9 replies to this topic

[Brian Flagg]

Remember Telefon? It starred Charles Bronson as a disgruntled KGB official who steals a list of sleeper agents sent to the US during the 1950s. The agents are programmed to destroy US military installations upon receiving a phone call, the catch was that they are "activated" upon hearing a poem read to them over the line, which sets the agents off to perform their mission. The movie was directed by Don Siegel, and featured a music score by Lalo Schifrin.

I was a kid when this movie came out and was more interested in Star Wars at the time, but it seems to me that Telefon got heavy advertising on TV, or maybe I'm associating it with its many, many airings on TBS and local independent stations. I haven't seen the film in over twenty years and look forward to the DVD. It's part of a Bronson double feature, and includes St. Ives a 1976 film which has Charlie as a cat burglar--never seen it.

[Jackanaples]

Remember Telefon? It starred Charles Bronson as a disgruntled KGB official who steals a list of sleeper agents sent to the US during the 1950s. The agents are programmed to destroy US military installations upon receiving a phone call, the catch was that they are "activated" upon hearing a poem read to them over the line, which sets the agents off to perform their mission. The movie was directed by Don Siegel, and featured a music score by Lalo Schifrin.

I was a kid when this movie came out and was more interested in Star Wars at the time, but it seems to me that Telefon got heavy advertising on TV, or maybe I'm associating it with its many, many airings on TBS and local independent stations. I haven't seen the film in over twenty years and look forward to the DVD. It's part of a Bronson double feature, and includes St. Ives a 1976 film which has Charlie as a cat burglar--never seen it.

In TELEFON (based on a thriller by Walter Wager), Donald Pleasance plays the ex-KGB agent awakening sleeper agents in the United States. Charles Bronson plays the Russian agent sent to stop him and avert World War III.

ST. IVES (based on THE PROCANE CHRONICLE by Ross Thomsas) features Bronson as professional go-between Raymond St. Ives (Philip in the novels), hired by millionaire and sometimes criminal John Houseman to retrieve his stolen diary which details the plans for a perfect crime he wants to commit.

I enjoy both movies and was already looking forward to buying the set ...even though I already own ST. IVES on dvd when they first released it.

Edited by Jackanaples, 03 May 2009 - 12:54 AM.

[Brian Flagg]

In TELEFON (based on a thriller by Walter Wager), Donald Pleasance plays the ex-KGB agent awakening sleeper agents in the United States. Charles Bronson plays the Russian agent sent to stop him and avert World War III.

Thanks for the clarification. As I mentioned before, I haven't seen the film in twenty years, and as I was writing that initial post I wondered if I was confusing Bronson's role with someone else's.

I look forward to seeing it again.

[Napoleon Solo]

I'm dating myself, but I saw Telefon in its original theatrical release.

[Jackanaples]

No problem, Brian. It happens to all of us.

I saw TELEFON on tv probably thirty or so years ago (the ABC Sunday Night Movie!). About five years ago I got a desire to see it and a few other Bronson movies again or for the first time.

In Los Angeles we have a video store named Eddie Brandt's Saturday Matinee that has thousands upon thousands of vhs tapes for rental. I was able to find TELEFON, ST. IVES, THE WHITE BUFFALO, and HONOR AMONG THIEVES (also known as FAREWELL FRIEND or ADIEU, L'AMI) there and reaquaint myself with it.

As mentioned before, ST. IVES is based on a novel by Ross Thomas -who's a real favorite of mine. He was a fantastic writer and should be far better known than he is.

HONOR AMONG THIEVES/FAREWELL FRIEND/ADIEU L'AMI is my favorite Charles Bronson movie. It's a tight little thriller co-starring Alain Delon. It's one of the three movies that made Bronson the biggest movie star in Europe in the late 60's/early 70's. It's not very well known and there's talk of remaking it in the last few years.

Last note: In Italy Charles Bronson is called "Il Brutto" (The Ugly One) and the French know him as Le Sacre Monstre (The Sacred Monster). How awesome is that?

[Brian Flagg]

Speaking of other Charles Bronson movies, I recently watched The Mechanic for the first time in twenty-five years and I enjoyed it even more as an adult than I did as a child. Great character study, and I think that the action sequences get in the way! I paid big $$$ for Jerry Fielding's brilliant score (which I stupidly passed on when it was announced) but it's so good it was worth it. I've been on a Bronson kick lately after being disappointed with his 1980s lame action film period, but Bronson in the sixties-seventies was a force. We don't have actors like him anymore.

[Safari Suit]

Have you seen 10 to Midnight? It's probably the best of the 80s Bronson films, although not for all tastes as it is increadibly sleazy (though nothing compared to his final film of the 80s; Kinjite). Borderline is also quite good (if somewhat forgettable) and gave Ed Harris his first major big screen role.

[Brian Flagg]

Haven't seen 10 to Midnight, but if it's as cheesy as most 1980s Bronson films or this trailer for Telefon, I'm interested.

EDIT: I just watched the 10 to Midnight trailer---it must be the eighties: it's got butterfly knives and Geoffrey Lewis in it! Oh, lordy, yes...

Edited by Brian Flagg, 06 May 2009 - 01:27 AM.

[jrcjohnny99]

I'm a huge Bronson fan...must pick up this DVD (tho I too own the St Ives DVD);
Adieu L'Ami is a great pic, I also really like Breakheart Pass; a regular on TV that I always seem to end up watching!

[Von Hammerstein]

I'm dating myself, but I saw Telefon in its original theatrical release.

I saw it in theatre also. It's one of my favorite Charles Bronson films and it was change of pace from his usual tough cop or vigilante roles. There were little nods to 007 as the character in the book was kind of a Russian Bond: His codename being "Romeo". His real name in the book was Grigori Tabat, that was changed to Grigori Borzov in the movie and any Bond fan knows that Anya Amasova's lover was named Sergei Borzov and the villain Dalchimsky was played by Donald Pleasence.