The Doctor (1991)

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 (book) (as Ed Rosenbaum M.D.), Robert Caswell (screenplay)

Stars:

William Hurt, Christine Lahti, Elizabeth Perkins

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Hurt	...	Jack
Christine Lahti	...	Anne
Elizabeth Perkins	...	June
Mandy Patinkin	...	Murray
Adam Arkin	...	Eli
Charlie Korsmo	...	Nicky
Wendy Crewson	...	Leslie Abbott
Bill Macy	...	Al Cade
J.E. Freeman	...	Ralph
William Marquez	...	Mr. Maris
Kyle Secor	...	Alan
Nicole Orth-Pallavicini	...	Sarah
Ping Wu	...	Jay-Jay
Tony Fields	...	Roger
Brian Markinson	...	Michael

Storyline

Jack McKee is a doctor with it all: he's successful, he's rich, extremely self centred and he has no problems.... until he is diagnosed with throat cancer. Now that he has seen medicine, hospitals, and doctors from a patient's perspective, he realises that there is more to being a doctor than surgery and prescriptions, and more to life than serving only his own needs.

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Plot Keywords:

doctor | surgery | hospital | cancer | blood | 

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Taglines:

An Uplifting Story About Finding New Meaning In Life.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ed Rosenbaum: as Himself.

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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.

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Quotes

[regarding Dr. Blumfield, who believes unconscious patients can still hear]
Dr. Jack MacKee: Where E.N.T. meets E.S.P.!

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Doctor/Dutch/Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey/My Father's Glory/My Mother's Castle (1991)

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Soundtracks

Nostalgia Guajira
Written and Performed by Guillermo Portabales
Courtesy of Gema Records

User Reviews

Well worth the time

This movie came out about a year before I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and I watched it during my recovery from surgery and radiation treatments. It helped me to understand the relationship between doctor and cancer patient. William Hurt is indeed excellent in this film, but I have always liked his understated presence and aloof yet empathetic evocations. Recently, a colleague was diagnosed with a serious cancer and he continues to undergo his treatments. I think the American medical community has made great improvements in the emotional component of care for cancer patients, but in 1992 Hurt's portrayal was close enough to echo my observations of how I was cared for then.

So, though it's a bit of a tearjerker and has a happy ending that reality will not always produce, I think it is a meaningful film and especially for those who are facing a serious diagnosis or caring for those who are.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 August 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Doctor

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$165,392, 28 July 1991

Gross USA:

$38,120,905

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$38,120,905

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1