Rider on the Rain & farewell Friend

Rider on the Rain: Tragically Underrated
Charles Bronson was a big star in Europe before he broke in the U.S. with these two films, the east meets west western Red Sun and Sergio Leone's classic Once Upon A Time in the West. I've read somewhere that Mr. Bronson did not like to watch his own movies but he did admit to being partial to the aforementioned Red Sun and the little seen French New Wave-ish-Noir-mystery-thriller Rider on the Rain. It really is a one of a kind picture: Moody, atmospheric, odd, unsettling at times but strangely compelling and ultimately satisfying. Not much real action per se but a very 1960's feeling Hitchcock like imitation with its own kooky rhythms and style. His performance in this and in the companion picture on this dvd, Farewell Friend feature a decidedly less typical Bronson: Looser, cooler, casual, unaffected and kind of well...hip for a guy his age in the 1960's anyway. Farewell Friend is maybe a little too pretentious for my taste but it has its' moments. It's well shot with lots of...

A Pleasant Surprise
Having written a review of "Rider on the Rain" in another DVD edition, and having bought the film three other times besides a copy taped from cable, it was never satisfyingly enough captured until this edition with the plus of "Farewell Friend" also. Here is presented a widescreen anamorphic presentation of both films starring Charles Bronson and "Rider" has not looked so good since I had seen it in the theater in 1970. "Farewell Friend" (AKA: "Honor Among Thieves") dated to 1968 and teams Bronson with Alain Delon (who re-teamed in the hit "Red Sun" in 1971) and also is written by one of my favorite authors, Sebastien Japrisot which I did not know until this DVD arrived. I do not think Bronson's comeback did not reach the States until "Rider on the Rain," but "Farewell Friend" claims to have been his breakthrough role. "Rider on the Rain" also stars Marlene Jobert who I wish had done more as I find her role of "Melancoly" in this to be one of the most engaging screen characters...

Excellent Quality At Every Level
These two extremely fine, well-crafted films really gave Charles Bronson an opportunity to demonstrate what a talented, charismatic actor he was. I found these films to be intelligently written and demanding of a certain level of concentration (and intelligence) in order to keep up with their story lines. They will have you guessing to the end. Unlike modern Hollywood productions, they are not dumbed-down to the presumed level of their audience.

Bronson's truly effective on-screen relationships with Alain Delon in "Farewell Friend", and Marlene Jobert in "Rider On The Rain", are due not only to the quality of the scripts, but also to the superior acting ability of all concerned (Jobert is a standout), and that indefinable something which relatively few actors possess to any great extent.

I do not intend to discuss the content of the films themselves since that information can easily be found elsewhere on the internet. Instead, let me (briefly) review the DVD...

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