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 . However , filmmaking and writing are average .Typical Bronson flick has Charles in his ordinary role as an avenger taking law on his own hands. 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. Special mention for Jean Topart as a moronic henchman and Liv Ulmman who gives a nice acting as anguished and captured wife.

It displays an atmospheric and thrilling score by Michael Magne. Including evocative cinematography shot on location in Francia , Azul Coast. This turgid motion picture was regularly directed by the prolific Terence Young, including some flaws and gaps. Young was an uneven filmmaker with hits and flops. As he made three of the best Bond films :Doctor No , Thunderball, From Russia with love , he also directed other genres , Western : Red Sun , Dramas /intrigue : Klansman, Bloodline , Jigsaw man , The poppy is also flower, wait until dark ; Costumer : Adventures of Moll Flanders , Adventure : The Rover and WWII : Triple Cross .Rating 5,5/10 , acceptable and passable . The movie will appeal to Bronson fans. Charles does all that can be expect of him and he will reward his legions of enthusiasts.

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. Bronson's been keeping secrets from Ullman, she doesn't know he's an ex-con who served time in military prison and is wanted by the West German police for his part in the killing of one of their police. Not that he did the deed in fact he broke from his gang when it happened. Still he's guilty because he's associated with those that did it.

Which includes James Mason, Michel Constantin, Luigi Pistilli, and Jean Topart. They've looked him up as they want him and his boat as part of another deal. 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. She plays a spaced out airhead heiress who takes up with Mason because it's groovy. 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. It's all right but Charles Bronson would give us better films in the 70s and 80s.

Charles Bronson is an expatriate American boat owner in the south of France, living with his wife, Liv Ullmann and his stepdaughter. He seems a lighthearted guy, until James Mason shows up. Mason was his captain in the army, and the leader of a smuggling ring, which included Bronson. Bronson turned witness, and Mason went to prison. Now Mason has kidnapped Ullmann and daughter to force Bronson to take part in his latest scheme. But despite some good planning, matters soon become complicated.

It's seems like an odd trio, but despite Bronson clearly being the star, Ullmann and Mason get some fine, extended sequences. There's also some fine location camerawork around Nice and Beaulieu-sur-Mer, an exciting high-speed driving sequence, and Jill Ireland as a ditz.