The Hospital

The Hospital (1971)

  • 100% of critics liked it
    (10 reviews)

  • 72% of users liked it
    (1,906 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

PG,
Directed By
Written By
Paddy Chayevsky, Paddy Chayefsky
Genres
Drama, Classics, Comedy
In Theaters
Dec 17, 1971 Wide

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.

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jim H


    In a hospital wracked with bureaucracy and poor patient care, a suicidal doctor struggles to find meaning in his work and life. Part black comedy, which is drawn from the absurdity of reality, and part serious drama, <i>The Hospital</i> is one of the best films about the… More

  • Pierluigi P


    Paddy Chayefsky is almost infallible at giving the toughest and loudest social and existencial commentaries under the veil of comedy. He did that flawlessly in "Marty" and "Network", and although here he doesn't , still the film packs a good punch to the… More

  • 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.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Currently unavailable on Flixster

Also available on

Other Retailers

Subscription Services

Not Available
Not Available
Not Available

Cast

See more (34)