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.

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Plot Keywords:

conspiracy | hospital | surgery | coma | investigation | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The building used for the exteriors of the evil medical facility is actually the former Xerox headquarters and sales office in Lexington, Massachusetts, located about 10 minutes from downtown Boston, near the intersection of routes 2 and 128. It is now the headquarters of Stride Rite footwear. The building has been altered since 1978 but is largely unchanged. The interiors of the medical facility were filmed at the MGM studio on one of the four sound stages used for this picture. These scenes needed special filming and lighting requirements.

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Goofs

When Mark puts Dr. Wheeler to bed after the chase at the Anatomy Lab, the bed covers change between when she lays down and when she leaves moments later.

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Quotes

morning radio host: [on the car radio as Susan drives up to the Boston Memorial Hospital where she works] Good morning. It's 6:00 am on a beautiful New England morning in Boston and these are the top stories: Mayor White's assistant, Kep Maloney, had met with the Boston redevelopment authority over the continuing controversy on the Charlestown Heights project. Police have arraigned John McMannus on $23 million dollar grant and bribery charges in connection of the Mystic River extension. High out of court...

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood Hospital (2004)

User Reviews

Good, fun thriller that still holds up

I just revisited this movie after 25 years and was surprised how well it held up, even given the rather absurd plot and advances in medical technology in the interim. Genevieve Bujold has forever been underused and underrated, and she is simply superb here. And while I wouldn't tarnish Hitchock's reputation by comparing Coma too closely to any of his work, Crichton does a good job of maintaining suspense. I love the scene where Richard Widmark explains the crazy rationale behind it all, and we see it through Bujold's drug-addled eyes, which somehow makes it more palatable than if we were watching it straight.

And I love all the cameos -- Lois Chiles! Tom Selleck! Ed Harris! Many other recognizable faces. Elizabeth Ashley is so over-the-top she's camp. All in all, a fun movie.

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

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1