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

Ed Harris's feature film debut.

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Goofs

At around 1:26:47, when Mrs. Emerson tells Norman about the electrical inspection, the numbered blocks in her desktop calendar change between shots.

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Quotes

Dr. Susan Wheeler: Jim, I know it sounds silly but, supposing you wanted to put people into a coma, what would you do?
Jim: You mean on purpose?
Pathology Resident #2: Diethyl para-amino tannadol.
Jim: No, no, leaves a serum trace.
Pathology Resident #2: Yeah, if you know to look for it.
Jim: But it also peaks alk phos. That's a real giveaway. Besides, who can get tannadol?
Pathology Resident #2: Well, then you can use paradine.
Jim: No, it has a taste. We'd all make great murderers. I mean, who knows better about murder than a pathologist?
Pathology Resident #2: It sure keeps my wife in line.

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Connections

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

User Reviews

A Must See for Thrillers Fans

Based on Robin Cook's novel, the story goes that Dr. Susan Wheeler (Genevieve Bujold) a resident in the Boston Memorial Hospital suspects something is wrong when too many patients come out in a coma after minor surgery. When nobody takes her seriously she starts an investigation of her own and then realizes she is on dangerous ground for someone is trying to stop her even if she has to die.

Michael Crichton takes the most from Cook's book and assembles a most enjoyable thriller with tension all along, intrigue and an impacting ending too. Among the shocking and powerful sequences this movie offers there's the chasing of Wheeler by a hired killer that lasts in the hospital's morgue full with dead bodies hanging from the ceiling in transparent plastic bags in a sort of subrealistic scene; her visit to the mysterious Jefferson Institute where coma patients are held; the "accidental" death by electrocution of a cleaning employee of the hospital that knows to much; and the final discovery by Wheeler of how things are and who is behind them.

Genevieve Bujold gives a fine performance as the stubborn Wheeler and Michael Duoglas is alright too as her work partner and lover (not a very demanding role anyway). Rip Torn (the surgery chief) and Elizabeth Ashley as a sinister nurse credit the supporting cast. And there's finally Richard Widmark very convincing as the Medical Center's Director who shows sympathy for Wheeler although he believes she's just a trouble maker that could ruin the Hospital's reputation.

A great thriller that constantly improves as the film goes on. You can't miss it if you like real suspense in movies.

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