Review of The Hospital (1971) by Ken S — 30 Dec 2011

The incomparable George C. Scott delivers a magnificent Oscar nominated performance in this brilliant, ferocious funny dark satire by Paddy Chayefsky who won an Oscar for his biting witty screenplay, which concerns a Metropolitan Hospital in New York City that is beset by murder, madness and mayhem, Scott plays a brilliant but cynical doctor who going though a mid-life crisis of monumental proportions, his life is a shambles, his marriage is over and his children don't speak to him anymore, his beloved teaching Hospital is falling apart, he is also on the blink of a nervous breakdown and to complicate things more Scott begins to fall in love with a patient's seductively charming daughter played superbly by Diana Rigg who saves him from himself.

But there is a sinister mystery happening in the Hospital, staff members, doctors and nurses are being murdered by someone who is making it all look like accidents. Fine direction by Arthur Hiller with excellent supporting performances by Bernard Hughes, Nancy Marchand, Stephen Elliott, Donald Harron, Robert Blossom, Robert Walden, Frances Sternhagen and Richard Dysart.

A memorable, provocative and immensely entertaining black comedy. Highly Recommended.