Stumbled across the opening scene from Then Came Bronson again and struck how it still resonates 44 years after seeing the pilot. Can’t help but think the writer mapped out a series of archetypal characteristics the would capture the imagination regardless of whether a person rides a motorcycle or not.
I want to say it has a universal appeal but it definitely was created with men in mind — a Mad Men styled world where the guy always gets the girl during or at the end of almost every adventure. Can’t remember ever having a conversation with a woman who pointed to Then Came Bronson as an important cultural event in their lives.
Listening to Bronson’s brief exchange with the man in the hat at the intersection and riding off on a motorcycle to see the world was a powerful idea for me at 15. It remains that way today. And even though I ride a Vespa I can easily imagine myself on a Sportster.
Wonder what a 2013 version of this would be? Ewan McGregor and Charley Booman’s Long Way adventures have some things in common save for the absolute aloneness that Bronson can conjure.
Maybe it’s time for another pilot. I have some ideas…
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Yep, Long Way Round is kind of like this. Although, for a lot of people, it is the other two wheeled vehicles that give off wanderlust.
Chris Underwood: Watching Long Way Down I was struck by the challenge and prep. And then they encounter a bicycle rider in Sudan making his way north from South Africa — all by himself. That’s adventure.
Steve, I was 14 and the show had a huge impact on me, we were already a motorcycling family and I loved the show (not sure mom did). I wound up with a Sportster in high school, wore a helmet, not a watch cap. The summer after I graduated, the HD was ridden to TX, my brother along, a to-be senior in HS.
I’ll tell you, every horizon was a long, long ways off and I remember that very well.
Coop: Unfortunately for me I was in a confirmed, no motorcycle, you’ll shoot your eye out family. All my riding was on the sly. Would have loved to have a Sportster back then.
Moms would probably hate the show. Looking at it now it is really sexist in that sort of campy way. Shows are still sexist but are much more subtle about it so if you aren’t paying close attention…
Texas would have some far off horizons!
Hi Steve ,
How those films/shows grabbed at our attention when we were younger…….. Do you remember the film MASK with Cher in it ,
The lead character as a plan to finish school at make that big trip…..him and his best mate with the map on the wall !!
wow
How things can really grab you
Kindest regards
Len
There is a “Then Came Bronson” fan group of guys that was so affected by the series they still gather once a year to ride Sportsters and share stories. Birney Jarvis, on who the Bronson character was based, just passed away last year.
http://www.jimbronson.com/birney/Birneys_Photo_Albums.htm
As for me, I loved watching the show although no one else in my family did. My dad was sure it would have the wrong influence on me. He was right!
One of my favourite shows of the era as well. I think it was probably every teen-aged boy’s dream to be able to chuck it and just go! Still looking for it on DVD so I can watch it all over again all these years later.
Thanks Steve, I needed that.
Len: Mask was another film that I remember well. The story was compelling for someone who felt isolated at that age. And the plans made to see the world, well, I wonder how many kids still dream like that?
Doug: You raise an interesting idea for me — that of dad and what he did or didn’t know. Sitting here now I wish I would have talked with mine more when he was alive to learn how he felt about things then and what his dreams were.
If I have any regrets in life it’s that…
Canajun: All I have been able to find on DVD is the pilot — a Warner Brothers DVD product. Everything else appears to be pirated stuff. Hopefully someday Warner Brothers will release the entire series.
Aurelio: Happy to share Then Came Bronson anytime!