IMDb >
The Amputee (1974)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditsAwards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidemessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotesDid You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Amputee (1974) More at IMDbPro »
Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Plot:
A double leg amputated woman sits and writes a long meandering letter while her ineffective nurse attempts to attend to her stumps. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
Letter
|
Wound
|
Nurse
|
Double Amputee
|
Writer Director
See more »
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Win a copy of the Limited Edition David Lynch Blu-ray Box Set
(From HeyUGuys. 31 May 2012, 7:20 AM, PDT)
Twenty-Five Years Later, Celebrate the Potent and Troubling Dream of David Lynch’s ‘Blue Velvet’
(From Slash Film. 19 September 2011, 9:47 PM, PDT)
Netflix Streaming Underground Movies
(From Bad Lit . 4 January 2011, 6:00 AM, PST)
(From HeyUGuys. 31 May 2012, 7:20 AM, PDT)
Twenty-Five Years Later, Celebrate the Potent and Troubling Dream of David Lynch’s ‘Blue Velvet’
(From Slash Film. 19 September 2011, 9:47 PM, PDT)
Netflix Streaming Underground Movies
(From Bad Lit . 4 January 2011, 6:00 AM, PST)
User Reviews:
An experiment, rather than an experimental film
See more (13 total) »
Cast
Directed by | |||
| David Lynch | |||
Writing credits(in alphabetical order) | ||
| David Lynch | ||
Produced by | |||
| David Lynch | .... | producer | |
Cinematography by | |||
| Herbert Cardwell | |||
| Frederick Elmes | |||
Distributors
- Raro Video (2009) (Italy) (DVD)
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
5 min | 9 min (original version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Did You Know?
Quotes:
Woman with amputation to the legs:This isn't what I am telling you. You weren't in the room when Jim said that. And I was. And he really did. He told me that everything was fine between Helen and him. And I knew that even if he didn't say it, that it was true. He knew it then. No one else did...See more »
Movie Connections:
Edited into The Short Films of David Lynch (2002) (V)See more »
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.See more (13 total) »
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Amputee (1974)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| A not-so-funiest home video? | gerfalcon |
| This film showing tonight, Leeds, UK | leanderportess |
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The Saddest Music in the World | Stay | Cronos | The Holy Mountain | Inland Empire |
|
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Short section | IMDb USA section |
Copyright © 1990-2012
IMDb.com, Inc.
Terms and Privacy Policy under which this service is provided to you.
An 
company.
While at the American Film Institute, David Lynch tested two different types of videotape stock by shooting this strange little piece, featuring Catherine Coulson as an amputee writing a letter, & Lynch as a nurse attending her. Coulson's voiceover details various domestic issues, & she remains oblivious to the fact that she might be bleeding to death while the nurse rushes around frantically, eventually, it seems, abandoning her.
It has been suggested that Lynch deliberately shot both versions badly, so that the Institute wouldn't start replacing film with videotape.
Regardless of whether or not this is true, The Amputee is better viewed as an example of Lynch's warped sense of humour than his skill as a filmmaker, & of what sort of ideas he might come up with for something as simple as a stock test.