Death Wish (1974 film)

Death Wish
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michael Winner
Screenplay by	Wendell Mayes
Based on	Death Wish by Brian Garfield
Produced by	Dino De Laurentiis Hal Landers Bobby Roberts
Starring	Charles Bronson Vincent Gardenia William Redfield Hope Lange
Cinematography	Arthur J. Ornitz
Edited by	Bernard Gribble
Music by	Herbie Hancock
Production company	Dino De Laurentiis Corporation
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	July 24, 1974 (1974-07-24)
Running time	94 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$3.7 million[2]
Box office	$30 million (US/West Germany) $20.3 million (worldwide rentals)[2]

Death Wish is a 1974 American vigilante action film directed by Michael Winner. The film, loosely based on the 1972 novel of the same title by Brian Garfield and the first film in the Death Wish film series, stars Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey, alongside Hope Lange, Vincent Gardenia, William Redfield, Kathleen Tolan and Christopher Guest. In the film, Paul Kersey, an architect leading a peaceful life, resorts to vigilantism after his wife is murdered and daughter raped during a home invasion.

At the time of release, Death Wish was criticized for its apparent support of vigilantism and advocating unlimited punishment of criminals.^[3] The novel allegedly denounced vigilantism, whereas the film embraced the notion. The film was a commercial success and resonated with the public in the United States, which was experiencing increasing crime rates during the 1970s.^[4]