The House of God (1984)

Follow a group of interns in a large teaching hospital. When Jo, Chief Resident, has a breakdown the interns are reluctantly placed under the tutelage of the senior resident known as The ... See full summary »

Director:

Donald Wrye

Writers:

Samuel Shem (based on the novel by) (as Samuel Shem M.D.), Donald Wrye (screenplay)

Stars:

Tim Matheson, Charles Haid, Michael Sacks

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Matheson	...	Roy Basch
Charles Haid	...	Fats (The Fatman)
Michael Sacks	...	Wayne Potts
Lisa Pelikan	...	Jo Miller
Bess Armstrong	...	Cissy Anderson
George Coe	...	Dr. Leggo
James Cromwell	...	Officer Quick
Ossie Davis	...	Dr. Sanders
Richard Brestoff	...	Howie Greenspoon
Leo Burmester	...	Dr. Gath
Kathryn Dowling	...	Molly
Charles Fleischer	...	Hyper Hooper
Malachy McCourt	...	Officer Gillheeny
Joe Piscopo	...	Dr. Fishberg
Michael Richards	...	Dr. Pinkus

Storyline

Follow a group of interns in a large teaching hospital. When Jo, Chief Resident, has a breakdown the interns are reluctantly placed under the tutelage of the senior resident known as The Fatman. Like "M*A*S*H," "The Hospital" and "St. Elsewhere" (which is drawn from this story) this film is closer to the truth than the public wants to know.

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Plot Keywords:

intern | teaching hospital | nudity | bare breasts | erotica | 

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Taglines:

Every year in July, 6,000 young Men and Women leave the comfort and safety of medical school confident in the knowledge that they will become interns in the greatest system of medical care in the History of the universe. Some actually survive.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Isten háza

Filming Locations:

Boston Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Artists

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Never released theatrically; it debuted on cable TV.

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Goofs

The Fat Man refers to a bed position where the head of the bed is lower than the foot as "the Hindenburg." The proper term for this bed position is "Trendelenburg."

User Reviews

CAUTION: Watching this Movie COULD be Hazardous to the AMA!

THE HOUSE OF GOD is a great deal of fun; a black "dramady," with more truths about hospitals and the medical profession you would ever expect to hear in a Hollywood movie. Which, is probably why THE HOUSE OF GOD was never released in theaters, is not now nor ever been available on VHS, DVD or laser disk, and is never shown on Turner Classic Movies (which has the rights to the entire United Artists collection).

How this film was ever made is a mystery. Made during the hectic (and waning days) of United Artists (about the time of HEAVEN'S GATE), THOG is a scathing indictment of crass commercialism and techno-insanity that infects the medical industry in this country. The

profession can stand being seen as arrogant (THE DOCTOR, CHICAGO HOPE), incompetent (THE HOSPITAL, BRITTANIA HOSPITAL) or irreverent (MASH, PATCH ADAMS). However, apparently it will not tolerate being

portrayed as being largely composed of money grubbing ghouls.

This movie is MUCH better than most fare released in theaters. Lisa Pelliken is SCARY as a technology obsessed resident. Charles Haid is wonderful and Tim Matheson is fine. Some of the other acting is a bit too much on the buffoonish side, however. The film is mounted and photographed a bit too much like a made-for-TV movie, as well. Nonetheless, this movie is too fine and true to put down too much.

WARNING: If you DO obtain a copy of this movie (I got mine off SHOWTIME), DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, loan it to anyone without making a backup copy. YOU WILL NOT GET IT BACK!