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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tony/CT on March 10, 2016, 08:37:45 AM

Title: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Tony/CT on March 10, 2016, 08:37:45 AM
I bought my first "big" bike in 1967, a 305 Honda Scrambler. A couple of years later I was graduating high school when the Bronson series aired. I had visions of riding around the country on a bike and at that time I liked the Triumph Bonneville, but at $1200.00 new, it was out of my price range. Skip ahead 46 plus years and I find a copy of the pilot movie and buy it. After 48 years of riding motorcycles, I have a different perspective on the film than I did in 1969, but it was a blast watching it. Now, I would like to purchase the entire series but can not find it anywhere. Does anyone know if the series exists on dvd and where I can obtain it? Took the Ambassador out for a 75 mile spin yesterday....a much better choice for the Bronson film I might suggest!!   :smiley:

Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: PJPR01 on March 10, 2016, 09:11:37 AM
Would that be Charles Bronson perchance?   :thumb: :thumb:
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: rocker59 on March 10, 2016, 09:17:59 AM
Would that be Charles Bronson perchance?   :thumb: :thumb:

d00d.  Seriously?   :shocked:

Michael Parks as Jim Bronson...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Then_Came_Bronson

It's pretty dated and hard to watch 45 years later...

Though, like Easy Rider, it did inspire me to want to travel cross country on motorcycles.  Something I finally was able to start doing at age 29, in the 1990s.
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: oldbike54 on March 10, 2016, 09:21:05 AM
 Yeah , he must have been pretty stinky considering the only thing he carried was a Mexican blanket bedroll  :shocked: :laugh: Still , at least it was positive re motorbikes . The pilot with Bonnie Bedalia as a traveling companion was not bad .

 Dusty
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Dharma Bum on March 10, 2016, 09:44:32 AM
I think if you Google TCB, there is a website dedicated to the series.  Not sure if you can purchase DVDs or not.
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: PJPR01 on March 10, 2016, 09:52:20 AM
d00d.  Seriously?   :shocked:

Michael Parks as Jim Bronson...

I know...just pulling the collective leg here!  Plenty of other posts recently about the series as well...   :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: yogidozer on March 10, 2016, 09:58:11 AM
http://www.thencamebronson.tv/tshirtspostersetc/dvdscdsstuff.html
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: JoeW on March 10, 2016, 10:04:38 AM
That series had a serious effect on my 14 year old mind. I feel it was one of the factors that got me into riding.
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Tony/CT on March 10, 2016, 10:25:17 AM
No...not Charles Bronson..... but watch Hard Times!! That was a good one!!
If you watch the scenes where he (someone) is riding on the beach and on the hill climb, the bike is a two stroke painted red! Still, made me want to go out and ride!!
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: yogidozer on March 10, 2016, 10:31:43 AM
No...not Charles Bronson..... but watch Hard Times!! That was a good one!!
If you watch the scenes where he (someone) is riding on the beach and on the hill climb, the bike is a two stroke painted red! Still, made me want to go out and ride!!

Death Hunt was good too. But are there any bad Charles Bronson movies?
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: LowRyter on March 10, 2016, 10:41:32 AM
my favorite was comedy/tragedy with Keenan Wynn.  Bronson fills up his motorcycle from a tank on Keenan's farm and finds out it's insecticide.  Bronson stays with the farm family fixing his bike.  Keenan has a motorcycle in the barn....all I remember is that Keenan's bike had a "bronze head". 

It was really funny but had a tear jerking ending.

Keenan was real deal rider and I believe a WWII vet.  Son of comic actor Ed George.  Like Lee Marvin, Keenan died too young.
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Shorty on March 10, 2016, 11:00:23 AM
Here's some free Bronson vids:  https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Then+came+bronson
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Demar on March 10, 2016, 12:21:35 PM
Bonnie Bedelia  :drool:
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: George_S on March 10, 2016, 12:35:34 PM
Bonnie Bedelia  :drool:

+1 !
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: LowRyter on March 10, 2016, 04:16:26 PM
Bonnie Bedelia? 

(http://i2.listal.com/image/4699602/600full-bonnie-bedelia.jpg)

Where's the love for Keenan Wynn ?

(http://cache3.asset-cache.net/gc/3232318-american-actor-keenan-wynn-dressed-in-a-black-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=OCUJ5gVf7YdJQI2Xhkc2QP4KLfsq9xQpGwu1cM0p43%2FL6GXet5A4xgpuKgyjakfJ1kS4jNIVxiBpu6YqsxVirA%3D%3D)
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: cruzziguzzi on March 10, 2016, 04:24:10 PM
I always wanted to "Bronson" an old kicker Sportster. Never seem to get the right basket case to justify it though.

(http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/80/22/8f/80228f2e9e60bddc4d550902adcd3c33.jpg)

And Parks? Too cool for demo school... always has been. Even got a couple-three of his albums - definitely better than Shat's but hell, no high praise, that!


Todd.
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: oldbike54 on March 10, 2016, 04:25:14 PM
 That shot of Bonnie ain't from "Heart like a wheel"  :laugh:

  Dusty
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Cam3512 on March 10, 2016, 04:30:31 PM
Hey Tony, remember seeing one of his bikes on display at Motorcyclepedia museum a few winters ago?
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: rocker59 on March 10, 2016, 05:12:46 PM
I always wanted to "Bronson" an old kicker Sportster. 

I had a 1974 XLCH in the mid-80s.  It could be a real chore to get that thing running.  Especially on a cool day...
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: oldbike54 on March 10, 2016, 05:18:35 PM
I had a 1974 XLCH in the mid-80s.  It could be a real chore to get that thing running.  Especially on a cool day.

 My understanding is there was some Hollywood going on , 'twas an electric start model that Parks would simultaneously kick while pushing the button .Of course he could also rebuild it with a pair of pliers and bubble gum , so...

 Dusty
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Matteo on March 10, 2016, 07:15:35 PM
Try looking on Hulu. It's amazing what they have archived.
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Tony/CT on March 10, 2016, 07:33:00 PM
Cam, I must have walked right past it!!
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Guzzistajohn on March 10, 2016, 07:40:11 PM
The pilot is available on Amazon.com too : )
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: oldbike54 on March 11, 2016, 09:55:13 AM

I listened to the U tube interview and if I am not mistaken when asked by the interviewer if he picked the Stoptster for the show he said no.
Then when asked which bike he would have picked he GULP!! said a BEEMER!!!!
So there!!!

:-)
:-)

 Yeah , but a beemer couldn't magically morph into an Aermacchi for the dirt bike scene  :shocked:

 Dusty
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: oldbike54 on March 11, 2016, 10:08:32 AM
Bud wouldn't have been seen on an aermacchi.

 Was that Bud Ekins that did the scrambles scene ? Anyway , it was a HD/Aermaccchi sprint if memory serves , that was a long time ago .

 Dusty
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: oldbike54 on March 11, 2016, 10:42:50 AM

According to Parks Bud did all the stunts! When asked how he got on with Bud he said " If it was July and Bud said it was Christmas, you hung your stocking!"

Creed!

 Boy there is some truth  :laugh: Of course I feel the same way about Dick Mann and some of his contemporaries also .

 Dusty
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: LowRyter on March 11, 2016, 04:15:42 PM
Yeah , but a beemer couldn't magically morph into an Aermacchi for the dirt bike scene  :shocked:

 Dusty

I don't know about that.  I've seen Guzzis morph into Triumphs in Dirty Harry movies.     :violent1:
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: jbell on March 12, 2016, 11:10:22 AM
my favorite was comedy/tragedy with Keenan Wynn.  Bronson fills up his motorcycle from a tank on Keenan's farm and finds out it's insecticide.  Bronson stays with the farm family fixing his bike.  Keenan has a motorcycle in the barn....all I remember is that Keenan's bike had a "bronze head". 

It was really funny but had a tear jerking ending.

Keenan was real deal rider and I believe a WWII vet.  Son of comic actor George.  Like Lee Marvin, Keenan died too young.

 :1:  Yeap, that's the episode I most remember as well.  The bike was a Rudge (Ulster??)  Son of Ed Wynn.  Two more different actors you'll not find. 
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Tom on March 12, 2016, 11:43:57 AM
I had a 1974 XLCH in the mid-80s.  It could be a real chore to get that thing running.  Especially on a cool day...

Use to watch my friend kick start the hell out of his bike to get it started.  Turns out a couple of things were in play.  1) The vibrations would loosen up the points plate and slowly close the gap of the points.  2) IIRC. One kick on the kick lever would turn the crankshaft a 1/2 turn while a big twin would turn the crank 1 and 1/2 turns.   He had to kick 3 to my 1.  Anyone can correct on the crank differential.
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: George_S on March 12, 2016, 02:06:58 PM
I don't know about that.  I've seen Guzzis morph into Triumphs in Dirty Harry movies.     :violent1:

I may not be recalling correctly but I thought a Kawasaki morphed into a Guzzi in Magnum Force
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Penderic on March 12, 2016, 02:33:30 PM
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/Penderic/Penderic001/brando%20guzzi_zpsb7bebvtc.jpg)
 :wink:
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: cruzziguzzi on March 12, 2016, 04:00:08 PM
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/Penderic/Penderic001/brando%20guzzi_zpsb7bebvtc.jpg)
 :wink:

Wait,... What!?!.... Really?

Now the Village People are joining Hipsters on Moto Guzzis?


Todd.
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: T in NC on March 12, 2016, 09:31:12 PM
Bonnie Bedelia? 

(http://i2.listal.com/image/4699602/600full-bonnie-bedelia.jpg)

Where's the love for Keenan Wynn ?

(http://cache3.asset-cache.net/gc/3232318-american-actor-keenan-wynn-dressed-in-a-black-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=OCUJ5gVf7YdJQI2Xhkc2QP4KLfsq9xQpGwu1cM0p43%2FL6GXet5A4xgpuKgyjakfJ1kS4jNIVxiBpu6YqsxVirA%3D%3D)
I don't know if it is still available on TCN but Keenan was in Code Two with Ralph Meeker. Sort of a motorcycle western with a lot of footage of the LAPD motorcycle school circa 1954. That's where they.trained them to' lay it down. LOL
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Sasquatch Jim on March 12, 2016, 10:02:52 PM
I may not be recalling correctly but I thought a Kawasaki morphed into a Guzzi in Magnum Force

 I do remember a Guzzi morphed into a Triumph for a jump scene in Magnum Farce.
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: cruzziguzzi on March 12, 2016, 10:17:52 PM
I do remember a Guzzi morphed into a Triumph for a jump scene in Magnum Farce.

Yup, it became a triumph on the aircraft carrier didn't it?



Todd.
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: PanMan on March 13, 2016, 11:36:03 AM
I bought my first "big" bike in 1967, a 305 Honda Scrambler. A couple of years later I was graduating high school when the Bronson series aired. I had visions of riding around the country on a bike and at that time I liked the Triumph Bonneville, but at $1200.00 new, it was out of my price range. Skip ahead 46 plus years and I find a copy of the pilot movie and buy it. After 48 years of riding motorcycles, I have a different perspective on the film than I did in 1969, but it was a blast watching it. Now, I would like to purchase the entire series but can not find it anywhere. Does anyone know if the series exists on dvd and where I can obtain it? Took the Ambassador out for a 75 mile spin yesterday....a much better choice for the Bronson film I might suggest!!   :smiley:

I picked up the entire series from here http://www.thencamebronson.tv/dvdscdsstuff.html on DVD about 3 or 4 years ago. The shows look like someone recorded reruns back in the 70's on their VCR and then in the 90's transferred them to DVD, for that real 1969 vibe  :laugh But they are all there complete and I couldn't find them anywhere else.
Title: Re: Then Came Bronson
Post by: Sasquatch Jim on March 13, 2016, 12:16:58 PM
Yup, it became a triumph on the aircraft carrier didn't it?



Todd.

Not only that but Clint Eastwood morphed into bud Ekens for a few seconds.

Whoa! my bad,  Eddie Mulder my favorite TT racer did both jumps on the aircraft carrier changing clothes as he represented both Eastwood and the pursuing officer.