Michael Parks stars as Jim Bronson in the TV movie pilot, "Then Came Bronson".
Martin Sheen stars as Nick, Jim Bronson's best friend in the pilot. Nick commits suicide shortly after asking Jim to buy back his motorcycle from his soon-to-be widow, played by Sheree North. Bronson had originally owned and customized the bike, a 900cc 1969 XLH Sportster, then sold it to Nick when he gets a job as a reporter. Nick's suicide makes Bronson think about his life, the path he's on, the whole "rat race" crowding him. After a blow-up with his asshole editor Jim decides to say fuck it. He then bids adieu to the city and takes to the road on his Sporty to discover what life has waiting for him.
The opening scene would serve as a metaphor for the premise of the show: getting away from the "big city" and searching for the "simple life". The show begins with Bronson riding up to a red light in San Francisco and he nods to the man in the car beside him, briefly chatting with the guy.
Driver: "Taking a trip?" Bronson: "Yeah." Driver: "Where to?" Bronson: "Wherever I end up, I guess." Driver: "Man, I wish I was you." Bronson: "Really?" Driver: "Yeah." Bronson: "Well, hang in there."
He pulls in the clutch, kicks the bike into gear and heads out to California's State Route 1......
The pilot was also released in Europe as a feature film.
Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk
Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk
