The Hospital (1971)

100% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(1,770 ratings)

Directed by Arthur Hiller from the second of three Academy Award-winning screenplays by Paddy Chayefsky, The Hospital is a black comedy centering on Dr. Herbert Bock (George C. Scott), a bitter, suicidal surgeon. While patients at the hospital die left and right due to the extreme carelessness and… More Directed by Arthur Hiller from the second of three Academy Award-winning screenplays by Paddy Chayefsky, The Hospital is a black comedy centering on Dr. Herbert Bock (George C. Scott), a bitter, suicidal surgeon. While patients at the hospital die left and right due to the extreme carelessness and ineptness of the staff that surrounds him, the lonely Bock finds himself falling for Barbara (Diana Rigg), the daughter of Edmund (Barnard Hughes), a patient. Meanwhile, a mysterious killer has begun stalking the hospital, taking out staff members. In addition to Chayefsky's Oscar win, The Hospital garnered a Best Actor nomination for Scott, who lost to Gene Hackman for The French Connection. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Arthur Hiller
Written By: Paddy Chayevsky
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 17, 1971 Wide
On DVD: Sep 16, 2003

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This darkly humorous satire of an urban hospital is probably the only decent movie that Arthur Hiller had directed, benefiting from Chayefsky's Oscar winning script.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It was hard to come out of The Hospital feeling all that well.
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
Another towering performance by the great George C. Scott highlights this scathing satire of the medical field.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Ham-handed satire, but effective with great lead performances.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

The script is great, but the execution is flawed. Several times the film loses it's grasp on it's tone and stumbles as a result. Diana Rigg is SOOOOOOOOOOOO HOTTTTTTTTTT in this though, it almost makes up for it. And I could have done without the rape scene too.
AJ V

Dark comedies and satires are always hit or miss, and this one tends to miss. There are a few moments where I understand something is funny, but it's not so funny that it makes me laugh. I wouldn't recommend this movie.
Tim S

This movie kills me. I love George C. Scott's performance and there are some amazing monologues, but there are also some weird plot lines that rubbed me wrong.
Danny R

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,… More
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.
Alec B

There are moments that are quite amazing (the 'impotence' monologue is a fine example of how great a writer Paddy Chayefsky was) but the film is not always successful in its social commentary. The murder subplot is both unnecessary and perplexing. However for George C.… More
There are moments that are quite amazing (the 'impotence' monologue is a fine example of how great a writer Paddy Chayefsky was) but the film is not always successful in its social commentary. The murder subplot is both unnecessary and perplexing. However for George C. Scott's performance its totally worth a viewing.
matt s

George C. Scott is amazing, but with a half-hour left, this movie takes a turn to What-the-fuck-ville.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            George C. Scott as Dr. Herbert Bock

            Diana Rigg as Barbara Drummond

            Barnard Hughes as Mr. Drummond

            Nancy Marchand as Head Nurse

            Stephen Elliott as Hospital Executive

            Donald Harron as Hospital Executive

            Lenny Baker as Dr. Schaefer

            Roberts Blossom as Hospital Victim

            Jacqueline Brookes as Dr. Immelman

            Stockard Channing
            
            Jordan Charney as Hitchcock

            Alex Colon as Young Lord

            Lorrie Davis as Nurse Divine

            Andrew Duncan as William Mead

            Richard Dysart as Dr. Welbeck

            Julie Garfield as Nurse Perez

            Richard Hamilton as Dr. Ronald Casey

            Kate Harrington as Nurse Dunne

            Katherine Helmond as Marilyn Mead

            Bette Henritze as Operating Room Nurse

            Teresa Hughes as Mrs. Donovan

            Nancy MacKay as Sheilah

            Paul Mace as Intern Ambler

            Angie Ortega as Drummond's Victim

            Lou Polan as Dr. Lagerman

            Tom Spratley as Mitgang

            Frances Sternhagen as Mrs. Cushing

            Robert Walden as Young Doctor

            Christopher Guest as Resident

            David Hooks as Psychiatrist

            Robert Anthony as Dr. Ives

            Cynthia Belgrave as Nurse Reardon

            Rehn Scofield as Dr. Spezio

            Richard A. Dysart
            
See full cast

The Hospital (1971)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

AJ V

Tim S

Danny R

Alec B

matt s

Cast