The Hospital (1971)

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writer:

Paddy Chayefsky (writer)

Release Date:

29 September 1972 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Madness, Murder and Malpractice.

Plot:

Black comedy in which a suicidal doctor struggles to find meaning in his life while a murderer stalks the halls of his hospital.

Plot Keywords:

Hospital | Black Comedy | Suicidal | Doctor | Sex

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

George C. Scott	...	Dr. Bock
Diana Rigg	...	Barbara
Barnard Hughes	...	Drummond
Richard Dysart	...	Dr. Welbeck
Stephen Elliott	...	Dr. Sundstrom
Andrew Duncan	...	William Mead
Donald Harron	...	Milton Mead
Nancy Marchand	...	Mrs. Christie
Jordan Charney	...	Hitchcock
Roberts Blossom	...	Guernsey
Lenny Baker	...	Dr. Schaefer
Richard Hamilton	...	Dr. Ronald Casey
Arthur Junaluska	...	Mr. Blacktree
Kate Harrington	...	Nurse Dunne
Katherine Helmond	...	Marilyn Mead

Also Known As:

Right Smack Into the Wind (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content and drug references.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (re-rating) (1997) | Finland:S | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Simcha Productions

Trivia:

Barnard Hughes appears in a dual role in this movie. In addition to his role as Drummond, he also plays (under make-up and hairpiece) hysterectomy surgeon Dr. Mallory.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the Emergency Room, the dead patient's eyes and head change positions between the time Mrs. Cushing and Dr. Spezio look at him.

Quotes:

Barbara: It's hard for me to take your despair very seriously, Doctor. You obviously enjoy it so much.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Best! Movies! Ever!: Hospitals (#1.13)" (2007)

A Classic!

Anyone who has spent time working in a hospital or medical facility has got to appreciate this film. The plot is absolutely wild but entertaining from start to finish. The acting is superb. George C. Scott is the brilliant doctor but class A failure as husband, father. Diana Riggs, a sex symbol of the 1960s and 1970s (of The Avengers), saves him from himself. The surrounding cast is superb and the dialogue quite entertaining. I think I enjoyed the film more on viewing it the 4th., 5th. or 6th. time because I caught that much more of the richness of the dialogue and the interplay of the characters. Well worth seeing again and again. You just won't want to check in to a hospital in the near future.