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 | coma | investigation | comatose patient | 

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Taglines:

From the #1 Best Selling Suspense Thriller

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Koma

Filming Locations:

Worcester Square, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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

Lance LeGault, who portrays the assassin, Vince, would go on to portray the persistent Colonel Decker in the hit NBC television series, The A-Team.

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Goofs

Right after the death of Sean Murphy in Operating Room #8, Dr. Susan Wheeler (Genevieve Bujold) adds his name to a handwritten list she has. She includes what might have been his patient number, but it doesn't follow the sequencing of the patients who died before him, nor would she have had time to even find out what that number was because she had just become aware of his death.

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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!

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Connections

Spoofed in Doctor Who: The Curse of the Black Spot (2011)

User Reviews

A very nice picture, don't miss this one!

A forgotten classic from the late 70s? Yes, I just discovered the picture and enjoyed my 2 hours in company of Geneviève Bujold.

The film is set in a Hospital which feels and looks just like the real one, what verisimilitude! There's something strange going on, but is she just imagining it or is there a real conspiracy? There are some stunning examples of locations, the Jefferson institute is amazing, I felt so freaked out by it.

Geneviève Bujold gives an excellent performance, really liked her, she had a lot of warmth, really felt for her and she kept her feminity throughout. Michael Douglas is good, but not great. I think the director could've added much more to his character.

The direction is pretty suspenseful, very slick and framed very well.

The screenplay isn't bad at all, any problems should've been rectified on set.

The film was framed at 1.66:1

A nice suspenseful picture, deserves more recognition.