Breast Men is a 1997 American, semibiographical, dark drama film; it was written by John Stockwell and directed by Lawrence O'Neil for HBO.
Plot
Dr. Kevin Saunders (played by David Schwimmer) and Dr. William Larson (played by Chris Cooper) pioneer the usage of silicone breast implants. Larson comes up with the idea of the breast implant. Saunders tries to dissuade them, but eventually comes around. Saunders and Larson gain immense financial success as cosmetic breast augmentation surgeries rise in acceptance and frequency in American culture, but follow different life paths thereafter: Dr. Saunders becoming a narcissist interested in developing and implanting the exaggeratedly larger-sized types of implants popular with a mostly erotic dancer and female porn-star clientele, often having sex and doing drugs with them. Doctor Larson, Saunders's former mentor and business partner, is portrayed as continuing to pursue a more serious, clinical approach (e.g., reconstructive breast surgeries for female breast cancer survivors, etc.). Complications arise with the implants and the doctors are sued, leading to their fall from grace. Larson dies in his home of a heart attack and Saunders's Corvette crashes into a Mack truck, killing him.
Historical accuracy
The film very loosely tracks the history of the real-life breast implant phenomenon, from its radical introduction through its incredible popularity, through the controversial link of its silicone base to various types of illnesses and cancers (culminating in the Food and Drug Administration's moratorium on use of silicone in breast implants, leading the industry to use saline implants, instead). The story is interspersed with interview snippets of women from the 1970s who underwent breast augmentations with varying degrees of success, including their likes and dislikes about them. The interviews are marked by the fact that they show only the interviewees' nude breasts and torso.
In reality, silicone implants were developed by Texas-based plastic surgeons Drs. Frank Gerow and Thomas Cronin.
Production
Much of the filming was done in Galveston, Texas, and includes numerous interior and exterior shots of historic Star Drug, a drug store and soda fountain with a distinctive vintage ceramic Coca-Cola sign displayed over its front door. Star Drug burned in 1998 but has since been rebuilt. Limited footage is shown, as well, of the University of Texas Medical Branch campus.
Cast
David Schwimmer as Dr. Kevin Saunders
Chris Cooper as Dr. William Larson
Emily Procter as Laura Pierson
Matt Frewer as Gerald Krzemien
Terry O'Quinn as Hersch Lawyer
Kathleen Wilhoite as Timmie Jean Lindsey
John Stockwell as Robert Renaud
Lisa Marie as Vanessa
Louise Fletcher as Mrs. Saunders
Michael Cavanaugh as Harry
Michael Chieffo as Dave
Leigh-Allyn Baker as Implant Removal Patient
Fred Willard as Talk Show Host
Lyle Lovett as Research Scientist
Rena Riffel as Swimming Pool Girl
Tim Payovich as David Schwimmer's Buttocks
Reception
The film was released to mixed reviews.