Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

St. Ives Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 15, 2024

The 1970s were good to Charles Bronson. Working his way into leading man parts, Bronson ran with the opportunity, taking as many employment opportunities as possible while developing a loyal fan base responsive to his steely screen presence. He made 21 movies during the decade, mostly sticking with genre entertainment that made the most of his reserved acting style, often finding himself in heroic roles as a man of action dealing with the evils of the world. 1976’s “St. Ives” is a slight change of pace for the star, with this adaptation of a 1972 Oliver Bleeck novel putting Bronson in detective mode, portraying a middle man caught between the police and criminals when special information is stolen from a wealthy man. Bronson does Bronson in “St. Ives,” but he’s great fun to watch as a cautious man stuck in a strange situation. The feature doesn’t quite understand that less is more, but director J. Lee Thompson (who would go on to make eight more films with Bronson) keeps things exciting for an hour and change, adding elements of danger and red herrings as the eponymous character tries to make sense of everything that’s coming for him.

In Los Angeles, St. Ives (Charles Bronson) is living in a fleabag motel, dealing with writer’s block as the former crime reporter tries to complete his first novel. St. Ives is a compulsive gambler, dealing with his urges, but he’s also an incredibly connected man with a formidable reputation for reliability, making him a prime choice for Abner (John Houseman). A rich man who’s recently experienced a break-in at his mansion, Abner requires a “go-between” to help retrieve five leather-bound ledgers that were taken from his home safe. St. Ives is the man for the job, tasked with bringing a bag of cash to the crook, returning with the ledgers. Instead of meeting a contact, St. Ives finds a dead body, with cops right there to connect him to the crime scene. Proving his innocence, St. Ives hits the streets, reaching out to contacts as he tries to understand why the man was killed and who he was working for. Help comes from some, as St. Ives is in contact with Janet (Jacqueline Bisset), who lives with Abner, and Lt. Charlie (Dana Elcar), a seasoned cop who understands how to trust the writer during his investigation.

St. Ives is a man who’s seen it all during his days as a reporter, taking himself out of the job with hopes to add some peace to his life, turning his attention to the creation of a book while residing in a cheap room on the wrong side of Los Angeles. He’s a gambling addict, but the screenplay by Barry Beckerman doesn’t do much with his character flaw, which disappears from the story soon after its introduction. Deep cuts into personality and weaknesses are limited in “St. Ives,” but Thompson stays with the writer’s sharp instinct for trouble, with the lure of a payday bringing St. Ives to Abner’s home for a special job. The picture creates an understanding of household oddity, as Janet remains the top contact for Abner, with the older man spending his days watching silent movies in his living room, also finding mental release from Dr. John (Maximilian Schell), his psychiatrist. The mission is clear for St. Ives, who’s delivering cash to a crook, but things get complicated quickly, arriving at a laundromat where his contact, Boykins, is dead, spinning inside a dryer.

The mystery of Boykins drives “St. Ives,” with the writer pulled into the mess when certain cops are certain he had something to do with the murder. St. Ives goes on his own investigation, which takes him to old haunts, including a cafeteria where everyone knows him, hunting for leads and names. The feature adds excitement with a few dangerous situations, as St. Ives is jumped by a trio of thugs (including Jeff Goldblum and Robert Englund) trying to eliminate him. He also experiences utter horror when another contact (Daniel J. Travanti) decides to use St. Ives to help test his new bulletproof car. “St. Ives” works to summon noir-ish activity, tracking the daily experiences of the writer, who meets with hostile characters and slides on slippery business, making his way around town while trying to keep his distance from law enforcement, who won’t leave him alone.

St. Ives Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as a "New 2023 2K scan from the interpositive." Detail is acceptable throughout "St. Ives," which offers a decent view of skin particulars on the cast, with Jacqueline Bisset's glamour lighting quite obvious at times. There's softness with these cinematographic choices, but visual intent seems intact. Interiors around living spaces and commuter areas carry depth, leaving decorative additions open for inspection. Tours around Los Angeles are dimensional, examining city living and ritzy neighborhoods. Colors are defined, working with period hues, including lots of browns and grays. Greenery is distinct. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is capably resolved. Source is in good condition.

St. Ives Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA preserves dialogue exchanges, securing different performance choices, including Bronson's tight-jawed line delivery. Scoring supports with clear instrumentation, ranging from mild orchestral movements to funkier stretches with pronounced bass. Sound effects are basic but appreciable, along with city atmospherics.

St. Ives Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Making Of (4:22, HD) is a 1976 featurette on the creation of "St. Ives," focusing on "perhaps the most popular actor in the world today," Charles Bronson. The idea here is to sell the universal appeal of the actor, celebrating his everyman screen persona and his participation in projects where good topples evil. Short interviews at collected from actors Charles Bronson and Jacqueline Bisset, and BTS footage is included, providing a brief look at the production in motion. It's an offering of salesmanship, but interesting, especially with its unguarded moments.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:06, SD) is included.

St. Ives Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"St. Ives" remains lively as the writer finds himself at the right place at the wrong time on numerous occasions, and flirtations with Janet grow, complicating the situation. Thompson generates a rhythm to the endeavor that keeps it moving along, managing trouble for St. Ives as he attempts to clear his name and learn more about Boykins. Bronson is strong here, borderline playful at times, and there's tremendous entertainment value in watching St. Ives deal with those who underestimate his seasoning and intellect. "St. Ives" doesn't sustain its momentum to the very end, with the final act (which ends up at a drive-in theater) growing too knotted with names and reveals, turning the effort into a traditional mystery when the picture is more about personality, following St. Ives into danger. The ending doesn't kill the film, but it certainly comes close, with Thompson failing to recognize that the real appeal here is Bronson and his charged interactions with others, not an overall scheme of blackmail and burglary. He's the star for a reason, giving an understated, squinty performance that elevates the offering whenever he's the sole focus.