Opération clandestine

James Coburn plays a pathologist who is investigating the death of the fifteen-year-old daughter of the chief of medicine, who has died of a botched abortion that has been blamed on his colleague (James Hong), who is an illegal abortionist on the side. A lot of people today would be horrified of a movie where the hero is actually trying to help out an abortion doctor. But this was 1972 and people tend to forget that everything wasn't all bright and wonderful back when abortion was still illegal either (I don't personally take a side on the abortion debate, but I have a problem with people on either side who think the issue is in any way morally clear-cut and unambiguous--it's not now and never was). But before anyone goes bemoaning "liberal Hollywood", there's also a real "Dirty Harry" element to this movie, like a scene where Coburn essentially tortures information out of a drug-addicted suspect by denying her treatment. This particular scene should offend liberals everywhere (as well as anyone else who's ever heard of the Hyppocratic Oath).

But the fact that this movie might offend both conservatives AND liberals is exactly what I liked about it. The real world is morally messy and no one person is ever 100 percent morally righteous, and the many, many Hollywood movies that try to make things morally simplistic and their protagonists morally pure actually do a great disservice in many ways. Of course, the moral complications in this particular movie seem to be more the result of a confused production than anyone's clever intentions. Still I always find an interesting failure like this much more enjoyable than a boring success (like whatever old TV show they're making into a major motion picture this week). And in 1970's Hollywood there was a whole string of these kind of interesting failures, which is why I find that whole period so fascinating.

This movie definitely has some problems as other have said. Jennifer O'Neil is completely wasted, and the basic plot is riddled with holes (i.e. noboby but the protagonist notices that the botched operation was very obviously not the work of a trained doctor). Coburn isn't bad though, and this movie does kind of anticipate both "Coma" and the popular TV series "Quincy MD". Not good, but interesting, and certainly worth seeing.

Pathologist Peter Carey (James Coburn) moves to Boston for a job at a hospital there. He meets Dr. David Tao (James Hong) and they become friends. He also romances beautiful Georgia Hightower (Jennifer O'Neill). Also Tao does abortions on the side (they were illegal in 1972). Then a hospital administrators daughter dies of a botched abortion and Tao is arrested. He didn't do it and Carey sets out to find out who did.

OK thriller elevated by Coburn's great performance and beautiful Boston locations. The script has plot holes and moves kind of slowly but it's OK. O'Neill look incredible but is given nothing to do. Director Blake Edwards disowned this film in later years saying the studio interfered with it. It's not good but it's not that bad either.

I've seen Blake Edward's The Carey Treatment twice since its airing on CBS in the mid '70s. I don't remember a lot of the details, but I am fairly certain that it was a pleasant and engaging medical/crime drama, although it looked TVish even for TV. I watched it with my grandmother of all people--she didn't like anything suspenseful because it aggravated her angina--and Nana gave it the ultimate compliment, "This is a good shoot-em-up!"

To my grandmother, all movies, with or without firearms, that had suspense were "shoot-em-ups."

The film was based on a work by Michael Crichton, but I can't recall if TCT has some of Crichton's trademarks--an ensemble casts of flawed, believable characters and a technology-heavy story. Instead, there's someone killing people, with a hospital as background and James Coburn looking very cool (and a bit Crichton-like in demeanor).

See, I really don't remember much but for the fact that I enjoyed it.

It appears you can't get the film at Amazon (although I haven't checked Netflix). That's too bad, because a cheap copy or a quick rental of this small mystery movie would be fun and enjoyable.

Just remember to bring your little pills, okay?

This movie is an excellent example how a good director can bring out absolutely outstanding performances by all involved. I think James Coburn was one of THE coolest guys ever. What I always liked about him was that his characters always had an amazing and engaging personality. Very charismatic and loads of charm. But, to me he always came across as genuine, never phony or 'put on' in any way. Decidedly, one of my very favourites.

The story is quite good too. I normally don't leave reviews for non-Genre films, for movies that are not usually Horror or Science Fiction, but this movie has always been one that I liked from the very first time I saw it. The performances are unusually and universally very good, which is one reason I feel that this movie really stands out for it's time. In addition to Coburn, each and every one of the other supporting actors were excellent! The girlfriend I really liked. I felt that she came across rather uniquely for women portrayed during that time. She had a perfect blend of femininity, intelligence, and humour that really worked and made her character very appealing, and thus the attraction between them very believable. And each and every one, even the very small bit players, played their parts to perfection. Even the film developer guy for his two minutes was great.

I could go on and on and on about each character and how well they were portrayed, but the main point here as I stated at the beginning, is that this movie shows how a very gifted director can draw out amazing performances from his actors. And, this he did extremely well, which along with the very engaging and well written story, in my lowly and wretched opinion, makes for a fun and very entertaining film! I just have to put in one last plug for Coburn... I mean, NOBODY could deliver lines the way he did.

I need to double check and I might very well be wrong here, but I THINK Blake Edwards was known for the Pink Panther films, right? But, this movie here shows truly what a master he was at brining a good Mystery/Thriller to life in a way I feel really shows his ability as an excellent director. An great example of this is the scene between the girls uncle who is a doctor and Coburn. To me, Drama is the most difficult to pull off in a movie without seeming either plastic or over the top. But, that scene between the two of them involves a whole spectrum of emotions, subtlety, humour, candor, and intensity that I feel was done masterfully.

Most HIGHLY recommended!

Coburn was interesting as the plain spoken wild card pathologist Peter Carey who enters a new hospital brimming with problems. Right off the bat a fellow practitioner is accused of a crime which he couldn't possibly have committed. Carey must unravel criminal activities within the institution to clear his friend which puts him in the sights of a psychotic killer. So-so thriller/drama.