The Breach (1970 film)
Encyclopedia
The Breach is a 1970 film written and directed by Claude Chabrol
, based on the novel The Balloon Man by Charlotte Armstrong
. The film was also known as The Breakup at times in its release in the United States. The film had a total of 927,678 admissions in France.
) mentally ill husband Charles (Drouot
) injures their son Michel in a violent rage. Charles is then forced to move back in with his wealthy and manipulative parents, who use Hélène as a scapegoat for their son's mental state and decide to take over custody of Michel by any means necessary. While the boy is recovering in a local hospital
, Hélène moves to a boarding house
nearby. The Régniers hire Paul Thomas (Cassel
), an impoverished family acquaintance, to find out something about Hélène which would help them in their custody battle. Paul moves into the boarding house and, with the help of his girlfriend Sonia (Rouvel
), plots to ruin Hélène's reputation and then possibly kill her.
of The New York Times
:
Dave Kerr of The Chicago Reader
:
Claude Chabrol
Claude Chabrol was a French film director, a member of the French New Wave group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s...
, based on the novel The Balloon Man by Charlotte Armstrong
Charlotte Armstrong
Charlotte Armstrong Lewi was an American author. Under the names Charlotte Armstrong and Jo Valentine she wrote 29 novels, as well as working for the New York Times advertising department, as a fashion reporter for Breath of the Avenue , and in an accounting firm.Armstrong Lewi graduated from Vulcan...
. The film was also known as The Breakup at times in its release in the United States. The film had a total of 927,678 admissions in France.
Plot
Hélène Régnier's (AudranStéphane Audran
Stéphane Audran is a French film and television actress, known for her performances in Oscar winning movies such as Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie and Babette's Feast and in critically acclaimed films like The Big Red One and Violette Nozière .She married...
) mentally ill husband Charles (Drouot
Jean-Claude Drouot
Jean Claude Drouot is a Belgian actor.-Biography:Jean Claude Drouot was formed in Young Theater of Université Libre de Bruxelles . Later it leaves settling down has Paris or he follows Charles Dullin's courses and has to leave of 1962, he interprets the big tragedies and rooms plays of Molière...
) injures their son Michel in a violent rage. Charles is then forced to move back in with his wealthy and manipulative parents, who use Hélène as a scapegoat for their son's mental state and decide to take over custody of Michel by any means necessary. While the boy is recovering in a local hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
, Hélène moves to a boarding house
Boarding house
A boarding house, is a house in which lodgers rent one or more rooms for one or more nights, and sometimes for extended periods of weeks, months and years. The common parts of the house are maintained, and some services, such as laundry and cleaning, may be supplied. They normally provide "bed...
nearby. The Régniers hire Paul Thomas (Cassel
Jean-Pierre Cassel
Jean-Pierre Cassel was a French actor.-Life and career:Cassel was born Jean-Pierre Crochon in Paris, the son of Louise-Marguerite , an opera singer, and Georges Crochon, a doctor. Cassel was discovered by Gene Kelly as he tap danced on stage, and later cast in the 1957 film The Happy Road...
), an impoverished family acquaintance, to find out something about Hélène which would help them in their custody battle. Paul moves into the boarding house and, with the help of his girlfriend Sonia (Rouvel
Catherine Rouvel
Catherine Rouvel is an acclaimed French actress. Her career spans from 1959 in television to 2004....
), plots to ruin Hélène's reputation and then possibly kill her.
Principal cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Stéphane Audran Stéphane Audran Stéphane Audran is a French film and television actress, known for her performances in Oscar winning movies such as Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie and Babette's Feast and in critically acclaimed films like The Big Red One and Violette Nozière .She married... |
Hélène Régnier |
| Jean-Pierre Cassel Jean-Pierre Cassel Jean-Pierre Cassel was a French actor.-Life and career:Cassel was born Jean-Pierre Crochon in Paris, the son of Louise-Marguerite , an opera singer, and Georges Crochon, a doctor. Cassel was discovered by Gene Kelly as he tap danced on stage, and later cast in the 1957 film The Happy Road... |
Paul Thomas |
| Michel Bouquet Michel Bouquet Michel Bouquet is a French film actor. He has appeared in over 90 films since 1947. He was born in Paris, France.-Selected filmography:* La petite chambre * Le Promeneur du Champ de Mars... |
Ludovic Régnier |
| Annie Cordy Annie Cordy Léonie Cooreman known under the stage name Annie Cordy is a Belgian film actress and singer. She has appeared in 50 films since 1954. She has staged many memorable appearances at Bruno Coquatrix' famous Paris Olympia... |
Mme. Pinelli |
| Jean-Claude Drouot Jean-Claude Drouot Jean Claude Drouot is a Belgian actor.-Biography:Jean Claude Drouot was formed in Young Theater of Université Libre de Bruxelles . Later it leaves settling down has Paris or he follows Charles Dullin's courses and has to leave of 1962, he interprets the big tragedies and rooms plays of Molière... |
Charles Régnier |
| Jean Carmet Jean Carmet Jean Carmet, born July 25, 1920 in Bourgueil, Indre-et-Loire, France; died April 20, 1994 in Sèvres, Hauts-de-Seine, was a French actor.-Biography:... |
Henri Pinelli |
| Catherine Rouvel Catherine Rouvel Catherine Rouvel is an acclaimed French actress. Her career spans from 1959 in television to 2004.... |
Sonia |
| Claude Chabrol | Un passager dans le tramway |
Critical reception
Vincent CanbyVincent Canby
Vincent Canby was an American film critic who became the chief film critic for The New York Times in 1969 and reviewed more than 1000 films during his tenure there.-Life and career:...
of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
:
Dave Kerr of The Chicago Reader
The Chicago Reader
The Chicago Reader is an American alternative weekly newspaper in Chicago, Illinois, noted for its literary style of journalism and coverage of the arts, particularly film and theater. It was founded in 1971 by a group of friends from Carleton College...
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