In the 1970s and 1980s, New York was going through some tough times, with spiraling crime and grime afflicting the great city. Director Michael Winner tapped into popular sentiments that society was falling apart and law enforcement was too overwhelmed to protect the citizenry. The resulting film, "Death Wish", was as controversial as it was a populist hit. Years before, the notion of a vigilante searching the streets of Gotham in the hopes of meeting up with would-be muggers would not have hit the emotional cord it did in 1974. Some critics called it fascist, others called it racist (despite the fact that Winner took pains to present a multi-racial depiction of the denizens of society). Yet, audiences responded with enthusiasm every time Charles Bronson (in a very fine, subdued performance) let loose on the villains. New York is going through some hard times again due to the impact of the virus, but it's likely Gotham will return to fine form once the current crisis has passed. Until then, "Death Wish"- along with films such as "Taxi Driver" and "Midnight Cowboy"- still serve as cinematic archaeological artifacts of a more challenging era that brought about plenty of problems in society, but also inspired some memorable films. -(Lee Pfeiffer)