The Crazies (1973)

The military attempts to contain a manmade combat virus that causes death and permanent insanity in those infected, as it overtakes a small Pennsylvania town.

Director:

George A. Romero

Writers:

Paul McCollough (based on a script by), George A. Romero (screenplay)

Stars:

Lane Carroll, Will MacMillan, Harold Wayne Jones

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lane Carroll	...	Judy
Will MacMillan	...	David (as W.G. McMillan)
Harold Wayne Jones	...	Clank
Lloyd Hollar	...	Col. Peckem
Lynn Lowry	...	Kathy
Richard Liberty	...	Artie
Richard France	...	Dr. Watts
Harry Spillman	...	Maj. Ryder
Will Disney	...	Dr. Brookmyre
Edith Bell	...	Lab. Technician
Bill Thunhurst	...	Brubaker (as W.L. Thunhurst Jr.)
Leland Starnes	...	Shelby
A.C. McDonald	...	Gen. Bowen (as A.C. MacDonald)
Robert J. McCully	...	Hawks
Robert Karlowsky	...	Sheriff Cooper

Storyline

A biological weapon gone awry is only the start of problems in the little town of Evan's City, Pennsylvania. Bouts of insanity in the populace are leading to murder and rioting, until the US Army turns up - and things really start going to hell.

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Plot Keywords:

virus | biological weapon | grindhouse film | cigarette smoking | cult director | 

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Taglines:

All hell is about to break loose.

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the opening scene, Special Effects Technician for The Crazies, Regis Survinski plays the insane father who murders his wife and torches the house. The children of Cinematographer S. William Hinzman play the terrified kids in the scene. The house was originally slated for destruction by the local fireman as a practice run and Romero got permission to film the burning of it.

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Goofs

In one of the lab scenes, Dr. Watts becomes excited because the lab specimen he's examining is smaller than it was. He asks for another slide of the same sample, but when he looks at that sample he's excited because it's bigger than all the others.

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Quotes

Dr. Brookmyre: You've known about this for days!
Maj. Ryder: We never thought it would happen like this.
Dr. Brookmyre: But you notified me. You must have suspected.
Maj. Ryder: Notifying you was precautionary. We never thought it was possible.
Dr. Brookmyre: That doesn't matter now. We've got to call the hospital in Unity. We need an ambulance for those two kids!
Maj. Ryder: I'm afraid I can't allow that. We're bringing in our own medical personnel with medical equipment.
Dr. Brookmyre: But this isn't the sort of thing that you consider sweeping under the rug or...
Maj. Ryder: Look, we've quarantined the ...

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Connections

Featured in The Cult Film Legacy of Lynn Lowry (2003)

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Soundtracks

Heaven Help Us
Composed by Carole Bayer Sager and Melissa Manchester
Sung by Beverly Bremers
Courtesy of Sceptor Records

User Reviews

Paranoia and Madness

In Evans City, a plane crashes on the hill releasing for six days in the water the bacteriological weapon Trixie that affects only human beings. The army under the command of Colonel Peckemseals (Lloyd Hollar) seals off the town to contain the virus and there is no antidote for the victims that are doomed to die or become incurably mad. The pregnant nurse Judy (Lane Carroll), her husband David (W.G. McMillan), their friend Clank (Harold Wayne Jones), their new acquaintance Artie (Richard Liberty) and his daughter Kathy (Lynn Lowry) tries to cross the border of the town, but the escapees are hunted by the army. Meanwhile, the scientist Dr. Ralston Watts (Richard France) researches blood samples trying to find the cure for the disease.

"The Crazies" is a tale of paranoia and madness in a period when the world was afraid of a bacteriological war. The plot is based on a total stupidity from the authorities that send the army to contain the virus in a small town but does not provide any explanation to the population, invading real estates and breaking in homes. The lead scientist is another stupid character. Surprisingly this year it was released a remake of this average film. Last time I saw this film was on 04 July 2000. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Exército do Extermínio" ("The Extermination Army")

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Code Name: Trixie

Filming Locations:

Butler County, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$275,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pittsburgh Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1