A young and ambitious female doctor's best friend falls into an unexplained coma after a routine medical procedure. Noticing an unusually high number of similar comas occurring in her hospital, she's determined to uncover the cause.
Director:
Writers:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Geneviève Bujold | ... |
Dr. Susan Wheeler
(as Genevieve Bujold)
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| Michael Douglas | ... |
Dr. Mark Bellows
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| Elizabeth Ashley | ... |
Mrs. Emerson
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| Rip Torn | ... |
Dr. George
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| Richard Widmark | ... |
Dr. George Harris
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| Lois Chiles | ... |
Nancy Greenly
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| Hari Rhodes | ... |
Dr. Morelind
(as Harry Rhodes)
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Gary Barton | ... |
Computer Technician
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Frank Downing | ... |
Kelly
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| Richard Doyle | ... |
Jim
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| Alan Haufrect | ... |
Dr. Marcus
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| Lance LeGault | ... |
Vince
(as Lance Le Gault)
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| Michael MacRae | ... |
Chief Resident
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| Betty McGuire | ... |
Nurse
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| Tom Selleck | ... |
Sean Murphy
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| Charles Siebert | ... |
Dr. Goodman
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| William Wintersole | ... |
Lab Technician
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Ernest Anderson | ... |
First Doctor
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| Harry Basch | ... |
Second Doctor
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| Maury Cooper | ... |
Third Doctor
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Joni Palmer | ... |
Dance Instructor
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| Joanna Kerns | ... |
Diane
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| Kay Cole | ... |
Sally
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Tom Borut | ... |
Dr. Cowans
(as Tom Borut M.D.)
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Philip G. Brooks | ... |
Dr. Richards
(as Philip G. Brooks M.D.)
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| Benny Rubin | ... |
Mr. Schwartz
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| David Hollander | ... |
Jimmy
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| Dick Balduzzi | ... |
1st Maintenance Man
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Gary Bisig | ... |
2nd Maintenance Man
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| Kurt Andon | ... |
1st Cop
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Wyatt Johnson | ... |
2nd Cop
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| Mike Lally | ... |
Security Man
(as Mike Lally Sr.)
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John Widlock | ... |
Norman
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Duane Tucker | ... |
1st Man in Shower
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Del Hinkley | ... |
2nd Man in Shower
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| Paul Ryan | ... |
1st Technician
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| Michael Mann | ... |
2nd Technician
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Sarina C. Grant | ... |
Woman in Elevator
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| David McKnight | ... |
Man in Elevator
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Gerald Benston | ... |
Anesthetist
(as Gerald Benston M.D.)
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| Robert Burton | ... |
Pathology Residents
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| Ed Harris | ... |
Pathology Resident #2
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Joe Bratcher | ... |
Surgical Residents
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| Martin Speer | ... |
Surgical Residents
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Roger Newman | ... |
Surgical Residents
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Paul Davidson | ... |
Surgical Residents
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Amentha Dymally | ... |
Nurses
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Lois Walden | ... |
Nurses
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Sharron Frame | ... |
Nurses
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Sue Bugden | ... |
Nurses
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Susie Luner | ... |
Nurses
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Vaughn Armstrong | ... |
Jefferson Institute Security Guard (uncredited)
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| Jason Bernard | ... |
Surgical Residents (uncredited)
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| Gerald Berns | ... |
Security Guard (uncredited)
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| Jeffrey Corazzini | ... |
Patient (uncredited)
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| Bob Dio | ... |
Subway Passenger (uncredited)
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| Philip Baker Hall | ... |
Doctor (uncredited)
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Edward C. Higgins | ... |
Security Guard #2 (uncredited)
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Mary D. Mascari | ... |
Doctor (uncredited)
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| Gerry Vichi | ... |
Ambulance Driver (uncredited)
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Donald Wayne | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Nicholas Worth | ... |
Patterson Institute Chief of Security (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Michael Crichton | ||
Written by
| Michael Crichton | ... | (screenplay) |
| Robin Cook | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| Martin Erlichman | ... | producer |
Music by
| Jerry Goldsmith | ||
Cinematography by
| Victor J. Kemper | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| David Bretherton | ||
Editorial Department
| Chuck Ellison | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Sam Christensen | ||
| Joyce Robinson | ||
Production Design by
| Albert Brenner | ||
Set Decoration by
| Rick Simpson | ||
Makeup Department
| Carolyn Ferguson | ... | hair stylist |
| Don Schoenfeld | ... | makeup artist |
| Carrie White | ... | hair stylist: Miss Bujold's hairstyle designer |
Production Management
| Phil Rawlins | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Alan Brimfeld | ... | second assistant director (as Alan Brimfield) |
| Ronald R. Grow | ... | assistant director (as Ron Grow) |
| William McGarry | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Sam Moore | ... | property master |
| V.R. Bud Shelton | ... | assistant property master (as V. 'Bud' Shelton) |
| Benjamin Resella | ... | scenic effects supervisor (uncredited) |
| William Ladd Skinner | ... | set designer (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| William Griffith | ... | sound (as Bill Griffith) |
| Michael J. Kohut | ... | sound |
| William L. McCaughey | ... | sound (as William McCaughey) |
| John Riordan | ... | sound editor |
| Aaron Rochin | ... | sound |
Special Effects by
| Joe Day | ... | special effects |
| Gary L. King | ... | special effects assistant (uncredited) |
| Andrew Miller | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Bill Hansard | ... | process coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Gerald Hirschfeld | ... | photographer: Jefferson Institute sequence |
| Bruce McBroom | ... | still photographer |
| Doug Byers | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Thomas P. Powell | ... | rigging gaffer electric (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Yvonne Kubis | ... | wardrobe |
| Eddie Marks | ... | wardrobe |
Location Management
| John James | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Harry V. Lojewski | ... | music supervisor |
| William Saracino | ... | music editor |
| Arnold Belnick | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Chuck Berghofer | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| John D. Berkman | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Arni Egilsson | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Dominick Fera | ... | musician: woodwinds (uncredited) |
| Jerry Goldsmith | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Pamela Goldsmith | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Gary Gray | ... | musician: woodwinds (uncredited) |
| Ralph Grierson | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| John Guerin | ... | musician: drums (uncredited) |
| Alan Harshman | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Willard Jones | ... | music copyist (uncredited) |
| Artie Kane | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Jim Kanter | ... | musician: woodwinds (uncredited) |
| Armand Kaproff | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Dennis Karmazyn | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Pearl Kaufman | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Milton Kestenbaum | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Ezra Kliger | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Jacob Krachmalnick | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Bernard Kundell | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Raymond Mace | ... | music copyist (uncredited) |
| Virginia Majewski | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Peter Mercurio | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Arthur Morton | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Irma Neumann | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| David Newman | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Don Peake | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Remsen | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Lee Ritenour | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| David Schwartz | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Harry Shlutz | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Haim Shtrum | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Eleanor Slatkin | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| David Speltz | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Tommy Tedesco | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Tommy Vig | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Ken Watson | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Tibor Zelig | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Betsy Norton | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Chris Hutson | ... | technical advisor |
| John Lugar | ... | assistant to producer |
| Cydney Michaelson | ... | technical advisor |
| Don Morgan | ... | unit publicist |
| Brent Sellstrom | ... | video coordinator |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1978) (United States) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1978) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (France) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Filmes Lusomundo (1980) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1980) (United States) (tv)
- MGM/CBS Home Video (1981) (United States) (video) (CED VideoDisc)
- MGM/UA Distribution Company (1981) (United States)
- R.C.V.2001 Video (1982) (Belgium) (VHS)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1983) (United States) (VHS)
- CEL-MGM/UA Home Video (1984) (Australia) (video)
- MGM Home Entertainment (West Germany) (VHS)
- TV3 (1991) (Finland) (tv)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1998) (Finland) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film collection)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (United States) (DVD) (4 film collection)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2009) (Finland) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (2012) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- The Criterion Channel (2020) (United States) (tv) (digital)
- Scream Factory (2023) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Neue Visionen Filmverleih (West Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Esselte Video (Finland) (video)
- Vídeo Arte (Brazil) (VHS)
- Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- American Sterilizer (thanks)
- Birtcher (thanks)
- Boston Red Sox (baseball footage courtesy of)
- Chemetron (thanks)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- MGM Home Entertainment (LaserDisc package design)
- MGM Home Entertainment (VHS package design)
- Massachusetts Film Bureau (location sequences filmed with the cooperation of)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (titles and opticals)
- Puritan-Bennett (thanks)
- Raytheon Data Systems (thanks)
- Stryker Medical Monitors (thanks)
- Turner Entertainment (LaserDisc package design)
- Turner Entertainment (VHS package design)
- Wang Laboratories (thanks)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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. Written by grantss |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | From the #1 Best Selling Suspense Thriller See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Budget | $4,500,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Two versions of all scenes of the coma patients in the coma clinic were filmed. One version had them semi-naked whilst the other, for television screenings, had them covered-up. See more » |
| Goofs | Dark-haired stuntman falling down the stepped aisle of the lecture theatre, in place of fair-haired villain. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Hollywood Hospital (2004). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Sunday's Moon See more » |
| Quotes |
Jim:
First rule of crime: Keep It Simple. What's simple? Carbon Monoxide. Pathology Resident #2: Boring. Dr. Susan Wheeler: Carbon Monoxide? Jim: Sure, it's perfect. Anesthetist feeds the patient some carbon monoxide instead of oxygen. It's colorless and makes the blood very red so the surgeon doesn't notice anything funny. But the brain dies from lack of oxygen. End of operation - the patient doesn't wake up. Dr. Susan Wheeler: No other effects? Pathology Resident #2: Sure, other effects. Cardiac irritability. Jim: Which this case had. Pathology Resident #2: You know, it'd be much better to block the neuro-muscular junction with succinylcholine. Now that's a nice murder. Jim: Yeah, who's gonna do it? Pathology Resident #2: Well, who's gonna feed you carbon monoxide? Jim: That's the problem. Been about a dozen of these coma cases here in the last year. They're always different. Different case, different anesthetist, different operation. Hard to imagine it's murder. See more » |