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The Doctor

  • 1991
  • PG-13
  • 2h 2m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
5.8K
YOUR RATING
William Hurt in The Doctor (1991)
Drama

When a self-centered doctor is diagnosed with cancer, he becomes better able to empathize with his patients and appreciate a life outside his career.When a self-centered doctor is diagnosed with cancer, he becomes better able to empathize with his patients and appreciate a life outside his career.When a self-centered doctor is diagnosed with cancer, he becomes better able to empathize with his patients and appreciate a life outside his career.

  • Director
    • Randa Haines
  • Writers
    • Ed Rosenbaum
    • Robert Caswell
  • Stars
    • William Hurt
    • Christine Lahti
    • Elizabeth Perkins
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    5.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Randa Haines
    • Writers
      • Ed Rosenbaum
      • Robert Caswell
    • Stars
      • William Hurt
      • Christine Lahti
      • Elizabeth Perkins
    • 33User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Photos32

    William Hurt and Charlie Korsmo in The Doctor (1991)
    William Hurt and Christine Lahti in The Doctor (1991)
    William Hurt and Adam Arkin in The Doctor (1991)
    William Hurt and Christine Lahti in The Doctor (1991)
    William Hurt and Elizabeth Perkins in The Doctor (1991)
    William Hurt in The Doctor (1991)
    William Hurt in The Doctor (1991)
    William Hurt in The Doctor (1991)
    William Hurt in The Doctor (1991)
    William Hurt in The Doctor (1991)
    William Hurt in The Doctor (1991)
    William Hurt and Elizabeth Perkins in The Doctor (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Hurt
    William Hurt
    • Jack
    Christine Lahti
    Christine Lahti
    • Anne
    Elizabeth Perkins
    Elizabeth Perkins
    • June
    Mandy Patinkin
    Mandy Patinkin
    • Murray
    Adam Arkin
    Adam Arkin
    • Eli
    Charlie Korsmo
    Charlie Korsmo
    • Nicky
    Wendy Crewson
    Wendy Crewson
    • Leslie Abbott
    Bill Macy
    Bill Macy
    • Al Cade
    J.E. Freeman
    J.E. Freeman
    • Ralph
    William Marquez
    • Mr. Maris
    Kyle Secor
    Kyle Secor
    • Alan
    Nicole Orth-Pallavicini
    • Sarah
    Ping Wu
    Ping Wu
    • Jay-Jay
    Tony Fields
    Tony Fields
    • Roger
    Brian Markinson
    Brian Markinson
    • Michael
    Maria Tirabassi
    • Lonnie
    Ken Lerner
    Ken Lerner
    • Pete
    Bruce Jarchow
    Bruce Jarchow
    • Tim
    • Director
      • Randa Haines
    • Writers
      • Ed Rosenbaum
      • Robert Caswell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie is based on the real life story of Ed Rosenbaum, M.D. Dr. Rosenbaum wrote an autobiography entitled "A Taste of My Own Medicine: When the Doctor Becomes the Patient". This book formed the basis for the movie and is presently out-of-print.
    • Goofs
      In a scene supposedly set on the roof of a San Francisco office building, between William Hurt and Elizabeth Perkins, well=known Los Angeles high-rises can be seen in the background.
    • Quotes

      June Ellis: There was a farmer who had a lot of fields, and he kept all of the birds and creatures away from his crops with traps and fences. He was very successful... but he was very lonely. So, one day, he stood in the middle of his fields to welcome the animals. He stayed there from dawn to dusk, with his arms outstretched, calling to them. But, not a single animal came. Not a single creature appeared. They were terrified, you see, of the farmer's new Scarecrow... just let down your arms, and we'll all come to you.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Doctor/Dutch/Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey/My Father's Glory/My Mother's Castle (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Big Girls Don't Cry
      Written by Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe

      Performed by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons

      Courtesy of Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli

      dba The Four Seasons Partnership

    User reviews33

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    A new look at an old issue.
    The Doctor is a film that really touches you without being too weepy. It's the way doctors along the world think until... something happens and they find themselves on the other side. William Hurt is great as The Doctor. The desperation on his face when he finds out that from now on he'll be a cancer patient is unique and authenticque. But the film is not only for this doctor. It's about the community of doctors. It's about a closed profession that will hardly accept anyone else. Doctors have their own way of seeing things and that's obvious in the film. They are those who know what comes next and that's even more frightening for them. Dr. Blumfield is someone who's been banished from that special community for "daring" to see the side of a patient. The transformation of Dr. Jack McKee is a miracle that rises through his own sickness and his "patient-mate" is an angel in disguise to help him through. The whole story verifies what people say:"doctors are the worst patients ever" and that's because they experience the ultimate fear, considering that they have the knowledge. The film illustrates all of the concerns of The Doctor so beautifully and with such realism that's hard not to like it. I don't know about the general audience, but I do strongly believe that every Medical Doctor should see it.
    helpful•12
    1
    • dr_emma
    • Jan 21, 2001

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 16, 1991 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Doktor
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA(location)
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • Silver Screen Partners IV
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $38,120,905
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $165,392
      • Jul 28, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $38,120,905
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 2 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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