Paper Mask (1990)

A lowly hospital orderly impersonates a recently deceased doctor and goes to work in the busy ER of a small hospital where he meets and befriends a nurse who slowly figures out his secret and helps him maintain his charade.

Director:

Christopher Morahan

Writers:

John Collee (novel), John Collee (screenplay)

Stars:

Paul McGann, Amanda Donohoe, Frederick Treves

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul McGann	...	Matthew Harris
Amanda Donohoe	...	Christine Taylor
Frederick Treves	...	Dr. Mumford
Tom Wilkinson	...	Dr. Thorn
Barbara Leigh-Hunt	...	Celia Mumford
Jimmy Yuill	...	Alec Moran
Mark Lewis Jones	...	Dr. Lloyd
John Warnaby	...	Dr. Hammond
Alexandra Mathie	...	Beverley
Oliver Ford Davies	...	Coroner
Frank Baker	...	Happy
Clive Rowe	...	Ants
Robert Oates	...	Head Porter
Karen Ascoe	...	Alison
Dale Rapley	...	Dr. Simon Hennessey

Storyline

With the papers of a young doctor who died in a deadly accident, the ambitious male nurse Matthew manages to get hired as a doctor in the casuality department of an hospital in Bristol. Nurse Christine believes it's only his nervousness, which makes him "forget" the most basic procedures. But even her help cannot prevent that his lack of qualification soon has deadly consequences...

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Plot Keywords:

nurse | hospital | doctor | orderly | friendship | 

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Taglines:

Trust me. I'm a doctor.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sensuality and language

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Anestesia letale

Filming Locations:

Bristol, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Screen Productions, Channel Four Films, Granada Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"LITTLE BLUE PILLS"
By John Collee and Tam White
Performed by Tam White (uncredited)

User Reviews

What an amazing film

Went to see this movie by mistake when we just fancied a movie one night - turns out this is in my top 5 ever (although can't put it on FB because it isn't listed!!!). Gotta be the single most underrated movie of all time. Grips you, chills you, excites you and then spits you out

• if you can sleep after this one then you don't care about a thing!!

Paul McGann is almost accidentally brilliant, and it is so well put together. I haven't written anything here about any other movie, just Paper Mask. Goes to show that it's publicity and marketing that makes you or breaks you..... Anyway, if this is out on DVD (doubt it - it doesn't even have a Wikipedia listing - disgraceful!), then it's a no brainer. When I lived in the UK Channel 4 showed it a couple of times and so I probably have it on a VHS somewhere, but sadly don't have an active VHS recorder anymore!!