Der Mann ohne Nerven (1975)

Der Mann ohne Nerven: Directed by Tom Gries. With Charles Bronson, Robert Duvall, Jill Ireland, Randy Quaid. A bush pilot is hired for fifty thousand dollars to go to Mexico to free an innocent prisoner.

“u0026quot;Breakoutu0026quot; is easily one of Charles Bronsonu0026#39;s best starring vehicles. For the most part his early 70u0026#39;s films fell into two categories: either junky (Violent City) or pretentious (The Mechanic). The first Death Wish film was thought-provoking, but marred by sickeningly graphic and misogynist violence; the sequels had the violence with none of the art. His late-70s films were quickie garbage (Death Hunt, Love and Bullets). His 80u0026#39;s films featured a sickly prurient violence level and a sleepwalking star.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut Bronson did have quite a string of quality films in the mid-70s: u0026quot;Breakheart Pass (1974),u0026quot; u0026quot;Hard Timesu0026quot; (1975), u0026quot;Mr. Majesticu0026quot; (1974), u0026quot;From Noon Til Threeu0026quot; (1976), and u0026quot;Telefonu0026quot; (1977)were all quality films in which Bronsonu0026#39;s star quality, charisma, and acting ability was able to shine through. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe best of Bronsonu0026#39;s mid-70s output in my opinion, however, is Tom Griesu0026#39; u0026quot;Breakout.u0026quot; The story has drama, humor, and tremendous forward momentum, the cast is superior (Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, John Huston, and the always-underrated Jill Ireland). Most importantly, Charles Bronson breaks out of his silent-and-stony persona and creates a character that has depth, humour, and humanity as well as toughness.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThose who complain that this film has little action have obviously not seen many of Bronsonu0026#39;s films. Very few of them are actually what could be called u0026quot;action moviesu0026quot;. For the most part they were melodramas with some gunplay, the occasional fight, and a maybe car chase near the end. u0026quot;Breakoutu0026quot; is actually as much or more of an action film than most of Bronsonu0026#39;s others. I think that most folks who mistakenly lament the lack of u0026quot;actionu0026quot; in this film compared to his others are confusing u0026quot;actionu0026quot; with sick, perverse violence. Look at u0026quot;Death Wishu0026quot; for instance: Bronson shoots some guys. Thatu0026#39;s the extent of the action, if you exclude the graphic rape scene near the beginning. He points a gun and shoots. He rarely runs. Thereu0026#39;s never a car chase. Itu0026#39;s a melodrama, not an action film. `Breakoutu0026#39; has a helicopter escape, a fistfight on a dark runway as a twin-prop plane approaches at breakneck speed, and an attitude that make it more of an action film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSo u0026quot;Breakoutu0026quot; doesnu0026#39;t have graphic torture, or rape, or someone getting sodomized with a nightstick. Iu0026#39;ll settle for a great story, fine acting, cool action, and interesting characters.”