“CAREFUL WITH THAT KNIFE, LADY”

By Raymond Benson

The great Richard Matheson wrote a number of fabulous works in genre fiction—novels, short stories, screenplays, and teleplays—and was one of the main writers of the original The Twilight Zone TV series. This reviewer considers the man a genius of his craft, as Matheson was responsible for some truly classic science fiction, horror, and mystery tales.

Matheson’s first published novel, Someone is Bleeding (1953), however, is not one of the author’s best-known titles. It is a psychological thriller in which the leading lady may or may not be a crazed killer. The novel was adapted and filmed in 1974 in France with the title Les seins de glace, which translates to… Icy Breasts, though the film was released in some countries under the novel's title.

Perhaps Richard Matheson ended up being happy that the filmmakers did not use his original title. While it contains some interesting moments, a couple of eye candy stars, and a story that is somewhat compelling (mainly because one wants to see how it winds up), Icy Breasts suffers from heavy-handed direction and poor acting.

Claude Brasseur plays François Rollin, the protagonist of the story, even though Brasseur was billed third (popular Alain Delon received top billing, and his life-partner at the time, Mireille Darc, got second billing). All three actors have done much, much better work in other movies.

Rollin is a successful television writer who lives in the south of France near Nice. One day he meets beautiful but obviously troubled Peggy (Darc) on the beach. She is standoffish at first, but eventually warms to Rollin’s flirtations and advances. But Peggy has some dark secrets. She is watched over by the mysterious wealthy lawyer, Marc Rilson (Delon), who employs creepy Steig (Emilio Messina), a chauffeur/bodyguard worthy of a Bond movie. Rilson is in an unhappy marriage to a creepy but beautiful woman (Nicoletta Machiavelli), and also provides a home for a similarly creepy, bitter brother. Peggy’s own creepy gardener/housekeeper, Albert (Michel Peyrelon), works for Rilson in order to keep an eye on Peggy. There’s a lot of creepy going on! Rollin, who has fallen hard for Peggy, wants to know why everything surrounding her is so creepy. Eventually he learns that Peggy may or may have not stabbed her husband to death. Rilson was the lawyer who got her off on an insanity defense. But is she insane? If so, why isn’t she institutionalized? Or had she been? One thing is certain—Peggy cannot stand to be touched by a man and becomes irrational and violent when that occurs. Once the body count starts to increase and threats from Rilson begin to multiply, Rollin realizes he may be in over his head.

Ice Breasts is a little similar in tone and feel to Play Misty for Me (1971) and perhaps the filmmakers had that movie in mind. Unfortunately, Icy Breasts is nowhere near as successful a psychological thriller as Misty. Brasseur’s acting is over-the-top jovial, lively, and energetic. His character is attempting to be funny and charming to Peggy, but often he just comes off as a jerk. Is he an idiot? Can’t he see that Peggy is Trouble with a capital T? And wouldn’t being physically assaulted more than once make a sensible person turn and run the other way? Contrasting with Mr. Joviality are the rest of the actors. Delon, Darc, and the henchmen take their roles so seriously that one would think they’re in an Ingmar Bergman drama. The direction is simply too ham-fisted.

On the plus side, the movie is pretty to look at. The Nice and Antibes locations are scenic. Both Delon and Darc are gorgeous and do light up the screen. The story is interesting enough to hold one’s attention.

Kino Lorber’s new Blu-ray release ports over the StudioCanal 4K restoration from the original camera negative, which emphasizes that distinctive 1970s film stock look. The soundtrack includes both the original French (preferred, with English subtitles) and English-dubbed (avoid!) versions. There is an audio commentary by film historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson that is perhaps more enlightening than the film itself. Rounding out the package is the theatrical trailer for this and other Kino Lorber releases.

Icy Breasts is for fans of French cinema, Richard Matheson, Alain Delon, and 1970s thrillers.

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