Dr. Strange (1978) (TV)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Philip DeGuere

Writer:

Philip DeGuere (written by)

Release Date:

6 September 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy

Plot:

A psychiatrist becomes the new Sorcerer Supreme of the Earth in order to battle an evil Sorceress from the past. |

Plot Keywords:

Based On Comic | Wizard | Based On Comic Book | Magic | Marvel Entertainment

Cast

Peter Hooten	...	Dr. Stephen Strange
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Wong
Jessica Walter	...	Morgan LeFay
Anne-Marie Martin	...	Clea Lake (as Eddie Benton)
Philip Sterling	...	Dr. Frank Taylor, Chief of Psychiatry
John Mills	...	Thomas Lindmer
June Barrett	...	Sarah
Sarah Rush	...	Nurse
Diana Webster	...	Head Nurse
Bob Delegall	...	Intern
Larry Anderson	...	Magician
Blake Marion	...	Department Chief
Lady Rowlands	...	Mrs. Sullivan
Ines Pedroza	...	Announcer (as Inez Pedroza)
Michael Clark	...	Taxi Driver

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (video rental version)

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The star-burst on Dr. Strange's costume is not on his comic book outfit. While it is indeed similar to one that ordains the costume of another Marvel Comics hero; Captain Mar-Vell, this particular TV movie costume star-burst design is a tell-tale "signature" of this production's costume-design consultant (and former Dr. Strange comic book artist); Frank Brunner. Brunner uses that star-burst on many different design projects and incorporated it, as a more TV-friendly replacement to the "demon" symbol usually worn by the comic-book Dr. Strange. Although not named, the creature that Morgan serves is visually inspired by Dr. Strange's comic book arch-nemesis, Dormammu, while Morgan herself could be seen as being inspired by Dormammu's sister (and Strange's foe), Umar.

Quotes:

Thomas Lindmer: If I were to tell you that ignorance has been a kind of protection for you and that there's a price you have to pay if you are to understand your destiny, would you still choose understanding over ignorance?
Dr. Stephen Strange: Yes.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in In Search of Steve Ditko (2007) (TV)

On Balance, A Great Flick

So, it's not "Gone With The Wind" or even "The Omen". However, I like it and it is well worth watching.

The basic idea here, that a small number of empowered men(certainly women, too) act to preserve the world that we know from falling into demonic chaos, is an old one. It makes a stylish premise for this movie, which was based on the best-selling "Dr. Strange" comics.

The "astral" sequences are handled with style and grace. The actors play their respective parts very well.

I'd recommend this neat little movie both as entertainment and as a springboard for discussions. Do people like "Lindmer", "Wong", "Morgan LeFay" and "Dr. Steven Strange" actually exist?

I find a disconcerting similarity between Morgan LeFay's self-help cult(mentioned at the very end) and the all-too-real "Jonestown" in Guiana. (The mass suicide there, with all its disturbing implications, came a few weeks after this flick was released.)

Maybe there is "war in heaven", with some spiritual powers trying to bring humanity into enlightenment, while others try to "bust" us back into the Dark Ages. Then again, maybe I was just stoned when I saw this movie for the first time.

But I really did have a good time watching it either way!