Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981)

80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(1,191 ratings)

Stepping into the role made famous on Broadway by Tom Conti, Richard Dreyfuss stars as a profoundly handicapped sculptor in Whose Life is it Anyway? Left a quadraplegic after an auto accident, the embittered Dreyfuss feels utterly useless, as both an artist and a human being. He doesn't want his… More Stepping into the role made famous on Broadway by Tom Conti, Richard Dreyfuss stars as a profoundly handicapped sculptor in Whose Life is it Anyway? Left a quadraplegic after an auto accident, the embittered Dreyfuss feels utterly useless, as both an artist and a human being. He doesn't want his family's love, or his doctor's care, or his nurse's ministrations. Dreyfuss simply wants to die-but this is impossible, given the legal state of things in the 1970s. Whose Life is It Anyway? may be the only film in which a person's right to self-destruction is regarded as a happy ending. Not as depressing as it sounds, Whose Life Is It Anyway is perversely hilarious at times, with Dreyfuss at his acerbic best. The film was scripted by Reginald Rose and Brian Clark from Clark's stage play. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 58 min.
Directed By: John Badham
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Dec 2, 1981 Wide
On DVD: May 22, 2007

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Talky, depressing, ranting.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Focuses on the right to die wishes of a sculptor who's paralyzed and provides viewers an opportunity to test their attitudes toward making choices about life and death.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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

No Featured Audience Ratings Found…

Cast

            Richard Dreyfuss as Ken Harrison

            John Cassavetes as Dr. Michael Emerson

            Christine Lahti as Dr. Clare Scott

            Bob Balaban as Catter Hill

            Kenneth McMillan as Judge Wyler

            Kaki Hunter as Mary Jo

            Thomas Carter (II) as Orderly John

            Alba Oms as Nurse Rodriguez

            Janet Eilber as Pat

            Alston Ahern as Day Nurse

            Julie Andelman as Stella

            Betty Cole as ICU Nurse

            Jeffrey Combs as 1st-Year Intern

            Ward Costello as Mr. Eden

            John Garber as Physiotherapist

            Kathryn Grody as Mrs. Boyle

            J.J. Johnston as Guard

            Michael Steve Jones as Intern

            Lissa Layng
            
            Dorothy Meyer
            
            Tony Simotes as Orthodpedic Surgeon

            Wabei Slyolwe as Court Clerk

            Mel Stewart as Dr. Barr

            Alan Stock as 3rd-Year Student

            Robert S. Telford
            
            Lyman Ward as Emergency-Room Doctor

            George Wyner as Dr. Jacobs
See full cast

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!

Discover movies your friends are watching
Keep track of what you want to see
Add your reviews to your Timeline

Get Started