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High Anxiety (1977)

6.5
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Dr. Richard Thorndyke arrives as new administrator of the Psychoneurotic Institute for the Very, VERY Nervous to discover some suspicious goings-on. When he's framed for murder, Dr. ... See full summary »

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Title: High Anxiety (1977)

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Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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The Desk Clerk
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Cocker Spaniel
Ron Clark ...
Zachary Cartwright
Rudy De Luca ...
Killer (as Rudy DeLuca)
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Bellboy
Lee Delano ...
Norton
Richard Stahl ...
Dr. Baxter
Darrell Zwerling ...
Dr. Eckhardt
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Storyline

Dr. Richard Thorndyke arrives as new administrator of the Psychoneurotic Institute for the Very, VERY Nervous to discover some suspicious goings-on. When he's framed for murder, Dr. Thorndyke must confront his own psychiatric condition, "high anxiety," in order to clear his name. An homage to the films of Alfred Hitchcock; contains many parodies of famous Hitchcock scenes from THE BIRDS, PSYCHO, and VERTIGO. Written by Scott Renshaw <as.idc@forsythe.stanford.edu>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Danger, Intrigue, Romance... and a Touch of Kinkiness! See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Thriller

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

1 September 1978 (Sweden)  »

Also Known As:

Alta Ansiedade  »

Box Office

Budget:

$3,400,000 (estimated)

Gross:

SEK 5,632,505 (Sweden)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Mel Brooks performed a number of duties on this picture. Brooks performed the lead role of Richard H. Thorndyke, directed, produced, co-wrote the screenplay and for the title song was both composer and lyricist. See more »

Goofs

When Dr. Thorndyke goes to his hotel in San Francisco for the convention, he is put on the 17th floor, where the mad bellhop says "you can't get any higher, top floor, we're pretty high," yet it is clearly evident that the hotel has more than 17 floors, both from the lobby looking up and from Dr. Thorndyke's balcony. In actuality, the Hyatt Regency has twenty floors. See more »

Quotes

Victoria Brisbane: How did you, ummmm... get my room number? I am not going to listen to any more of this, I mean, I've had just about enough! What are you wearing? Jeans? You're wearing jeans? I bet they're tight.
See more »

Crazy Credits

Opening dedication: This film is dedicated to the Master of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock See more »

Connections

Spoofs One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) See more »

Soundtracks

"If You Love Me Baby, Tell Me Loud"
(1977) (uncredited)
Written by Mel Brooks
Courtesy of Fanfare Music Inc.
See more »

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User Reviews

Dizzy parody is Brooks at his height.
2 May 2000 | by (London, England) – See all my reviews

Though often overlooked in favor of Blazing Saddles or Young Frankenstein, I believe this to be the pick of Brooks' parodies. Whether you share this opinion would depend on your familiarity with all things Hitchcockian.

It is not only Vertigo, as the title suggests, that gets the Brooks treatment here, but The Birds, Spellbound and Psycho are all parodied to various degrees of subtlety. Many of these films key scenes are simply re-enacted with comic touches, whilst the Hitchcock formalae is very much in evidence. The style is particularly amusing in its parody. Highlights include a probing camera becoming all too literally intrusive when it crashes through a pane of glass in the window, and a dramatic sound composition turning out to be merely the didactic passing bus load of a touring philamonic orchestra.

Resisting the out and out farce of his earlier effort, Blazing Saddles, and managing not to evolve into simply being a one joke movie such as the tendency of his recent efforts, High Anxiety is Brooks at his most clever. The cast, mainly consisting of Brooks regulars, all display splendidly entertaining and aptly silly impersonations of recognisible Hitchcock stereotypes. It is Brooks' finest hour however, with not only directing, writing, and acting to his credit but singing as well!!!


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