Breakout | Through the Shattered Lens

Some songs and videos just epitomize an era and that is certainly the case with Swing Out Sister’s Breakout. Both the song and the video, with its fashion theme, are very much a part of the 80s. The song itself was Swing Out Sister’s biggest hit in the United States. Because lead singer Corinne Drewery originally moved to London in order to attend Central St. Martins College of Art and Design and initially planned to become a fashion designer, there’s an element of what if to this music video.

This video was directed by Nick Willing, who also did videos for Eurythmics, Bob Geldof, Debbie Gibson, Kirsty MacColl, Kim Appleby, Tony Banks, and Nik Kershaw. Willing is still directing to this day. In 2002, long before Stephen King wrote his sequel to the Shining, Willing wrote and directed a film called Doctor Sleep. Willing’s most recent film was 2019’s Unstoppable. Sean Scully & The Art of Everything, a documentary about abstract painter, Sean Scully.

Enjoy!

cracked rear viewer

Charles Bronson finally achieved superstar status in the 1970’s after years of toiling in supporting parts thanks to drive-in fare like THE MECHANIC, MR. MAJESTYK, and the DEATH WISH films. 1975’s BREAKOUT had a bigger budget, a better than average cast, and major studio support, but at it’s heart it’s still a drive-in movie, albeit a cut above the usual action flick.

Bronson casts aside his normal stoic, stone-faced screen persona as Nick Colton, a somewhat shady pilot/mercenary who’ll do anything for a buck. Charlie’s quite a charmer here, displaying a sense a humor and talking a lot more than usual. He’s in rare form, getting to display his acting chops, honed through over two decades in the business, and is obviously having a good time in the role.