Shock Treatment (Traitement de choc) (1973)

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General		Extras
Category	Crime	Featurette-Behind The Scenes-(22:46) French with English Subtitles. Theatrical Trailer
Rating
Year Of Production	1973
Running Time	83:31
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Alain Jessua
Studio Distributor	Canal+ Madman Entertainment	Starring	Alain Delon Annie Girardot Robert Hirsch Michel Duchaussoy Gabriel Cattand Jeanne Colletin Robert Party Jean Roquel Roger Muni Lucienne Legrand Anne-Marie Deschott Salvino Di Pietra Gabriella Cotta Ramusino
Case	Amaray-Transparent
RPI	Box	Music	Alain Jessua René Koering

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	French Dolby Digital 1.0 (192Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.66:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.66:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	Yes
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Traitement de choc (1973) is probably best described as a thriller with sci-fi/horror elements. The exploitation film, directed by Alain Jessua features Alain Delon as the charming yet diabolical Dr. Delivers, who is the head of an exclusive rejuvenation clinic in a health resort.

    Helene (Annie Giradot), a successful fashion designer, heads to the health resort after her boyfriend leaves her for a younger woman.

    At the clinic, everything is idyllic and the special expensive injections Dr. Delivers offers the socially elite, actually makes his clients’ look and feel younger.

    Helene couldn’t be happier, but when her friend Gérôme (Robert Hirsh) commits suicide as he can no longer afford the injections, she tries to leave the clinic and begins to see not everything is as it seems, particularly when she is approached by the migrant workers who ask for her help.

     Traitement de choc is a cautionary tale of vanity and the fear of aging. The sensationalist film, while it may seem schlocky does have a political undercurrent.

Video

     Presented in 1:66:1 16x9 enhanced widescreen, the transfer is satisfactory considering the age of the film.

    The colour scheme is natural, but mild chroma noise is visible throughout the feature film.

    The transfer remains at most times sharp and defined. Shadow detail is equally adequate.

    Mild film grain and assorted artefacts appear throughout the feature film.

    The optional subtitles for the French dialogue are presented in a clear white font.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    There is only a 1.0 mono French soundtrack available on this DVD.

    This soundtrack is clear and does not exhibit any problems.

    The percussive soundtrack by Jessua and René Koering reflects the primal aspects of the feature film, particularly the idea of the stronger members of society forsaking the weaker.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Main Menu

    A still from the film with options for 12 scene selections and subtitle options, and access extra feature content.

Featurette

    A recently filmed extensive interview with Jessua explaining the development of the film, casting, the filming process and the reception of the film. 16x9 (22:47)

Theatrical Trailer (Full Frame)

    Optional English Subtitles (1:46)

   This title is currently only available in R4 as part of the ‘French Screen Icons – Alain Delon 1’ series from Madman.

    Overseas this title is only available in the R2 (France) 10 Disc barebones boxset of Alain Delon films from Studio Canal.

    The exploitation film Traitement de choc features a farcical plot, with a political undercurrent. The DVD is adequately produced with satisfactory picture and sound. The inclusion of an extensive interview with the director is welcomed.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall