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Michael Winner: United States
built 228 days ago
In 1974, Winner and Bronson led movie headlines with Death Wish, a film that has defined the careers of both men. Based on a novel by Brian Garfield and adapted to the screen by Wendell Mayes, Death Wish was originally planned for director Sidney Lumet under contract with United Artists. The commitment of Lumet to another film and UA's questioning of its subject matter led to an eventual production by Dino De Laurentiis through Paramount Pictures. Death Wish tracks Paul Kersey, a liberal New York architect who becomes a gun-wielding vigilante after his wife is murdered and daughter is raped. With a script adjusted to Bronson's persona, the film generated major controversy during its screenings and was one of the year's highest grossers.
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In addition to film commentary, Michael ... pressed ahead with his "serious" book projects. In 1979, critics acclaimed his definitive history of White House chiefs of staff "The Shadow Presidents" - the research for which helped complete Medved's transformation from liberal to conservative. In 1980, he changed his registration to the GOP. Three years later, Simon & Schuster published his national bestseller about the emotional problems of doctors and nurses, "Hospital: The Hidden Lives of a Medical Center Staff." In 1983, he wrote and hosted a popular show on British TV ("The Worst of Hollywood") and then, the next year, became one of the on-air critics on the long-running PBS show, "Sneak Previews." Taking one of the seats originally occupied by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael combined with his partner, Jeffrey Lyons, to host "Sneak" for nearly 12 years -- reaching millions of American homes through the 250 public television stations that carried the show.
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Hannibal Brooks drew notice in Hollywood and Winner soon received opportunities to direct for larger markets. His jarring style and intense pacing were well-suited for action films, leading to an immediate offer in the Western genre from Dino De Laurentiis, the Italian film mogul who was establishing a production business in the United States. The result was Winner's first American film, Lawman (1971) starring Burt Lancaster and Robert Duvall. 1972 proved the most important season of Winner's career, as he first directed Marlon Brando in The Nightcomers, a prequel to The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, then made his first efforts with box office star Charles Bronson in
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