound editor
Ron Davis	....	sound editor
Dennis Jones	....	boom operator
Tom Overton	....	sound mixer (as Tommy Overton)
John Poyner	....	sound editor
Hugh Strain	....	sound re-recordist
James Thompson	....	sound recordist (as Jim Thompson)

Special Effects by
Ken Pepiot	....	special effects (as Kenneth Pepiot)

Stunts
Chuck Couch	....	stunt coordinator
Ernie F. Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator (as Ernie Orsatti)
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Epper	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Danny Buck	....	gaffer
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer
Gene Kearney	....	key grip
Thomas Laughridge	....	camera operator (as Tom J. Laughridge)
Henry M. Lebo	....	first assistant camera
Bob Munoz	....	best boy grip
Peter Santoro	....	first assistant camera (as Peter A. Santoro)
Robert A. Wise	....	second assistant camera
Kenneth D. Zunder	....	second assistant camera (as Kenneth Zunder)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ron Archer	....	key costumer
Michele Dittrick	....	costumer (as Michelle Dittrick)

Music Department
Robin Clarke	....	music editor
Jimmy Page	....	musician: guitar
David Whitaker	....	conductor (as David Sinclair Whitaker)
David Whitaker	....	music arranger (as David Sinclair Whitaker)
Dave Mattacks	....	musician: drums (uncredited)
David Whitaker	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Greg Van Dyke	....	transportation captain
James R. White	....	transportation coordinator (as James White)

Other crew
Bud Aronson	....	location manager
Jack English	....	location manager
Yoram Globus	....	presenter
Menahem Golan	....	presenter
Alleen N. Nollmann	....	script supervisor (as Allen Nollman)
Christopher Pearce	....	production associate
Marilyn Tasso	....	production accountant (as Marilynn Tasso)
Kent Adamson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
John Lizzi	....	photo double: Charles Bronson (uncredited)
John Lizzi	....	stand-in: Charles Bronson (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cannon Films
• City Films
• Golan-Globus Productions
• Landers-Roberts Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1982) (Non-USA) (theatrical)
• Filmways Pictures (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1982) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Ambassador Film Distributors (1982) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1982) (France) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (198?) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• ITT Contrast (1982) (West Germany) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Death Wish 2 (USA) (DVD box title)

Runtime:

88 min | Greece:95 min (uncut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 (2003) (uncut) | Finland:K-18 (1982) (cut) | Iceland:16 | Germany:18 (JK/SPIO) (DVD rating) (2005) | Netherlands:16 | West Germany:18 (nf) | USA:X (original rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:R | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | France:-16 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R (re-rating) | Norway:18 (video) (re-rating) (uncut) (2003) | Norway:18 (video premiere) (1984) (cut) | Norway:(Banned) (1982-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

1203 South Crescent Heights Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cannon Films

Trivia:

In an interview, Silvana Gallardo (who played the housekeeper) said the rape scene was "grueling" and took about six days to film. To prepare for the role, she talked to an actual rape victim. She also said the actors who played the criminals raping her would immediately cover her up with a robe or blanket when the director yelled "CUT!"

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): The doctor supposed to be giving therapy to Charles Wilson is named Dr. Clark, yet Kersey writes the name Dr. Carter on the fake hospital ID.

Quotes:

Stomper: Nirvana, you want a bit?
Nirvana: Any left?
Stomper: There's enough.

Movie Connections:

References Excalibur (1981)

"Do you believe in Jesus?"

"Yes," says the crying thug, knowing his last breathing second on this planet has come. Bronson replies: "Now you'll get to meet him," and blows a hole in his chest! This scene found me laughing in disbelief, shocked and horrified over what the Paul Kersey-character has become, and at the same time impressed that somebody actually dared to make this stuff more than 20 years ago, and even starring one of the biggest movie-stars in the world!

This once bleedin' heart liberal family man has for sure turned into a messenger of death, with about as much mercy for the criminals as a hungry stray cat has for a limp mouse! It's shocking to watch, but at the same time fascinating because the whole movie looks great, the atmosphere gets under your skin, and you still find yourself rooting for Bronson's character.

This is still the best of the "Death Wish"-sequels, and it still packs a wallop and manages to stir controversy even today. It's a movie you will either like or hate, there is no middle road here, and it makes for a great conversation piece.

One final note: this movie sure is a reminder and evidence that when it came to movie tough-guys Charles Bronson WAS the baddest of them all. After the sad news of Bronson's passing a lot of people say he was second behind Clint Eastwood as far as action icons go. I'm a huge Eastwood-fan but Bronson still beats him any day. It really hit me as I was watching this movie. Bronson is driving through down-town Los Angeles, after brutally executing the thug in the above mentioned scene, he passes a movie-theater and sees a guy pretending to be a cowboy outside the theater, and what is the double-billing at the theater? Those silly comedies with Clint Eastwood and that big monkey Clyde!

That kinda' sums it up doesn't it?

Charles Bronson was THE MAN.