wes-connors Veteran Secret Service agent Charles Bronson (as Jay "Killy" Killian) is assigned to protect snooty Jill Ireland (as Lara Royce Craig) from an "Assassination" by terrorists. The First Lady of the United States proves to be very high maintenance, and full of attitude. Mr. Bronson, to his credit, does the job well. A real life married couple, Bronson and Ms. Ireland's characters do form a bond, but he is more romantically paired with much younger Jan Gan Boyd (as Charlotte Chong) in this film.An interesting supporting cast includes "Midnight Express" author and blond henchman William "Billy" Hayes (as Pritchard Young). "Assassination" featured the last appearance of western actor Chris Alcaide (as the "Chief Justice"). Early in the running time, keep an eye on Ireland's female assistant Kathryn Leigh Scott (as Polly Sims) from "Dark Shadows"; her smug looks are priceless. The action in this regrettably unconvincing story occurs sporadically, leading to an explosive end.**** Assassination (1/9/87) Peter Hunt ~ Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Jan Gan Boyd, Stephen Elliott

Scarecrow-88 More latter day Chuck Bronson action fodder from Cannon Group has Ole Stoneface starring as a Secret Service Agent Jack "Killi" Killion, attempting to keep the US President's wife, The First Lady(Mrs. Charles Buchinski, Jill Ireland)from being assassinated at the hands of a terrorist paid by the White House Chief of Staff(there's no way I could make this plot up if I tried!). Most of the film has Ireland's Mrs. Craig and Killion moving cross country on a road trip as hit-man, Eddie Bracken(Erik Stern)and his gunmen follow in pursuit. Michael Ansara has a supporting part as Senator Hector Bunsen, the one responsible for the terrorist chasing after Mrs. Craig. Jan Gan Boyd is Killion's much younger lover and member of his Secret Agent team. The film benefits from the sparks that often ignite between feisty, acid-tongued Ireland and the more subdued and laid back Bronson, somehow bonding while on the lam despite the obvious tension. A secret revealed by The First Lady about her President husband, regarding his impotence and her reason for marrying him is rather amusing, as is the underlying purpose behind her assassination. Not as gratuitously violent or repellent as other movies starring Bronson during this decade. While certainly no FROM NOON TIL THREE in regards to the husband and wife's best work together, there are still moments here and there between the two that makes ASSASSINATION enjoyable.

legendaryunderdog Bronson plays Jay Killian, a secret service agent who has been transferred from guarding the newly elected President of the U.S. to now guarding the new first lady. Eventually, Bronson learns that the first lady is being targeted for assassination (hence the title), the film for the most part deals with Bronson keeping the first lady out of harms way. Not really an excessive actioner for Bronson considering previous efforts from his career, meaning that it's a little light on the violence factor. Jill Ireland plays the first lady, who has quite a mean streak to her in the film, her snobby attitude makes quite a pairing for her and Bronson's character. There are some comical moments here and there throughout the film, Bronson has more dialogue than usual which is nice, he adds a little rare touch of comic relief althroughout the film. I would recommend this movie to any Bronson fan, it's not Paul Kersey, but Jay Killian isn't too bad either.

paul_johnr This was the next to last film appearance by Jill Ireland, who died of cancer in 1990 after four decades as a well-known actress and producer. Ireland made quite a few waves in the press when she dropped her then-husband David McCallum in 1967, beginning her long relationship with Charles Bronson. It is a great irony that Bronson, probably the all-time leader in number of deaths rendered on-screen, had one of the most enduring marriages in film history.'Assassination' seems to be a movie that was tucked into Cannon's production schedule for the sake of Bronson and Ireland. Ireland was already suffering from cancer-related illnesses in 1987 and you can almost picture the two actors wanting to do 'just one more, for old times' sake.' 'Assassination' is carelessly done as a whole, showing the lack of polish and dwindling funds that would tank Cannon by 1990. But there's a kind of nostalgia value in seeing the couple together one last time and the film makes you wonder what exactly helps a relationship to survive in the chaos that is Hollywood.Bronson plays Jay Killian, a high-ranking Secret Service agent who is assigned to protect the First Lady, Lara Craig (Ireland). The President's wife has a reputation for being difficult, bossing Service agents around and wanting to do things her own way. That all changes, however, when attempts are made on her life and she must journey with Killian by car, train, motorbike, and believe it or not, dune buggy to escape would-be assassins. There is little surprise here, as Killian believes the murderers are part of an inside job, perhaps arranged by the President himself. On the way, Killian and Mrs. Craig develop an unspoken affection for one another in scenes between Bronson and Ireland that are actually very funny.What really gets me is how this film was promoted upon its release and how it's still made to look as a DVD. The original trailer gives you the feeling that 'Assassination' is another cold-hearted Bronson shoot-'em-up. But a lot of this movie - which was rated PG-13, by the way - is in a comic vein, putting it along the lines of a romantic thriller like Bronson and Ireland's western 'From Noon Till Three.' Even the DVD case shows Bronson with a rocket launcher, ready to blow things up. Which he does, but to a lesser degree than his other '80s potboilers.On the whole, 'Assassination' is late Cannon slop work and doesn't really know what kind of film it wants to be. Besides drifting from actioner to romantic thriller and back again, there are serious mistakes in continuity, property values are bottom-of-the-barrel cheap, and the effects are dreadful; many of the explosions seem like matte work rather than being done on location. Robert Ragland, who had shown good composing skills in earlier films, teamed up with Valentine McCallum on a score that is mostly synthesized and better fit for television.Richard Sale's script has real lulus of dialogue, with the conversations between Bronson and Ireland the only bright spot. There is no explanation as to why the First Lady is called 'One Momma' all of a sudden, nor as to why Ireland is left with her British accent when the character is a Wyoming native. Jan Gan Boyd, playing Killian's main assistant, has a kitten-like personality and is badly miscast as a federal agent. Stephen Elliott (a former Tony Award nominee who died in May 2005), Randy Brooks, Erik Stern (as assassin Bracken), and Michael Ansara (Senator Bunsen) are acceptable in their supporting roles.Incidentally, this was the last film directing gig for Peter Hunt, who broke onto the scene with 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' in 1969 and collaborated with Bronson and Lee Marvin on 'Death Hunt' in 1981. 'Assassination' is available on DVD through MGM Home Entertainment; it is presented in dual widescreen and standard format with three-language subtitles and theatrical trailer.** out of 4