Talk:Death Wish (1974 film)

Movie/Book difference section needs clarification
I tagged this section for cleanup, but it really needs clarification as well. There are many instances where a difference is cited but it is not explained if the instance mentioned was present in the book but not in the movie, or the other way around. Example:


 * Paul received his gun by purchasing it at a gun store in Tucson.

As opposed to what? Did this occur in the movie, while in the book he stole the gun from a mugger? Or did he buy the gun in Canada in the book, but in Tucson in the movie? I can't tell from this statement.

I have neither seen the movie nor read the book, so this whole section just confuses me. SmartGuy 21:39, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Death wish movie poster.jpg
Image:Death wish movie poster.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

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BetacommandBot (talk) 06:51, 1 January 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:MadMagazineDeathWishCover.jpg
Image:MadMagazineDeathWishCover.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 14:38, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

Not sure of the technical distinction
I was going to edit out "rape" from the synopsis, but since the muggers did force Carol to perform fellatio, this could be defined as sexual assault in some venues. In others, oral sex is not included as legally "rape". Neither would the act of spray-painting her anal area. (dfoofnik) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.230.228.2 (talk) 06:04, 23 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Oh, for God's sake. YES, forced oral sex is sexual assault.  Did Reps. Mourdock and Akins write this stupid comment? 63.116.103.10 (talk) 19:07, 10 December 2012 (UTC)


 * How is it a stupid comment? You both are saying the same exact thing: that forced oral sex is indeed sexual assault.  Your response, in fact, agrees with the comment to which you claim to disagree.   Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 06:09, 9 January 2016 (UTC)

Original Research
Taking a look at the line in the article:

The 2007 film Death Sentence directed by James Wan, can be considered a remake of this film. Though it is based on a sequel novel to the novel this film is based on, the plot is very similar to this movie.

I have to say, that one can safely say that by the time you have written the words "can be considered to be" you have to know you are engaging in original research.Ekwos (talk) 18:48, 16 March 2009 (UTC)

Why have the comparison between film and book been removed??
There are some dramatic changes between the two of them and how it ends. Lets put it back up or where do we have to go to read about the changes? Incase you didnt know this IS one of the most controversial films ever made. Also Brians comments about the film should be here. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.150.21.45 (talk) 12:26, 8 January 2010 (UTC)

CO was not Commanding Officer
The Bronson character was a Conscientious Objector during the Korean War. That's why the transformation works. Patg00 (talk) 20:24, 2 December 2011 (UTC)

Guns in the plot summary.
Hi everyone. I seem to be a small edit war with Petrandreev13 who seems to believe that the gun models are important details for the reader in understanding the plot of the film. I believe they are irrelevant and bloat out the summary. Thoughts? Also pinging Slightlymad who asked me to trim the plot to begin with. Scribolt (talk) 06:53, 9 September 2017 (UTC)ta


 * The last edits to the article show Petrandreev13 removing a link to a gun model. So, they seem to be cooperating now. I don't know the film well, but I don't recall a particular gun type mentioned or whose performance was important to the plot. Nor do I see any sourcing beyond the links to the gun articles themselves. Dhtwiki (talk) 22:43, 9 September 2017 (UTC)

/* Cast */ Adding new info to "Cast" section Marcia Jean Kurtz to the cast list and added a note of her appearances on Law & Order
I disagree with your contention that my addition of Marcia Jean Kurtz and the addition of noting her appearance in Law & Order. She is a working character actor in NY and most recently appeared in "Inside Man". So, it's not like she is some "flash and pan" actor, but has worked in both Movies and TV.

The paragraph included in the cast section makes references to multiple actors and their follow-on roles which are NOT related to "Death Wish" and you have designated as "trivial". Is Robert Miano better because he has over 250 credits where Marcia only has a little over 50? Or John Herzfeld who only has 17 acting credits and he is included in the paragraph?

I don't think my addition was trivial and I think it carries as much weight as some of the other entries in the paragraph already included:

Character actor Robert Miano had a minor role as a mugger in the film. John Herzfeld played the mugger who slashes Paul's newspaper on the subway. Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, who later co-starred on the television show Welcome Back, Kotter, had an uncredited role as one of the Central Park muggers near the end of the film. It has been rumored that Denzel Washington made his screen debut as an uncredited alley mugger, because, in a long shot, the actor shown appears to resemble him, but according to Washington himself, that is not true.[7] Actress Helen Martin, who had a minor role, subsequently appeared in the television sitcoms Good Times and 227. Sonia Manzano (Maria from Sesame Street), has an uncredited role as a supermarket checkout clerk. Christopher Guest makes one of his earliest film appearances as a young police officer who finds Kersey's gun. The film also marked Jeff Goldblum's screen debut, playing one of the "freaks" who assaulted Kersey's family early in the film. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aspenguy2 (talk • contribs) 20:51, 26 June 2019 (UTC)


 * I think you make some good points. When I reverted I was looking at the unlinked, unreferenced text added to the paragraph after the cast list (Marcia Jean Kurtz has appeared in multiple roles on the TV Series "Law and Order".) and missed the linked entry in the cast list itself, which established this actor's notability and relevance. I was also comparing your mention of later roles with the previous two mentions, where later careers weren't specified and missed even earlier mentions where later roles were given. I think the paragraph doesn't have to be there to the extent that it is, especially when so much is unreferenced. However, I think you've made a case for your edit and I'll restore it, with some added links to the actor and Law and Order. Dhtwiki (talk) 09:41, 27 June 2019 (UTC)

I'm glad we were able to come an agreement and also continue to highlight Marcia. I don't know her, but I thought she should be given her due. It's also interesting that she was in 2 bank hostage movies, Dog Day Afternoon and Inside Man. I'd be interested in talking to her about why she took a similar role and why she thought the role in Inside Man was interesting enough to reprise in a similar movie. Aspenguy2 (talk) 16:28, 28 June 2019 (UTC)