Death Wish 3 (1985)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Michael Winner

Writers:

Brian Garfield (characters)
Don Jakoby (writer)

Release Date:

1 November 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

He's back in New York bringing justice to the streets...

Plot:

Architect/vigilante Paul Kersey arrives back in New York City and is forcibly recruited by a crooked police detective to fight street crime caused by a large gang terrorizing the neighborhoods.

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Police | New York | Vigilante | New York City

Cast

Charles Bronson	...	Paul Kersey
Deborah Raffin	...	Kathryn Davis
Ed Lauter	...	Insp. Richard S. Shriker
Martin Balsam	...	Bennett Cross
Gavan O'Herlihy	...	Manny Fraker
Kirk Taylor	...	Giggler
Alex Winter	...	Hermosa
Tony Spiridakis	...	Angel
Ricco Ross	...	The Cuban
Tony Britts	...	Tulio
David Crean	...	Hector
Nelson Fernandez	...	Chaco
Alan Cooke	...	Punk at Car #1
Bob Dysinger	...	Punk at Car #2
Topo Grajeda	...	Garcia
Barbie Wilde	...	Female Punk
Ron Hayes	...	Lieutenant
Jerry Phillips	...	Street Punk
Joseph Gonzalez	...	Manny Rodriguez
Francis Drake	...	Charley
Leo Kharibian	...	Eli Kaprov
Hana Maria Pravda	...	Erika Kaprov
John Gabriel	...	Emil
Mildred Shay	...	Magda Emil
Kenny Marino	...	Used Car Seller
Birdie M. Hale	...	Mugging Victim
Marina Sirtis	...	Maria Rodriguez
Hayward Morse	...	Intern #1
Ronald Fernee	...	Intern #2
Sandy Grizzle	...	Rape Victim
Dinah May	...	Nurse #1
Steffanie Pitt	...	Nurse #2
Billy J. Mitchell	...	Fraker's Lawyer
Lee Patterson	...	TV Newscaster
Olivia Ward	...	Protesting Lady
Manning Redwood	...	Capt. Sterns
Joe Cirillo	...	Policeman
Ralph Monaco	...	Policeman
William Roberts	...	Policeman
Mac McDonald	...	Policeman
Sam Douglas	...	Policeman
Ron Travis	...	Policeman
Mark Stewart	...	Policeman
Peter Banks	...	Policeman
Tom Hunsinger	...	Policeman
Nic D'Avirro	...	Policeman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Derek Lyons	...	Detective (uncredited)
Frank Patton	...	Cop (uncredited)
Tip Tipping	...	Creep (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Winner

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Brian Garfield		characters
Don Jakoby		writer (as Michael Edmonds)

Produced by
Yoram Globus	....	producer
Menahem Golan	....	producer
Michael J. Kagan	....	associate producer (as Michael Kagan)
Michael Winner	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Jimmy Page

Cinematography by
John Stanier

Film Editing by
Michael Winner		(as Arnold Crust)

Casting by
Mike Kara		(as Michael Kara)
Gery Walker

Production Design by
Peter Mullins

Art Direction by
David Minty

Set Decoration by
Gretchen Rau
Robin Tarsnane

Costume Design by
Peggy Farrell

Makeup Department
Ron Abrams	....	hair stylist
Sue Love	....	hair stylist
Richard Mills	....	makeup artist
Pattie Smith	....	hair stylist
Carla White	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Malcolm J. Christopher	....	production supervisor
George Manasse	....	unit production manager: USA
Ron Purdie	....	production supervisor
Michael Tadross	....	assistant production manager: USA

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Chory	....	second assistant director: USA
Lee Cleary	....	third assistant director
Marcia Gay	....	second assistant director
Alan Hopkins	....	first assistant director: USA
Ron Purdie	....	first assistant director

Art Department
John Chisholm	....	property master
Ron Coleman	....	construction manager
Michael Curry Jr.	....	set builder
Michael Curry Sr.	....	construction coordinator
Karen Kates	....	assistant property master
Brian Lofthouse	....	property master
David Moon	....	scenic artist
Scott Rosenstock	....	set dresser
Ron Stone	....	property master (as Ron C. Stone)
James A. Taylor	....	art director: USA (as James Taylor)
Mark White	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ross Adams	....	first assistant sound editor
Derek Ball	....	sound recordist
Mike Campbell	....	sound editor
Bill Daly	....	sound recordist
Nicolas Gaster	....	sound editor (as Nick Gaster)
Tony Lenny	....	sound editor
Brian Lintern	....	sound editor
Richard Murphy	....	boom operator
Ken Nightingall	....	boom operator
John Poyner	....	sound editor
Stanley Smith	....	sound editor (as Stan Smith)
Hugh Strain	....	sound re-recordist
Michael Redfern	....	first assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Evans	....	special effects
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects

Stunts
Marc Boyle	....	stunt coordinator
Tim Condren	....	stunts
George Lane Cooper	....	stunts
Jack Cooper	....	stunts
Tom Delmar	....	stunts
Tracey Eddon	....	stunts
Elaine Ford	....	stunts
Ray Ford	....	stunts
Terry Forestal	....	stunts
Gene Hartline	....	stunts
Paul Heasman	....	stunts
Leslie Hoffman	....	stunts
Jazzer Jeyes	....	stunts
Harry Madsen	....	stunt coordinator
Sean McCabe	....	stunts
Lex Milloy	....	stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunts
Ernie F. Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator (as Ernest Orsatti)
Frank Patton	....	stunts
Michael Russo	....	stunts
Rick Seaman	....	stunts
Stuart St. Paul	....	stunts
Rocky Taylor	....	stunts
Tip Tipping	....	stunts
Steve Whyment	....	stunts
Terry Cade	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gene Harrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
Phil Neilson	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Shawn O'Neil	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Gregg Smrz	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alan Annand	....	assistant camera
Sam Bender	....	gaffer
John Dimond	....	gaffer
Steve Drellich	....	assistant camera
David Farrell	....	still photographer
Alan Gates	....	dolly grip
Roberto Jiménez	....	best boy
Richard C. Kerekes	....	dolly grip
Denis Kingston	....	camera operator
Mitchell Andrew Lillian	....	key grip
Edward J. Pei	....	assistant camera
John Seakwood	....	still photographer
Nigel Seal	....	assistant camera
Hamid Shams	....	assistant camera
Robert Wagner	....	camera operator
Zachary Winestine	....	assistant camera
Michael Woollard	....	best boy
David Wynn-Jones	....	camera operator
Tony Rowland	....	grip: "b" camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Denise Andres	....	assistant wardrobe: USA (as Denise Romano Andres)
Ron Beck	....	wardrobe supervisor
Helen P. Butler	....	key wardrobe: USA
Janet Tebrooke	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Chris Barnes	....	executive editor
Omneya 'Nini' Mazen	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Richard Dodd	....	music recordist
Stuart Epps	....	music recordist
Alan Killick	....	music editor
Mike Moran	....	conductor
Mike Moran	....	music arranger
Mike Moran	....	musician: additional synthesizer
Jimmy Page	....	musician: electric guitar and synthesizer

Other crew
Heidi August	....	production auditor
Eva Z. Cabrera	....	script supervisor
Valerie Chamberlain	....	production assistant
Polly Chung	....	assistant production office coordinator
John Fraser	....	executive assistant: Mr. Winner
Jody Milano	....	production office coordinator
Wildey Moore	....	weapons technical advisor
Hugh O'Donnell	....	location manager
Susi Oldroyd	....	script supervisor (as Susan Oldroyd)
Sue Wall	....	production accountant
Constance Willis	....	script supervisor
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cannon Group
• Golan-Globus Productions

Distributors

• Scotia-Cannon (1986) (West Germany) (theatrical) (cut)
• América Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• Cannon Film Distributors Ltd. (UK)
• Cannon Film Distributors
• Columbia TriStar Home Video
• MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (video)
• Pan-Canadian Film Distributors (Canada)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video

Also Known As:

Death Wish III (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 (2005) (uncut) | Finland:K-18 (1986) (TV version) | Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 (cut) (video premiere) | Germany:18 (JK/SPIO) (DVD rating) (uncut) (2005) | Australia:R | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | France:-16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:(Banned) | UK:18 | USA:R (re-rating on appeal) | USA:X (certificate #27868) (original rating) | Norway:15 (DVD rating) (uncut) (2005) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Cannon Group

Trivia:

Charles Bronson rarely granted interviews, or commented on his own films. However, he plainly stated his unhappiness with this film at least a few times, and was especially angered when he discovered that the director filmed extremely gory shots with extras (as nameless thugs) when he was off-set.

Goofs:

Continuity: The knife Kersey is stabbed with, supposedly blocked by the bullet-proof vest, goes in a lot deeper than the thickness of the vest.

Quotes:

Bennett: Believe it or not, this used to be a great neighborhood - till it changed.

Movie Connections:

References Gojira (1984)

The Best Of The Series

Charles Bronson is back in his most famous role. In my opinion, this is by far the best film of the series and my favorite movie ever. This movie doesn't take itself seriously, because the filmmakers knew that all the social commentary that was necessary was put across in the first film. Golan and Globus made this film for Bronson fans, not for the critics, and it works. DW3 has been unfairly criticized as "trash" and "a weary entry in a worn out series." These statements would be true if the film was made to be taken seriously or to spread a statement, but it wasn't. If you take it as what it is, DW3 is just a fun, action packed romp, with Charlie doing to street punks what we all wish we could do. The action is non stop, the atmosphere is great, and the movie is just out and out the best Bronson flick ever made. You can tell that the penny pinching Cannon group spent a lot of money on this one. It is believed that Bronson thought this film was too violent, and that was the reason why Winner didn't direct any of the following entries. I can understand his concern, but as is always the case of sequels, you have to push the envelope even further to pass a previous entry. In any case, this movie was no more violent than any other movie made during this time. What makes DW3 the best of the series and my favorite film ever (not the best, just my favorite), is the action, Charlie's presence, memorable villains, and it's ability to get the viewers to jump on the bandwagon. The first film may be the most technically well made, but this one is the most fun. For once, Charlie actually has some clever lines (although he doesn't say much)and a halfway interesting story, photography, action, and direction to back him up. Charlie has never been more intense or super cool than in this one. Yes, it's exploitive, maybe it does promote stereotypes, and maybe it is the same story as before, but Bronson's films always have and always will stand for defending the common man and giving his audience what they want to see. Many argue that the DW series manipulates its' audience, my reply is that the movies don't manipulate us, the fans are the ones in charge. We demand that Bronson blow away deserving scum, and in turn Winner and Co. deliver the goods. And for those of you who still want to put it down, remember a few things. DW3 was the #1 movie in America when it came out and was among the viewing favorites of millions of people on video and television because they realize that not all films have to be epics, they just have to be fun. **********/10 You can't get any better. John Batchelor