Traitement de choc (1973)

Director:

Alain Jessua

Writers:

Alain Jessua (scenario) and
Roger Curel (co-adaptation)

Release Date:

November 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Doctors at a rejuvenation clinic discover a formula that will prevent aging. However, it involves harvesting the blood and body parts of young men, a process that the doctors aren't particularly averse to. |

Plot Keywords:

Rejuvenation | Frenchman | Shock Treatment | Paris France | Nudity

Cast

Alain Delon	...	Devilers
Annie Girardot	...	Hélène
Robert Hirsch	...	Gérôme
Michel Duchaussoy	...	Bernard
Gabriel Cattand
Jeanne Colletin
Robert Party
Jean Roquel
Roger Muni
Lucienne Legrand
Anne-Marie Deschott		(as Anne-Marie Deschodt)
Salvino Di Pietra
Gabriella Cotta Ramusino
Nicole Gueden
François Landolf		(as François Landolt)

Also Known As:

Doctor in the Nude (UK)
Island of the Damned (International: English title) (informal alternative title)
L'uomo che uccideva a sangue freddo (Italy)
Shock
Shock Treatment (USA)

Runtime:

France:91 min | USA:90 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

French | Portuguese

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Belle-Île-en-Mer, Morbihan, France

Company:

A.J. Films

Delon in the Buff!

If I'm not mistaken, the UK release title for this film was "Doctor In The Nude," which is very suggestive, but gets to the point--and an especially delicious point that is when the "nude" doctor is played by none other than Alain Delon, still sleek and at the age of 45! I have no idea if there was a cut version (but wouldn't be surprised as this is an over 20-year old mainstream release and contains full frontal male--as well as female--nakedness), but the version I saw contained a tantalizing and protracted sea romp full of naked, middle-aged but thankfully fit men and women. Delon is gorgeous as usual here, could pass for about 10 years younger and possesses the hard-bodied physique of a 20 year old. He plays Dr. Devilers (get the symbolism?), the sinister head of a posh clinic, whose clientele consists exclusively of affluent middle-aged to old people who come there for "rejuvenation" treatments to make them feel and look younger. Anne Giradot plays Helene, a fashion designer who comes to the clinic since she feels "old" after being dumped by her lover for a younger woman. She's pleased when the costly treatments (ostensibly derived from animals) apparently seem to work, and also by the carnal ministrations of the lusty doctor, but is disturbed by the disappearances and demise of the young Portugese men who work there. Soon she discovers the the horrifying connection, but no one will believe her--everyone is too content with how they look and feel to care about anything else.

Although this is far from being a great (or original) suspense, the unsettling atmosphere and fine performances certainly kept me riveted. Giradot capably displays the discontent of the aging Helene, then her growing desperation and panic as she seeks to uncover the truth. Delon once again proves he's the master of what the French call "sang-froid"--here he oozes his characteristic lethal, seductive spell. And going back to that ocean scene for fans of Delon--since he's jumping and splashing around so much, you kind of have to concentrate, if you know what I mean. And if it is a double and not him--well, it doesn't matter cause we can fantasize, can't we?!