Photo Opportunity #72: On the set of Breezy

Photo Opportunity #72: On the set of Breezy

For our April Photo Opportunity, I’m particularly pleased to bring us something new from Breezy (1973) – as it’s a film that we seldom look back upon. Breezy is a romantic drama directed by Clint, produced by Robert Daley, and written by Jo Heims. The film starred William Holden and Kay Lenz, with Roger C. Carmel, Marj Dusay, and Joan Hotchkis in supporting roles. It is the third film directed by Clint and the first without him starring in it.

William Holden was of course a Hollywood legend who was enjoying something of a comeback, the following year in 1974 he would go on to star in The Towering Inferno and several other movies including Network (1976) and Damien Omen II (1978). 

Kay Lenz however, began her career on TV before her first starring role as Breezy (or Edith Alice "Breezy" Breezerman) to attribute her full name. Lenz was the first wife of singer-actor David Cassidy. The couple were divorced on December 28th, 1983. Lenz has continued to work steadily in both film and television ever since Breezy. 

I am grateful to our long-time friend and former owner of The Clint Eastwood Appreciation Society (the fan club formed in the UK in the 1970’s) (and were most of us formed an allegiance), Dave Turner – who found this gem of a photo. Featuring Clint, Holden and Lenz – this superb photo on set is a new one to me. I am hoping the colour is genuine – one of my major grievances these days is the out-of-control use of Ai and the bastardising of original pieces. However, I have got to say if this is a tampered photo, it is remarkably good tampered photo. Unfortunately, in this day and age – the task of deciding what is real or what is fake, is becoming harder and harder to determine. Regardless of this, the photo is simply too good to ignore and it would be a genuine crime NOT to use it here. 

Distributed by Universal Pictures, Breezy was theatrically released in Los Angeles on November 16, 1973, and in New York City on November 18, 1973. The film earned 3 nominations at the 31st Golden Globe Awards, including Most Promising Newcomer – Female for Lenz. Despite this, the film was not a commercial success.