Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981)

Ken Harrison is an artist that makes sculptures. One day he is involved in a car accident, and is paralyzed from his neck. All he can do is talk, and he wants to die. In hospital he make ... See full summary »

Director:

John Badham

Writers:

Brian Clark (play), Brian Clark (screenplay),

Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, John Cassavetes, Christine Lahti

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Ken Harrison
John Cassavetes	...	Dr. Michael Emerson
Christine Lahti	...	Dr. Clare Scott
Bob Balaban	...	Carter Hill
Kenneth McMillan	...	Judge Wyler
Kaki Hunter	...	Mary Jo Sadler
Thomas Carter	...	Orderly John
Alba Oms	...	Nurse Rodriguez
Janet Eilber	...	Pat
Kathryn Grody	...	Mrs. Boyle
George Wyner	...	Dr. Jacobs
Mel Stewart	...	Dr. Barr
Ward Costello	...	Mr. Eden
Alston Ahern	...	Day Nurse
Betty Cole	...	ICU Nurse

Storyline

Ken Harrison is an artist that makes sculptures. One day he is involved in a car accident, and is paralyzed from his neck. All he can do is talk, and he wants to die. In hospital he make friends with some of the staff, and they support him when he goes to trial to be allowed to die.

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Plot Keywords:

car accident | hospital | quadriplegic | sculptor | courtroom drama | 

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Taglines:

You'll have a lot of laughs.....before you cry.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 March 1982 (Australia)

Also Known As:

C'est ma vie, après tout!

Filming Locations:

Columbus Park, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), SLM Production Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Since the film was being filmed in color, Director John Badham decided that the sets would have more muted colors such as browns and whites for example. This would make other things in the film stand out more. Like Janet Eilber's gold necklace during her hospital visit for example. As a sentiment to his original black and white idea and a way for Badham to protect himself stylistically.

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Quotes

Ken Harrison: How does a quadriplegic cross the road? He was stapled to a chicken.

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Connections

Referenced in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: Whose So-Called Life Is It Anyway? (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Punkette Nights"
Words and Music by Michael Starobin

User Reviews

Great Performances

This film is among the best of all time. I've seldom seen a movie in which all actors -- from the star to the smallest bit player -- deliver such forceful, realistic performances. I felt as if I were actually in that hospital room with Ken Harrison et al. While the film, which is about a sculpture who becomes a quadriplegic in a car accident and then decides to die rather than live life in that condition, has a seemingly depressing plot line, it is actually uplifting. Richard Dreyfus has the remarkable ability to infuse the main character with humor as well as sadness. It is a tribute to the director, writers, and actors that this movie, which could have easily been a maudlin weepy, turned out to be a paean to the indomitable human spirit.