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The Doctor (1991)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
24 July 1991 (USA)
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Tagline:
He was a doctor who thought he knew it all... until he became a patient.
Plot:
Jack McKee is a doctor with it all: he's successful, he's rich, and he has no problems.... until he is diagnosed with throat cancer...
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Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
User Reviews:
Brilliant. US film makers should study this
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| William Hurt | ... | Dr. Jack MacKee | |
| Christine Lahti | ... | Anne MacKee | |
| Elizabeth Perkins | ... | June Ellis | |
| Mandy Patinkin | ... | Dr. Murray Kaplan | |
| Adam Arkin | ... | Dr. Eli Blumfield | |
| Charlie Korsmo | ... | Nicky MacKee | |
| Wendy Crewson | ... | Dr. Leslie Abbott | |
| Bill Macy | ... | Dr. Al Cade | |
| J.E. Freeman | ... | Ralph | |
| William Marquez | ... | Mr. Maris | |
| Kyle Secor | ... | Alan | |
| Nicole Orth-Pallavicini | ... | Sarah | |
| Ping Wu | ... | Jay-Jay | |
| Tony Fields | ... | Roger | |
| Brian Markinson | ... | Michael |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
122 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:L |
Australia:M |
Argentina:13 |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-10 |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:11 |
UK:12 |
USA:PG-13 |
Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Co-stars Christine Lahti, Mandy Patinkin, and Adam Arkin all played doctors on "Chicago Hope" (1994).
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Quotes:
Dr. Jack MacKee:
If I *ever* hear you describe a patient as "terminal" again, that's how you'll describe your career!
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Ken Adam: Designing Bond (2000) (V)
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Soundtrack:
Big Girls Don't Cry
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (17 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Doctor (1991)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| What´s the name of that song? | laiz |
| THIS doctor vs House MD? | bittermilk |
| the song during the heart transplant scene... | sothemoe |
| sympathy and empathy | platinum_qt_00 |
Recommendations
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One of the major problems with American-made films is they overlook the touching effectiveness of simplistic and credible story telling combined with well-toned, subtle and even performances. Films such as Rain man and Erin Brockovich are good examples of where these attributes are ditched in favour of over-dramatic, occasionally over-melancholic and (often) unrealistic subplots. This, in turn, usually results in forced, uneven and rather unmoving performances.
American film makers need to review films such as Paris, Texas and The Browning Version to see how powerful, touching and engaging real-life drama is presented most effectively when the script-writers and director chooses simplicity and subtlety, without 'flair' and forced drama (ie... they need to look to Europe to see how it's done!)
The Doctor is certainly a large step in the right direction. The tone is subtle and the acting is fantastic because it is even across the cast. There is nothing unrealistic or fancy about the story and we don't have doctors running round the "ER" yelling and screaming and "manufacturing" drama. The Doctor is simple, yet brilliant.
I find it irrelevant that the story is overtly predictable. I'll never know why Hollywood finds it necessary to throw in the "dramatic twist" into every film? The majority of the time, the "twist" is usually predictable anyway, creates little by way of dramatic effect and is often childish and stupid (case in point "High Crimes"). Telling the story is the secret to drama, not artificially manufacturing one!
Perkins was terrific in the Doctor, but it was surprising to see that she had few notable roles after this film.