The Hospital

1971 hospital movie

Rating: 15/20

Plot: The director of a hospital tries to hold it and his life together.

Man, is George C. Scott good in this as this character who's molded by his situation. Scott plays depressed, alcoholic, horny, frazzled, suicidal, mildly hopeful, and determined, and he plays it all convincingly. He's nervous breakdown incarnate. In a way, he's an actor who is playing a character who doesn't realize your life, your marriage, and your career are just all one giant dark comedy. There's a mystery at the center of this hospital drama, but the solving of that never seems quite as vital as what's going on in George C. Scott's head.

Paddy Chayefsky wrote this thing, and there's a real zing to the dialogue, especially between Scott and the fetching Diana Rigg.