Gross Anatomy (1989)

A smart first-year med student takes nothing seriously, except the pursuit of his Gross Anatomy (human dissection) lab partner. It's up to her and their teacher to find a way to convince ... See full summary »

Director:

Thom Eberhardt

Writers:

Mark Spragg (story), Howard Rosenman (story)

Stars:

Matthew Modine, Daphne Zuniga, Christine Lahti

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthew Modine	...	Joe Slovak
Daphne Zuniga	...	Laurie Rorbach
Christine Lahti	...	Dr. Rachel Woodruff
Todd Field	...	David Schreiner
John Scott Clough	...	Miles Reed
Alice Carter	...	Kim McCauley
Robert Desiderio	...	Dr. Banks
Zakes Mokae	...	Dr. Banumbra
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Interviewing Professor
John Petlock	...	Interviewing Professor
J. Patrick McNamara	...	Interviewing Professor
Jan Munroe	...	Interviewing Professor
Kay E. Kuter	...	Lecturing Professor
Michael Flanagan	...	Lecturing Professor
Don Perry	...	Lecturing Professor

Storyline

A smart first-year med student takes nothing seriously, except the pursuit of his Gross Anatomy (human dissection) lab partner. It's up to her and their teacher to find a way to convince him to take his studies and life seriously.

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Plot Keywords:

gas mask | medical test | medical terminology | woman wearing a gas mask | stethoscope exam | 

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Taglines:

It Takes Hard Work, Discipline, And Committment To Get Through Med School. But Joe's Never Done Anything By The Book.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Cut Above

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$11,604,598

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hill/Rosenman, Sandollar Productions, Silver Screen Partners IV

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Harry the cadaver used by Matthew Modine and Daphine Zuniga and their classmates in the lab, was a fully functioning and exceptionally detailed one that looked like a real one which was very expensive to produce.

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Goofs

The buccinator muscle is primarily a muscle of facial expression, although it is also an assistant muscle of mastication.

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Quotes

Laurie Rorbach: Are you following me?
Joe Slovak: Well, I have to you see. I've told everybody I know we're dating. So, you see I have to be seen with you outside of class or they'll think I'm lying.

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Alternate Versions

There are at least two versions of this film in circulation. When the Premium Channel Showtime showed the film around 1990-1991 the following scenes were different: During the interview process, when Matthew Modine is being questioned by the admissions staff, a funny line existed in the film where one of them asks, "Why are you here?" Modine's character (Joe Slovack) responds, "I look good in white." This dialog was not present in Showtime's version of the film.

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Connections

Referenced in Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

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Soundtracks

Blue Moon Revisited (Song for Elvis)
Written by Margo Timmins, Michael Timmins, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
Performed by Cowboy Junkies
Courtesy of RCA Records

User Reviews

Works Inspite of Shortcomings.

A first-year med student (Matthew Modine) is obsessed with becoming a doctor, but jokes his way through everything else in his life in this under-rated little flick that works due to a clever screenplay and good performances from the major players in the cast. The film goes for funny and outlandish situations, but has undertones of drama early and then the drama takes center stage by the film's final act. Christine Lahti shines as the one professor who locks horns with Modine. Above-average and enjoyable overall. 3.5 out of 5 stars.