United States

A dramatic look into the life of a brutal 'shoot first, ask questions later' Los Angeles police detective (Charles Bronson) whose methods of dealing with suspects frequently upset his superiors but which usually produce results. A series of seemingly unconnected events lead him to the discovery of a major criminal conspiracy which evolves from a 40-year-old vendetta of a crazed Mafioso leader determined to revenge himself on the gangland assassinations of his colleagues back in 1931. His plan is to stage an underworld massacre ('my birthday party') using Vietnam veterans to wipe the slate clean once and for all. Bronson must stop him at all costs... John Gardner's novel 'A Complete State of Death' is brilliantly recreated for the screen by director Michael Winner in a film which is packed with violent shoot-outs, car crashes and Mafioso infighting. Bronson is at his toughest as detective Lou Torrey; Martin Balsam lends convincing support as the reigning 'godfather'.