The Hospital
Behind the lab coat beats the heart of a man who's been pushed to the edge.
George C. Scott delivers an Oscar-nominated performance as a brilliant doctor in a hospital beset by murders, madness and mayhem in this "ferocious, powerful movie of resounding proportions" (Cue). Directed by Arthur Hiller (Love Story) from an Oscar-winning script by Paddy Chayefsky (Network), this intensely provocative drama will forever change the way you look at modern medicine.
Dr. Bock's (Scott) life is in shambles. His wife has left him, his children don't talk to him, and his once beloved teaching hospital is falling apart. As he teeters on the brink of a nervous breakdown, Bock falls for a patient's seductively charming daughter (Diana Rigg), who not only gives him something to life for...but might even change his life forever.
Member Reviews
King George - neutrahouse
George C. Scott was in a class by himself. It sickens me when I see what passes for an actor these days. As I look down a list of what passes for movies in 2009, it makes me very sad there aren't any talents like his. This movie is a bit wacky at times, for which I'll take away one star. However, the screenplay, biting and sarcastic is classic Chayevsky.
I waited a long time to see this movie and it was worth the wait. Four out of Five stars...Brilliant. Simply Brilliant. - CharleyJames
Full disclosure: Ever since a hospital killed my previously healthy grandfather in 1971, I've always believed that hospitals are no place to go if you're sick, and I always remember that half of all doctors graduated in the bottom 50% of their class. So "The Hospital" feeds my prejudice and my nightmare.
But Paddy Chayefsky's brilliant script and George C. Scott's remarkably nuanced performance make this film a landmark drama, not only at the time of its release but still today. As an American ex-pat living in Canada, I wish it would be shown to Congress as it begins to consider a national health plan for a country that spends more and gets less per capita on healthcare than nearly every other industrialised nation on earth - and many second and third rate nations, as well.
At the same time, Canadian legislators ought to watch "The Hospital," as well; they may learn a thing or two about fixing our national health system.
But taken simply as a film, it is brilliant. Simply brilliant. Paddy, why didn't you write more scripts when you had a chance?Black Comedy with the emphasis on Black - Gregg
George C. Scott plays Dr. Herbert Bock the Chief of Medicine at a major hospital in New York City. Lately he has been somewhat suicidal after leaving his wife and falling out with his children. To complicate matters all sorts of things are going wrong at the hospital including some unexplained deaths and he has just fallen in love with the free spirited daughter (Diana Rigg) of one of his patients.
Although he would be nominated for Best Actor George C Scott would lose out to Gene Hackman for the French Connection. Regardless his is still a great performance and considerably different from his Oscar winning role in Patton the year previous.
The film also features strong supporting performances from Barnard Hughes, Nancy Marchand, Donald Harron (Charlie Farquharson) and Robert Walden. Appearing briefly are Frances Sternhagen, Katherine Helmond and an uncredited Stockard Channing in her first film.
As timely as Michael Moore's Sicko may appear to be today, we have here a damming indictment of the modern medical system that was made 35 years ago.
The Oscar winning screenplay was by Paddy Chayefsky who also won Oscars for Marty and Network. There are some obvious parallels to Chayefsky’s Network here in that both feature successful middle aged men, both feature marital and other family problems, both deal with mid-life (or later crises) and both address suicide.
Member Reviews
Read All...
King George - neutrahouse
George C. Scott was in a class by himself. It sickens me when I see what passes for an actor these days. As I look down a list of what passes for movies in 2009, it makes me very sad there aren't any talents like his. This movie is a bit wacky at times, for ...Brilliant. Simply Brilliant. - CharleyJames
Full disclosure: Ever since a hospital killed my previously healthy grandfather in 1971, I've always believed that hospitals are no place to go if you're sick, and I always remember that half of all doctors graduated in the bottom 50% of their class. So "The ...Black Comedy with the emphasis on Black - Gregg
George C. Scott plays Dr. Herbert Bock the Chief of Medicine at a major hospital in New York City. Lately he has been somewhat suicidal after leaving his wife and falling out with his children. To complicate matters all sorts of things are going wrong at the ...