De la part des copains

Plot synopsis:
During the Korean War, Joe Moran, a U. S. Army sergeant, was convicted for striking a colonel. He was imprisoned in Germany. In the military prison he encountered his former company commander Captain Ross, and a fellow soldier who served under Joe called Vermont. They had been imprisoned for black marketeering and hijacking army vehicles. Joe agrees to escape with them. The escape is organised by a former French Foreign Legionnaire named "Katanga". Things go according to plan until Katanga kills a curious German police officer. Frightened and disgusted by the murder, Joe escapes by himself, abandoning his friends and Katanga, who are recaptured.
Years later, Joe is known as Joe Martin. He makes a legitimate living renting boats in the South of France. He lives with his wife, Fabienne, and 12-year-old daughter. Things are going fine for Joe. When Joe's picture appears in a local news story, Ross, Vermont and Katanga appear. Now wanted drug smugglers, they want revenge on Joe and use of his rental operation to move contraband. To ensure Joe's cooperation, they kidnap his wife and daughter and hold them hostage.

Tags: revenge, murder, flashback

Review:
Though proudly billed as Terence Young's COLD SWEAT, this turned out to be a below-average international concoction: the plot is formulaic  albeit adapted from a novel by Richard Matheson  one that Bronson often returned to, of a man whose past catches up with him (in fact, I recently watched Sergio Sollima's similar but superior VIOLENT CITY [1970]).The film is doubly disappointing, however, for wasting the talents of actors of the caliber of James Mason and Liv Ullmann  the latter clearly wishes she was elsewhere, while the former often resorts to hamminess (with a ridiculous American accent to match).
As expected, the narrative flanks Bronson with real-life spouse Jill Ireland  here in perhaps her most embarrassing performance as a spoiled hippie brat; needless to say, the star more often than not lets his physique do the acting for him  but his is an undeniable screen presence and, as I've written elsewhere, he just happened to fit the bill for what was required of an action star in the late 60s/70s.The supporting cast also includes Michel Constantin (who was also in VIOLENT CITY), "Euro-Cult" regular Luigi Pistilli, and Jean Topart  all of them appearing as members of Mason's gang, with the latter being the most villainous of the lot and who gets his just desserts in memorable fashion.
The best thing the violent film has going for it are the plentiful and exciting action sequences, particularly a lengthy  if somewhat irrelevant  car chase towards the end (once again, the work of Remy Julienne).
This film has a cast of all time greats of the Silver Screen, James Mason(Ross)"Lolita" who tries to hide his British accent, but he occasionally slips.
Liv Ullman(Fabienne Martin) looks beautiful in this picture and plays a wife to Charles Bronson(Joe Martin)famous for his "Death Wish flicks" and the late Jill Ireland(Moira) who was married to Charles Bronson in real life.
If you like Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Liv Ullman and James Mason when they all looked young, this is worth watching.
On the action 50 pack classics I'm watching many older movies for the first time,since i enjoy the Charles Bronson films i thought i would enjoy cold sweat,i was right its a good Italian/french/Belgium co production about a Korean war veteran(Charles Bronson)who moves on with his life after being involved with gangsters who were in the military with him,most notably is an army captain (james mason)gone bad, he holds Bronson's wife(Liv Ullman)and stepdaughter(yannick delulle)hostage there's some good car chases,fighting and some pg violence.Bronson's real life wife(Jill Ireland)plays the captains hipper girlfriend.its not as good as deathwish,but its a well made early Charles Bronson actioner.
Charles Bronson takes his drearily and ultra-violent vendetta after his spouse , Liv Ullman and daughter , are kidnapped by a drug boss , James Mason , and his hoodlums: Michael Constantine , Luigi Pistilli , Jean Topart.This brutal thriller contains noisy action , car chases , intrigue , and lots of violence among crooks .
Based on the novel by Richard Matheson called "Ride the nightmare" which is butchered to produce the ordinary vengeance movie .It boasts superior cast with prestigious secondaries as Luigi Pistilli, Michael Constantine , the great James Mason and Jill Ireland, Bronson's wife.
This would be the first international production (the others to follow 'Red Sun (1971)' and 'The Valachi Papers (1972)') and the weakest of three films, which director Terence Young would have Bronson in the leading role.
Along side him there are recognizable faces in James Mason, Liv Ullmann, Jill Ireland, Luigi Pistilli, Michel Constantin and Jean Topart.
Of course, his couple with Liv Ullmann is laughable, James Mason looks bored to death (he should be), Jill Ireland is pathetic as a hippie drug dealer (she did it again in "Assassination" years later).
Charles Bronson (as Joe Martin) appears to be leading the good life, on the French Riviera.
Mr. Bronson has a beautiful home, where housewife Liv Ullmann (as Fabienne Martin) watches westerns on TV, and fetches him beers.
Ms. Ullmann and daughter are relatively recent additions to Bronson's World - which is about to be rocked by the return of some really BAD men he knew when he was "Joe Morgan"."Cold Sweat" is a fairly typical Bronson film, despite its origin, in France, as "De la part des copains"; and, the surprising appearance of Ullmann as the periled wife.
The real Mrs. Bronson (Jill Ireland) appears later on, as the main squeeze for the film's villainous James Mason (as Captain Ross).
**** Cold Sweat (12/18/70) Terence Young ~ Charles Bronson, Liv Ullmann, James Mason, Jill Ireland.
My female companion asks "I thought you loved everything Charles Bronson did?" I don't reply, simply throw the movie in the closet time capsule and hope future generations don't run across this terrible film..
One of Bronson's European action movies and certainly not a bad one, although some reviewers will always want to say negative things about Charlie, because, well, he is Charlie.
because it is a real delight to admire Liv Ullmann , James Mason or Charles Bronson acting.
short , a B movie and this status represents the real problem because only memory remains the flour mask of James Mason and the pain of Liv Ullmann in a more than uncomfortable role..
**SPOILERS** It seems that the film-makers of the movie "Cold Sweat" didn't happen to see the rushes in that one very huge and obvious plot-hole in the movie has two of the heavies Fausto & Katanga, Luigi Pistilli & Jean Topart, reappear in the flick after the hero John Martin aka Moran,Charles Bronson, unceremoniously dispatched them just moments before!
It was never even explained how they came back to life or to the hideout of the head of their Keystone Kops-like drug smuggling ring lead by ex-US army Captain Ross, James Mason, who's southern accent was about as phony as a three dollar bill and just as cheap.
Living the good life as a fisherman in the south of France John Martin is married to beautiful Fabienne, Liv Ullmann, as well as spending his free time drinking partying and gambling, where he never seems to lose, until his past catches up with him.
Now seven years later these same gangsters, who were captured and sent back to prison, are out looking for revenge and plan to make John's life,as well as that of his wife's Fabienne and 12 year old step-daughter Michele(Yannick Dululle), hell.
Instead of killing John the Ross gang seem to want to have him suffer as well as use his boat to smuggle heroin into France but their so inept that they end up all dead by the time the movie is over, most of them by their own hand!
This sets up the movies exciting and dangerous car chase sequence with Molra and especially the doctor(Paul Bowifas),in the back seat, having trouble keeping awake.Back at the hideout both Fabienne & Michele make a run for it with Katanga hot on their tail after Capt.
The last we saw of Molra and the doctor was at the hideout trying to save or bring back to life the already dead Captain Ross.The movie "Cold Sweat" ends with a bang with the still alive and active Katanga, all his fellow hoodlums were long gone by then, getting John to take him out to sea at night in order to still pull off the switch, with the cover of darkness, in a heroin deal with a Turkish freighter.
The car chase, which was highlighted as the best thing was also a major let down, it was boring and stupid.Don't waste your money, even if your a James Mason fan such as me.
How can this guy have been the most highly paid actor at one time?) If you want Bronson "action", watch Death Wish, a good film.
If it wasn't for James Mason and Charles Bronson, well.....
Jill Ireland makes a great appearance as a 'hippie' if I can use that term loosely, she was a very beautiful woman I might add too, boy did Charles Bronson have taste in women!
But like I said this movie wouldn't have two feet to stand on if it hadn't had the great James Mason and you guessed it...the legendary Charles Bronson.
Cold Sweet (1970) ** 1/2 (out of 4)Charles Bronsplay plays Joe Martin, a man living a happy life with his wife (Liv Ullmann) and her daughter.
Captain Ross (James Mason) demands that Joe use his boat for a drug trade and this leads to a cat and mouse game.Terrence Young directs this entertaining if rather light weight action picture that fans of the action legend will enjoy while others will probably not be overly entertained by the thin plot.
Even by 1970 we had seen countless movies dealing with the family man and his past catching up with him.What keeps COLD SWEET moving and entertaining is the fact that you've got a wonderful group of actors.
Jill Ireland plays a hippie chick and it's Luigi Pistilli who steals the picture as a cold-hearted bad guy.COLD SWEET features some very good action scenes including the finale with an excellent sequence of a car going down the side of a cliff that is highly entertaining.
Cold Sweat is a Charles Bronson film done at the cusp of his career change when he was transitioning from character supporting player to rugged leading man.
As the Bronson phenomenon was taking off James Mason who plays one of several villains in the film said he was assured of a good pay day by appearing in a Bronson film in support.Bronson is a Hemingway type of character American expatriate in Southern France making a living as a charter boat captain supporting his wife Liv Ullman and stepdaughter Yannick Delulle.
And they hold Ullman and Delulle hostage.The film also features Jill Ireland who was Bronson's real life wife and mistress to James Mason in Cold Sweat.
Jill's probably digging Mason's Tennessee accent, the same one he used a few years later in Mandingo.Cold Sweat is a routine action adventure programmer.
The thing I like in older action films that they always have great car chase scenes.
Although big name cast (legendary Charles Bronson who probably made push-ups before every scene, Liv Ullmann and James Mason, who was in this movie only because he was very good friend with Terence Young) the acting was average, but not the worst I have seen.
Bronson reels this one in on auto drive playing the usual tough guy he's played a hundred times before, but seems way out of his depth outside of the fleeting action scenes, and uncomfortably wooden especially beside Liv Ullman playing his naive wife.
Bronson not surprisingly relaxes more by his (off screen) wife Jill Ireland who also plays a pathetic stereo typical 'wild child.'From a dull start, this film continues to amble on even when Mason and his henchman show, it is only when Bronson has to fight off a ticking clock both in the story and the film's evaporating running time does 'Cold Sweat' come alive, with an obligatory but none the less well executed car chase.
After Bronson ditches the car 'Cold Sweat' reverts back to it's predictable proceedings and inevitable conclusion, resulting in a regrettably thin Bronson vehicle, all the more surprising considering it was based on a Richard Matheson story and directed by Terence Young, of early Bond films such as 'Dr No' and 'Thunderball.'.
It's the title of Richard Matheson's novel ,but it's not what you expect from this sci-fi / fantasy and horror writer.It's an English director (James bond) but it's a France-Italy-Belgium co-production.And it was filmed on location on the Côte d'Azur.It features Liv Ullmann but it's not "food for thought" .Bergman is far away.It features James Mason ,but he does not play Francis -Joseph like in Young's 1968 film "Mayerling".It features Jill Ireland like in many "Bronson movies" but she is not the star here.It features a car chase,but a GOOD care chase.In fact it is the best scene in the movie..
Conveniently, or coincidentally, or however you want to look at, after watching Once Upon a Time in the West not too long back, I decided it was time to explore some of actioneer Charles Bronson's other roles (good & bad...) so...BANG...here we have it.
Kind of surreal (but a different kind of surreal than say, Bergman surreal...) Anyway, probably for Charles Bronson, Liv Ullmann, or Terence Young completists only.
But it's also a document of several notable actors—Ullmann, Mason, Ireland.Bronson was, in the now distant '70s, one of the American action stars affordable for the European thrillers.DE LA PART DES COPAINS seems very characteristic for the kind of movies this director, Terence Young, and these actors made in the '70s, when Bronson was, on the footsteps on Marais, Belmondo and Delon, the action star of such Euro thrillers, Mason was, after a more distinguished movie career, a dependable character actor while Mrs. Liv Ullmann did various supporting parts in average outings (--she looks a bit innocent for her role in DE LA PART DES COPAINS--).
Katanga, a kind of an arch--villain, is the least interesting character.Jill Ireland does a bit part.In DE LA PART DES COPAINS the pace is good and the flick proves quite suspenseful.
This is a great Bronson film, that has some wicked car chases, and great performances!.
This is a great Bronson film, that has some wicked car chases, and great performances!.
The character development was excellent, and Charles Bronson and Liv Ullmann had very good chemistry together, and i was rooting for them all the way, plus Bronson had some very cool one liners!.
This is a great Bronson film, that has some wicked car chases and great performances, i highly recommend this one!.
Charles Bronson is AMAZING as he always, and is amazing here, he is very likable, witty, intense, had some very cool one liners, had very good chemistry with Liv Ullmann, kicked that ass, was tons of fun to watch, and i really dug the mind games between him and Mason!.
Liv Ullmann is very good as Bronson's wife i liked her lots.Jill Ireland is beautiful, and does her job adequately, she was OK.
Charles Bronson Versus James Mason.
James Mason, Liv Ullmann, Jill Ireland, Michel Constantin, Luigi Pistilli and Jean Topart co-star in this no-nonsense, muscular yarn with the agile, charismatic Bronson.
In "Cold Sweat," Joe Martin lives with his wife, Fabienne, and her daughter and operates a charter fishing boat out of the port of Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the French Riviera between Nice and Monaco.
"Cold Sweat" opens with Joe Martin (Charles Bronson of "Hard Times")owns a deep-sea fishing boat and he is letting a client steer it into the harbor after a successful fishing expedition.
When it looks like they have worked out their differences, Ross signals Katanga to open fire on the car that Fabienne is driving with her daughter.
Joe has to race back with the girlfriend and the doctor before Katanga kills Fabienne and his step-daughter."Cold Sweat" qualifies as above-average with Bronson outsmarting both the criminals and the authorities.
The novel charm of "Cold Sweat" is the off-beat casting of British actor James Mason as a drawling southerner and actress Liv Ullumann as Bronson's love interest..
But Joe doesn't take too kindly to those who threaten his family & promptly tries to sabotage their mission.Charles Bronson was one of the 1980s B-grade action icons, mainly due to starring as legendary vigilante Paul Kersey in the Death Wish series & some supporting roles in films ranging from the Vincent Price classic House of Wax to the likes of The Dirty Dozen.
There are also glaring flaws in the film's story & internal logic.But what makes this otherwise mediocre thriller rate as passable for me is the fact that Charles Bronson, who is somewhat an underrated actor to me, gives a good performance (even though he only has one facial expression in that granite slab that passes for his face) & even has a little fun constantly thwarting the bad guys' plans.
The scene where Bronson & (future wife) Jill Ireland & a doctor they abducted to treat James Mason's wounded villain are speeding to evade the police while Mason & a traitor comrade exchange gunfire while Liv Ullmann & Yannick de Lulle attempt to escape is passably exciting.
This is also probably the only film you'll ever find that has James Mason speaking in a Southern accent AND Jill Ireland playing a spaced out hippie.
It's a lesser effort shot in a small French seaport where Charles Bronson is an improbable fisherman with a wife (Ullmann) and daughter.
Say, did anyone else do a double take to see Katanga and Fausto back at Joe Martin's place after it looked like he killed them both?
That was just so distracting, but I forced myself from re-watching those scenes until the end of the film to be sure I had it right.And how about the fire Fabienne (Liv Ullmann) started as a diversion right after escaping Katanga at the cabin?
A grass fire would never have made that much of a fuss.I guess that's all part of the dubious thrill one might expect from "Cold Sweat", but all it made me want to do was go out and get a copy of "Death Wish" for some real Bronson action.
I wonder what James Mason was thinking to get mixed up in this vehicle.Last but not least, and I'll have to kick myself for thinking about this movie way too much, but why did Katanga hang around to terrorize the wife and daughter once he had the money?
They come back so many years later, and one of the men happen to be james mason with a gang of thugs who want to kill.
Bronson says he'll help him if he leaves hes wife and daughter alone, He lets Mason use his boat to escape.