Death Wish (1974)

Charles Bronson: Paul Kersey

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Paul Kersey : Nothing to do but cut and run, huh? What else? What about the old American social custom of self-defense? If the police don't defend us, maybe we ought to do it ourselves.

  Jack Toby : We're not pioneers anymore, Dad.

  Paul Kersey : What are we, Jack?

  Jack Toby : What do you mean?

  Paul Kersey : I mean, if we're not pioneers, what have we become? What do you call people who, when they're faced with a condition or fear, do nothing about it. They just run and hide?

  Jack Toby : Civilized?

  Paul Kersey : No.

• Paul Kersey : [Kersey confronts the mugger who wounded him in the leg]  Hey!

  [the mugger faces Kersey and knows Kersey has the drop on him] 

  Paul Kersey : Fill your hand.

  Mugger : [puzzled, evidently not familiar with the old-West metaphor]  Huh?

  Paul Kersey : Draw.

  [Kersey passes out and the mugger flees] 

• Frank Ochoa : We want you to get out of New York... permanently.

  Paul Kersey : [pause]  Inspector... By sundown?

• Ames Jainchill : You're probably one of them knee-jerk liberals thinks us gun boys will shoot our guns because it's an extension of our penises.

  Paul Kersey : Never thought about it that way. It could be true.

  Ames Jainchill : Well, maybe it is, but this is gun country.

• Sam Kreutzer : [Paul and Sam listen to a police statement on the news]  I'll bet muggings are down. They're afraid to tell us.

  Paul Kersey : There's only one way to find out. Take a walk on Columbus Avenue tonight.

  Sam Kreutzer : Thanks a lot, Paul. I think I'll wait for the official report.

• Jack Toby : We gotta let the cops handle this, Dad!

  Paul Kersey : Yeah?

  [squint] 

  Paul Kersey : Well, what if the cops can't handle this, Jack?

• Paul Kersey : Is... any chance of catching these men?

  Lt. Briggs : There's a chance, sure.

  Paul Kersey : Just a chance?

  Lt. Briggs : I'd be less than honest if I gave you more hope, Mr. Kersey. In the city, that's the way it is.

• Paul Kersey : You've got a prime figure. You really have, you know.

  Joanna Kersey : That's a euphemism for fat.

• Sam Kreutzer : [Sam complains about the crime situation in the city]  You know, decent people are going to have to work here and live somewhere else.

  Paul Kersey : By "decent people," you mean people who can afford to live somewhere else.

  Sam Kreutzer : Oh Christ, you are such a bleeding-heart liberal, Paul.

  Paul Kersey : My heart bleeds a little for the underprivileged, yes.

  Sam Kreutzer : The underprivileged are beating our goddamned brains out. You know what I say? Stick them in concentration camps, that's what I say.