Here’s A “Scalpel Sharp” Dissection Of Medicine, Courtesy Of George C. Scott And Paddy Chayefsky!
Yes, at a time when we have finally overcome a deadly worldwide pandemic, I have chosen to escape into the world of “medical movie madness!”
“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 the brilliant 1976 film “Network”, imagine if Paddy Chayefsky put his 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:
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 the staff of a big city 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 the previous year for “Patton”, he was nominated again for this film the very next year!
FYI, Gene Hackman won this year for “The French Connection.”
“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’s film won the Best Original Screenplay Award at the BAFTAs, the Golden Globes, the Writers’ Guild of America Awards, and at the Academy Awards that year!
Look for this obscure classic – made even greater by the classic 70’s film poster!
Diana Rigg starred in another great 70’s film – alongside Vincent Price!
Yep, that’s Rigg in disguise – as she and Price cook up delicious revenge! Click here for a look at the great 70’s film “Theater Of Blood”:
And speaking of 70’s films with a medical bent, here is one for ANOTHER medical comedy from the same year, starring legendary comedian Peter Sellers!
Where Does It Hurt?
This VERY obscure comedy stars Peter Sellers as the head of a hospital that breaks ALL the rules! Sadly, there is no longer a movie trailer for it online, but the entire film is on YouTube.
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 of medicine and “out of control” Doctors:
“Malice” starred Nicole Kidman, Alex Baldwin and Bill Pullman, and is the story of a Doctor who thought he was God…but there was so much more going on as well…se the trailer for this terrific medical thriller here:
If you like these stories, why not sign up to receive emails whenever I post? It’s easy to do, I do NOT collect any information about you at all, there are absolutely NO ads of any kind, just stories about movies, music, books, food, travel and pop culture…
You can sign up by clicking on my blog here and see the note on the right!
Sign up for a daily hit of social media, and let me know your favorite medical movies!
Categories: 70's Cinema, Comedy Movies, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Hollywood, Movies, Obscure Movies, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
The only one of the three I saw was Malice. It’s not like I watch tons of movies, but I had forgotten all about that film.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“The Hospital” is a razor sharp script from Chayefsky that’s worth checking out – thanks for commenting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have seen ‘The Hospital’, and I did enjoy it. George is a great actor, and I think he will be thought of as such in the future. He is often sadly neglected now.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes he was one of the greats who isn’t mentioned much at all…thanks so much for the comment!
LikeLiked by 1 person