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:

grindhouse film | psychotronic film | psychotronic | cult director | surrealism | 

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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

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)

Gross USA:

$150,000, 31 December 1973

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pittsburgh Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Edith Bell, who plays the lab tech., is the wife of the film's presenter Lee Hessel.

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Goofs

At around the 53 minute mark, two jeeps cross a small stream in a field. There's a slight hitch between when the first and second jeep cross, and when the camera pans, the first jeep is much farther ahead of the second than it was before, suggesting that a section of film is missing.

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Quotes

David: What unit are you with? Why are you here? Why are you doing this to us?
#1 Soldier at House: Look, mister... you let me go and...
David: Talk!
#1 Soldier at House: OK! It's a quarantine. There's a virus loose in the area.
David: How'd the Army get involved?
#1 Soldier at House: How does the Army get involved in anything? I don't know.
[David forcibly restrains the solider in a choke-hold]
#1 Soldier at House: Ahh! Honest to God I don't know! It's a police action. That's what they're calling it.
David: What are your orders?
#1 Soldier at House: Round up everybody and take them to the Evans City High School. Everything ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Movie Review: The Crazies (2011)

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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

This is bad

I can't get over some of the positive comments on the message board for this one. The most accurate comment I read was from the person who said "everyone has to start somewhere." But this movie came AFTER his low budget landmark "Night of the Living Dean," so maybe we should call this one a flub, plain and simple. The idea is good--and has been redone in later, slicker and slightly better films such as Outbreak, Warning Sign and Impulse (the Meg Tilly movie, not the Theresa Russell one). Actually "The Crazies" has more in common with an Ed Wood production--the hysterical, awful acting; the cardboard, dated characters (one character keeps using the word "MAN" before and after every sentence--he's a Vietnam vet, you see); horrible (and I mean HORRIBLE) sound effects (the spring peeper frogs actually drown out the dialogue in many scenes); over-the-top direction; and ketchup for blood (well, it was filmed in Pittsburgh--maybe Romero had a deal with Heinz). I wouldn't even watch this movie for laughs. I will repeat--this movie is bad.