Director John Sturges was born on January 3rd, 1910. He directed some of my favorite movies, and many of them starred my movie hero, Charles Bronson. The picture above is from 1973’s CHINO!
Charles Bronson’s second role in a film was in Sturges’ THE PEOPLE AGAINST O’HARA from 1951, starring Spencer Tracy. The picture below isn’t a very good picture as Bronson was only in one scene. Can you spot Bronson??
In 1959, Sturges would direct Charles Bronson in NEVER SO FEW, which co-starred Frank Sinatra and Steve McQueen.
Just a year later in 1960, Sturges would direct Bronson and an all star cast that included Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, James Coburn and Robert Vaughn in THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, a remade of the Akira Kurosawa classic THE SEVEN SAMURAI. Bronson’s role as Bernardo O’Reilly is one of the best in the entire film.
John Sturges would direct Charles Bronson again in 1963 in the classic film THE GREAT ESCAPE, which also starred Richard Attenborough, Steve McQueen, James Garner, James Coburn and Donald Pleasence. Charles Bronson drew on his experience in the coal mines of Pennsylvania when he played “The Tunnel King” in the classic World War II film. Charles Bronson is one of the characters who actually escapes, which made me very happy!
John Sturges would direct Charles Bronson one more time in the underrated western from 1973, CHINO (pictured at the top). Sturges was a phenomenal director, and Charles Bronson was in some of his very best work! As Charles Bronson’s biggest fan, Sturges will always be one of my favorite directors!!
Through the Shattered Lens 
Did read that Sturges was not happy with CHINO. One thought on the name change, the movie was originally released as THE VALDEZ HORSES in 1973, but changed to CHINO. The book was also titled, “The Valdez Horses”, but I wonder if the title was changed to avoid conflating it with VALDEZ IS COMING (1971) another action western.
That photo of THE GREAT ESCAPE with the patches in Bronson’s sweater is interesting. Never noticed that before, and I would have loved a shot of Bronson with some needles and yarn!:-)
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It definitely seems to be trending back towards THE VALDEZ HORSES, as that’s what Kino Lorber’s special edition blu ray went with. And speaking of Bronson sewing, now that you mention it, it seems like we’re dealing with a real missed opportunity here. It could have gone down with squeezing wax balls in Bronson lore!!
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