Bad Timing (1980)

The setting is Vienna. A young American woman is brought to a hospital after overdosing on pills, apparently in a suicide attempt. A police detective suspects foul play on the part of her ... See full summary »

Director:

Nicolas Roeg

Writer:

Yale Udoff (screenplay)

Stars:

Art Garfunkel, Theresa Russell, Harvey Keitel

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Art Garfunkel	...	Alex Linden
Theresa Russell	...	Milena Flaherty
Harvey Keitel	...	Inspector Netusil
Denholm Elliott	...	Stefan Vognic
Daniel Massey	...	Foppish Man
Dana Gillespie	...	Amy Miller
William Hootkins	...	Col. Taylor
Eugene Lipinski	...	Hospital Policeman
George Roubicek	...	Policeman #1
Stefan Gryff	...	Policeman #2
Sevilla Delofski	...	Czech Receptionist
Robert Walker	...	Konrad
Gertan Klauber	...	Ambulance Man
Ania Marson	...	Dr. Schneider
Lex van Delden	...	Young Doctor

Storyline

The setting is Vienna. A young American woman is brought to a hospital after overdosing on pills, apparently in a suicide attempt. A police detective suspects foul play on the part of her lover, an American psychology professor. As doctors try to save her life, the detective interrogates the professor, and through flashbacks we see the events leading up to the woman's overdose; her stormy and intensely sexual relationship with the professor, her heavy drinking and numerous affairs, and her estrangement from her Czech husband. A darkly erotic study of several rather unsympathetic characters.

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Plot Keywords:

jealousy | professor | detective | police | pills | 

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Taglines:

His terrifying obsession took them to the brink of death and beyond. [Video Australia]

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

X

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English German Czech French

Release Date:

25 October 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bad Timing

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Recorded Picture Company (RPC), Rank Organisation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First of three collaborations of director Nicolas Roeg and producer Jeremy Thomas. The films [in order] were Bad Timing (1980), Eureka (1983) and Insignificance (1985).

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Goofs

The U.S. Army Medical Corps Lieutenant Colonel, presumably a psychologist, has a full beard. This is a willfully gross violation of the appearance regulation, in or out of uniform, most especially for a commissioned officer. The film is set in 1979 (year shown in an appointment book). In that era, and for some years surrounding 1979, U.S. Army personnel were not allowed to have beards in any manner, shape or form. Sideburns could not extend below the ear opening and mustaches, which were allowed, could not extend vertically below the upper edge of the upper lip, nor horizontally beyond the opening of the mouth, making them very modest looking. The only case-by-case waiver exceptions in this era were Chaplain Branch clergy of specific religions, such as Sikh, that required their clergy to have beards as an integral part of their religious belief; a Medical Corps psychologist didn't fall under this, regardless of his religious beliefs.

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Quotes

Milena Flaherty: You already know everything... you want everything, too.

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Connections

Featured in Trade Secrets (2005)

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Soundtracks

It's The Same Old Story
Written by Michael Field and Newt Oliphant
Sung by Billie Holiday
Courtesy of CBS Records

User Reviews

The psychology of sexual obsession artistically exposed

Art Garfunkel in his one great role as an American college psychology professor lusting after student Theresa Russell somewhere in Austria set in the late 70s. The camera work is amazing and keeps the same pace as the subtle plot lines and aesthetically deft sound score. Harvey Keitel plays a systematically intense police detective who has to unravel the near death of Russell following a harrowing sexual attack and drug overdose. Garfunkel is moody, and sophisticated, while never controlling as much as he is controlled by Ms Russell's ingenuous charms. Quite a psychological thriller, and a movie completely in it's own fresh mold. Anybody coming upon this film for the first time will find themselves drawn into the amazing weave which will entice them, and engage self-sexual questioning that is quite capable of opening one's own sexual subconscious. And, just for a treat. . . it almost seems as if every frame of this film is an art-piece in and of itself.