Ready for a “Scalpel Sharp” Dissection Of Medicine, Courtesy Of George C. Scott?
Yes, in an era when we are in the midst of a medical disaster, I have chosen to escape into the world of “medical movie madness!”
With the wold on lockdown, this “Cult Movie Monday” turns to medicine to cure us – but these films show Doctors who are as out of control as any pandemic!
“Now what in hell am I going to tell this boy Schaefer’s parents? That a substitute nurse assassinated him because she couldn’t tell the doctors from the patients on the floor?”
If you LOVED the screenplay for “Network”, imagine if Paddy Chayefsky put this sharp pen to the world of medical care! Well, he did, and legendary Actor George C. Scott spewed them out in a wicked medical comedy!
The Hospital!
In 1971, legendary writer Paddy Chayefsky took on medicine, and what a great result! Here’s is the trailer:
Thanks to “Movieclips classic trailers” on youtube for sharing this! Here’s the plot:
George C. Scott was on a roll in the 70’s, starting the decade by winning Best Actor for Patton, then acting in a number of tough, gritty films. THIS undiscovered gem is the setup for 1976’s classic “Network”, as both scripts were written by legendary writer Paddy Chayefsky.
Mrs. Cushing: Dr. Spezio. I think one of your patients in here is dead, Dr. Spezio.
Dr. Spezio: Why do you say that, Mrs. Cushing?
Mrs. Cushing: Because he wouldn’t give me his Blue Cross number, Dr, Spezio.
This 1971 Chayefsky script looks at the world gone mad through the eyes of a Hospital, and George C. Scott is the guy trying to hold it together. Co-Star Diana Rigg was just coming off her acclaimed performance as the Bond girl in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”…and while it has been largely forgotten to time, it was a razor sharp indictment of the medical establishment!
Scott’s acting and a terrific script make this one of the great, angry movies of the 70’s…with a caustic wit and a searing indictment of the medical community…
Writer Paddy Chayefsky performed a number of roles on the film. Chayefsky was the writer and a producer and also narrated the film at the start. Chayefsky reportedly had full control over content and casting of the movie.
Oscar Worthy Indeed!
Even though actor George C. Scott had rejected the Best Actor Academy Award gold statuette he had won the previous year for Patton (1970), Scott was still nominated in the same category for this picture but lost to Gene Hackman for The French Connection (1971).
“Now what in hell am I going to tell this boy Schaefer’s parents? That a substitute nurse assassinated him because she couldn’t tell the doctors from the patients on the floor?”
Paddy Chayefsky film script won the Best Original Screenplay Award at the BAFTAs, the Golden Globes, the Writers’ Guild of America Awards, and at the Academy Awards (Oscars).
Look for this obscure classic – made even greater by the classic 70’s film poster!
And speaking of classic’s 70’s posters, here is one for ANOTHER medical comedy from the same year, starring legendary comedian Peter Sellers!
Where Does It Hurt?
This VERY obscure comedy starring Peter Sellers as the head of a hospital that breaks ALL the rules! Take a look at what I found on youtube:
According to the youtube post, “Keith Allison, Paul Revere & The Raiders Bass Player, wrote and recorded the title song, “Where Does It Hurt”, and the theme music for this Peter Sellers Movie. Allison also played the part of Hinckley in the movie. Included in these clips is a second Allison tune probably titled Money,Money or Money Please Come Home.”
That youtube clip is to show context and analysis for the music in the film, as it takes on the wild world of medicine in the early 70’s…here is the plot: A corrupt hospital administrator decides to get as much money as possible from the patients by any means necessary – lie, cheat or steal!
Here is some great trivia, courtesy of the terrific website “IMDB.com”.
“Where Does It Hurt?” was filmed with much of the production money invested by director Rod Amateau and actor Peter Sellers, making the director and star both acting producers of the film.
On the first day of filming, Sellers phoned Amateau and asked that a limousine be sent to his Los Angeles hotel to transport the actor to the film studio. Amateau explained to Sellers that he’d be glad to send a limousine to transport the actor, but since Sellers was sharing in the expenses of the production as well as the profits, the limousine would cost the actor fifty dollars per day. The next morning, Sellers arrived at the studio in the passenger seat of a pickup truck driven by the film’s key grip. Passing Amateau on his way to the set, Sellers explained to the director, “He lives near me.”
“Where Does It Hurt?” isn’t as successful as “The Hospital” in tackling the outrageous world of medicine, but it does make an attempt to highlight the world of medicine at the time, which was even more out of control than it is today!
A 90’s thriller with an “A” list cast also took aim at the field medicine and out of control Doctors:
“Malice” starred Nicole Kidman, Alex Baldwin and Bill Pullman, and ws the story of a Doctor who thought he was God…but there was smooch more going on as well…se the trailer for this terrific medical thriller here:
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Categories: 70's Cinema, Academy Awards, Books / Media, Comedy Movies, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Movies, Obscure Movies, Politics, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
George C Scott and Peter Sellers are master actors!
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As I was reading your post John, I was wondering where people could access these movies if they wanted to watch them.
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Colline, the Hospital is available on Vudu, Amazon Prime…as for Where Does It Hurt? I found it on YouTube…
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Scott was pitch-perfect in that film. I haven’t seen it since release, and it never seems to show up on TV. Hard to believe that was almost 50 years ago. ‘Malice’ definitely holds up, and I watch it on TV even though I knoow the ending. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I own “The Hospital” on DVD and enjoy going back to see terrific acting and a razor sharp script! Thanks for commenting Pete!
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All interesting films, John. I remember when Malice was on the circuit. It was popular here.
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We watched again recently and it really holds up…thanks for sharing the story!
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Paddy Chayefsky was so great.
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Yes indeed…i have to do a story about the epic battle behind-the-scenes of “Altered States!”
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