Coma (1978)

When a young female doctor notices an unnatural amount of comas occurring in her hospital she uncovers a horrible conspiracy.

Director:

Michael Crichton

Writers:

Michael Crichton (screenplay), Robin Cook (novel)

Stars:

Michael Douglas, Rip Torn, Geneviève Bujold

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Geneviève Bujold	...	Dr. Susan Wheeler (as Genevieve Bujold)
Michael Douglas	...	Dr. Mark Bellows
Elizabeth Ashley	...	Mrs. Emerson
Rip Torn	...	Dr. George
Richard Widmark	...	Dr. Harris
Lois Chiles	...	Nancy Greenly
Hari Rhodes	...	Dr. Morelind (as Harry Rhodes)
Gary Barton	...	Computer Technician
Frank Downing	...	Kelly
Richard Doyle	...	Jim
Alan Haufrect	...	Dr. Marcus
Lance LeGault	...	Vince (as Lance Le Gault)
Michael MacRae	...	Chief Resident
Betty McGuire	...	Nurse
Tom Selleck	...	Sean Murphy

Storyline

A young doctor at a hospital, Susan Wheeler (played by Geneviève Bujold), starts noticing a pattern of strange occurrences with patients. Healthy patients are suddenly developing complications and ending up in comas. She starts investigating and what she reveals is astonishing.

---

Plot Keywords:

conspiracy | hospital | coma | investigation | comatose patient | 

---

Taglines:

Imagine your life hangs by a thread. Imagine your body hangs by a wire. Imagine you're not imagining.

---

Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Coma

Filming Locations:

Worcester Square, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min 104 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Surgery patient Sean Murphy, also seen later in the Jefferson Institute, was actor Tom Selleck. Selleck would later work with this film's director Michael Crichton on Runaway (1984).

---

Goofs

In the scene toward the end, where Dr. Susan Wheeler discovers Tom Selleck's body after it has been "harvested" it is Tom himself laying on the table. Later shots show that a dummy with a bad wig has been substituted for the actor.

---

Quotes

Dr. Cowans: Okay, Mrs. Greenly, it's time to wake up. Okay, Nancy? Mrs. Greenly? Wake up. Nance, can you give me a cough, please? Nancy?
[checks her eyes]
Dr. Cowans: Oh, Jesus Christ! Her pupils are fixed and dilated.
Dr. Richards: What?
Dr. Cowans: The pupils. They're fixed. Dilated.
Dr. Richards: Oh, my God!

---

Connections

Referenced in Punk Rock (1979)

User Reviews

Does Medicare Pay for This

From now on I'm staying away from hospitals, no matter how cute the nurses, and especially if they stick something up my nose. The movie may be a one-track screenplay, but it's a first- rate thriller accelerating suspense by the minute. So what the heck is going on at this prestige hospital where too many folks are collapsing into comas after ordinary procedures. From the marquee, you'd expect Michael Douglas (Dr. Mark) to be the heroic bloodhound. But he's not. Instead, it's a she, sweet looking, little Bujold (Dr.Wheeler) who takes all the risks from climbing into the clouds to burying assassins in a pile of cadavers—an unforgettable scene. Underneath the riveting suspense, this is really a sneaky feminist-type film.

I really like the way we can never be sure about Douglas. Sometimes he's helpful and affectionate, but then there are the darker fleeting moments that add a good unsettling note. At the same time, the great Richard Widmark (Dr. Harris) is suavely slimy as the head doctor. And what about that Jefferson Institute. It may be the most sinister looking modern building I've seen, more like a futuristic prison, which I guess it is. Anyway, there are a number of unforgettably imaginative scenes that, along with a riveting screenplay, make this a first-rate nail-biter.