The Swedish director Ingmar Bergman was a fan of action movie star Charles Bronson and wanted him for one of his films. However, Bronson rejected Bergman's request, explaining to the press why he declined:
"Bergman's films are all about illness and human weakness. Every person in his films is mentally ill and thinking about suicide. Who would pay for a ticket to watch such tedious entertainment? If I were in a place with characters like those in Bergman's films, I'd leave immediately."
The picture is from a visit Bergman made to Bronson on the set of his film Breakheart Pass. That day, Bergman asked Bronson about the padding in his jacket, to which Bronson replied that it was explosive padding filled with fake blood in preparation for a scene where he would be shot and wounded. Bergman was surprised, saying that he had never seen such a thing before. Bronson responded, "That's quite normal, because in your films, there are no weapons or gunfire."
