Then Came Bronson (1969)

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Not a bad review to be found here, which speaks volumes for this excellent film. I've always been struck by what a thoughtful story this was, even as it manages to be thoroughly entertaining. Who hasn't wanted to drop out of the everyday routine & look for something more meaningful at some point?I'd agree that this is more in the vein of "On the Road" or "Route 66" than "Easy Rider." Bronson's quest is one that we can all identify with, I think. And he's a fascinating character, providing a complex model of manhood that doesn't go to the extremes of overly macho or overly sensitive. He's obviously well-read, considerate, genuinely curious, non-violent -- but he's never preachy, he never looks down his nose at others, and he's eager to understand other viewpoints, even if he doesn't always agree with them. At the same time, you can tell he has definite & firm beliefs that he lives by, and that he won't compromise them.For me, one of the key scenes is his visit with Papa Bear, a father figure & mentor, who has a wonderful little speech about the difficulty of becoming a man -- a whole man. I've always imagined a much older Bronson becoming just that sort of father figure & mentor for another young seeker one day.So when is this film & the 26 episodes that followed going to come out on DVD? It's not just longtime fans who'd buy it - I'm sure a whole new generation would also find plenty to like & admire in Jim Bronson!

This series was closer to Route 66 on a motorcycle then it was to Easyrider. Also the motorcycle used in it was a Harley Davidson Sportster not a Norton. I agree that the series was cancelled to soon and would also like to see reruns of it. Michael Parks has always been an excellent actor, good at performing roles that are a little quirky. Many people probably do not recall that Martin Sheen played the friend that committed suicide in the first episode and that it was his motorcycle that Bronson toured the country with. I saw this show when I was young but later watched the reruns, I have not seen it recently though.

"Then Came Bronson" was the baby boomer's introduction to buy and ride motorcycles. After being discharged from the Marine Corp and wanting to just enjoy my life and freedom in this country and this show came on a few years after my adjusting to civilian life I was hooked from the first show. I bought 3 motorcycle within 5 yrs the 3rd was a Harley Davidson Sportster very much like the one used on this show. I am also surprised this show hasn't been on the cable channels. It would be a nice change from the shows that most cable channels run over and over until the viewers know the lines of the characters like they are reading the scripts. The show was very peaceful, just a guy that wanted to see this great country and meet some of the people that live here. Most people you mention this show to from that era remember it and seem to feel it would be enjoyed by a whole new and much younger audience now and I certainly agree with that.

This show along with Easy Rider got me into motorcycling. They were both filmed in 1968 and released in 1969. I remember reading that Michael Parks had creative differences with the producers and that helped lead to cancellation. I wish they'd listened to him. Bronson summed it all up for motorcyclists everyone who is fed up with the corporate rat-race and seeks individuality in an age of conformity, "Hang in there". I wish some corporate entity would put this out at least on VHS if not DVD (both the European theatrical release that wasn't shown here due to Bonnie Bedilias' bare breats, the TV movie, and the 26 series episodes) soon. Jim, I bought my Harley due to you.