Rating:  -
...because this is a very funny movie, if you just give it a chance. My brothers taped this years ago, and took to watching it again. The first few times, the cheap 70s look it had made me beat a trail out of the room, but then one day I sat and watched it. And was surprised at how entertaining it is!
Bronson is a failed crime writer who, because he IS so down on his luck, accepts a job as a bag man to deliver a sizeable amount of money to those who have stolen the notebooks of a legendary old crime planner, John Houseman. He's an odd bird who sits in the dark sobbing at old silent movies while his pseudo mistress Jackie Bisset saunters about the mansion wearing the most appalling moumous. Houseman's doctor Maximillian Schell is on hand as well in the mansion, well characterized with a perpetual runny nose that must be blown. Things should go off smoothly, except that by the time Bronson appears at the laundromat drop off point, someone has stuffed a corpse in a dryer. Poses some difficulties, you might say, especially when the police just happen along and take Bronson in for questioning. And that's just the start of it. There will be a few more murders, a sexy scene or two with Ms. Bisset, and an exciting chase scene with Mr. Houseman through a drive-in movie as cattle stampede continuously across the screen. That's one of the details I like the movie for, incidentally: you can rewind it all you want, and you'll only see cattle on the screen, never any cowboys.
What makes "St. Ives" appealing is that despite its cheap look, every single performer is delivering a good performance. Nobody is walking through their part. There are some great lines too, as when Houseman is being somewhat confidential with Bronson towards the end, talking about how he disagrees with psychologists who equate a fear of death with a fear of impotence: "Besides, I've always BEEN impotent, so why should I fear it?"
If you want to smile to yourself a lot while watching a movie, then put a copy of "St. Ives" in the machine and let it roll.
Rating: -
I don't have to say more then Bronson really gives a great performance.
I am well and trult the biggest Bronson fan there is...
He's the king...
Rating:  -
Not bad Elmore Leonardish (or is that Leonardesque?) caper finds Charlie as the "go-between" in a twist-filled ransom deal that involves crooked cops, a daring elevator shaft stunt, and the lovely Jackie Bisset. Plus America's favorite old fart as an intellectual deviate who's hung up on silent films. Made by Mr. Bronson and Mr. Thompson back when both artists gave a damn, and therefore, far less enjoyable than "Death Wish IV The Crackdown".
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