Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981)
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- R
- 1h 59min
- Comedy, Drama
- 22 Jan 1982 (USA)
- Movie
Ken Harrison is an artist who makes sculptures. One day he is involved in a car accident, and is paralyzed from his neck down. All he can do is talk, and he wants to die. In hospital he make friends with some of the staff, and they support...
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Writers:
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Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Richard Dreyfuss | ... |
Ken Harrison
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| John Cassavetes | ... |
Dr. Michael Emerson
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| Christine Lahti | ... |
Dr. Clare Scott
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| Bob Balaban | ... |
Carter Hill
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| Kenneth McMillan | ... |
Judge Wyler
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| Kaki Hunter | ... |
Mary Jo Sadler
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| Thomas Carter | ... |
Orderly John
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Alba Oms | ... |
Nurse Rodriguez
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| Janet Eilber | ... |
Pat
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| Kathryn Grody | ... |
Mrs. Boyle
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| George Wyner | ... |
Dr. Jacobs
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| Mel Stewart | ... |
Dr. Barr
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Ward Costello | ... |
Mr. Eden
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Alston Ahern | ... |
Day Nurse
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Betty Cole | ... |
ICU Nurse
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| Lyman Ward | ... |
Emergency Room Doctor
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| Juli Andelman | ... |
Stella, Student Nurse
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Abigail Hepner | ... |
Lissa
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Alan Stock | ... |
3rd Year Student
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| Jeffrey Combs | ... |
1st Year Intern
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Steven Bourne | ... |
Hoffman
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John Garber | ... |
Physiotherapist
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Katie Guymon | ... |
Anesthesiologist
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Francine Henderson | ... |
Nurse
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| J.J. Johnston | ... |
Guard
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Michael Steve Jones | ... |
Intern
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Lissa Layng | ... |
1st Nurse
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Dorothy Meyer | ... |
2nd Nurse
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Karla Pitti | ... |
3rd Nurse
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Beth Renner | ... |
4th Nurse
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Tony Simotes | ... |
Orthopedic Surgeon
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Fred Slyter | ... |
Court Clerk
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Robert S. Telford | ... |
Old Man
(as Robert Telford)
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Roberta Jean Williams | ... |
Technician
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Larry D. Callaghan | ... |
Basketball Player
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Thomas Collette | ... |
Basketball Player
(as Thomas E. Collette)
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Sebastian De Francesco | ... |
Basketball Player
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Duane F. Johnson | ... |
Basketball Player
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William E. Townsend | ... |
Basketball Player
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Eric Morton | ... |
The Rebel Rockers Member
(as Eric W. Morton)
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Deborah Morton | ... |
The Rebel Rockers Member
(as Deborah L. Morton)
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George T. Clinton | ... |
The Rebel Rockers Member
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Joel R. Schanker | ... |
The Rebel Rockers Member
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Charles Michael Gross | ... |
'The Rebel Rockers' Member
(as Charles [Rassoun] Gross)
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Teodoro Haywood Anderson | ... |
The Rebel Rockers Member
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Michael V. Rogers | ... |
The Rebel Rockers Member
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Glenn J. Cohen | ... |
Paramedic EMT (uncredited)
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Raven Grey Eagle | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John Badham | ||
Written by
| Brian Clark | ... | (play "Whose Life Is It Anyway?") |
| Brian Clark | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Reginald Rose | ... | (screenplay) |
| John Badham | ... | (participating writer) (uncredited) |
| Lawrence P. Bachmann | ... | (participating writer) (uncredited) |
| Robert L. Collins | ... | (participating writer) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Lawrence P. Bachmann | ... | producer (as Lawrence P. Bachman) |
| Gregg Champion | ... | associate producer |
| Ray Cooney | ... | executive producer |
| Martin C. Schute | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Arthur B. Rubinstein | ||
Cinematography by
| Mario Tosi | ||
Editing by
| Frank Morriss | ||
Editorial Department
| Bruce Pearson | ... | color timer |
| Ben Williams | ... | apprentice editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Wallis Nicita | ... | (as Wally Nicita) |
Production Design by
| Gene Callahan | ... | (as Gene Callaghan) |
Art Direction by
| Sydney Z. Litwack | ||
Set Decoration by
| Jerry Adams | ||
Costume Design by
| Marianna Elliott | ||
Makeup Department
| Hazel Catmull | ... | hair stylist |
| Leonard Drake | ... | hair stylist (as Leonard R. Drake) |
| Leonard Engelman | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Wallace Worsley Jr. | ... | production manager (as Wallace Worsley) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Katy Emde | ... | first assistant director |
| Joseph A. Ingraffia | ... | second assistant director (as J. A. Ingraffia) |
| Lawrence Mirisch | ... | second assistant director |
| Victoria E. Rhodes | ... | dga trainee (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Larry Clark Bird | ... | property master (as Larry C. Bird) |
| Lorinda Roland | ... | sculptor |
| Henry Alberti | ... | set designer (uncredited) |
| Cate Bangs | ... | set designer (uncredited) |
| Sam Gamble | ... | leadman (uncredited) |
| Tom Jung | ... | poster designer (uncredited) |
| Robert W. King | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
| Michael J. Smith | ... | construction coordinator (uncredited) |
| Ken Zimmerman | ... | second props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Allison Caine | ... | advisor: vocal effects |
| Carlos Delarios | ... | re-recording mixer (as Carlos De Larios) |
| Ken Dufva | ... | foley artist |
| John Glascock | ... | sound (as John C. Glascock) |
| Jeff Jones | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Richard Oswald | ... | sound editor (as Richard L. Oswald) |
| Aaron Rochin | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Paul A. Sharpe | ... | re-recording mixer (as Paul Sharp) |
| Pat Barbeau | ... | cable person (uncredited) |
| Tim Cooney | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| Duncan McEwan | ... | sound recordist (uncredited) |
| Tina Oswald | ... | assistant sound effects editor (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Terry W. King | ... | special effects foreman |
| Charles Schulthies | ... | special effects (as Charles R. Schulthies) |
| Gary L. King | ... | special effects crew (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Bruce Paul Barbour | ... | stunt driver |
| Conrad E. Palmisano | ... | stunt coordinator / stunt double: Richard Dreyfuss |
Camera and Electrical Department
| William L. Asman | ... | camera operator |
| John L. Black | ... | key grip (as John Black) |
| Dustin Blauvelt | ... | first assistant camera |
| Richard Clark | ... | video engineer |
| Adam Glick | ... | set lighting technician |
| Tim Griffith | ... | gaffer (as Timothy J. Griffith) |
| Len Hekel | ... | still photographer |
| Lanny Henson | ... | grip |
| Michael R. Marquette | ... | assistant camera |
| Jim McConocha | ... | electrician |
| Ronald Vidor | ... | a camera operator / camera operator |
| Peter J. Breen | ... | dolly grip (uncredited) |
| Jim Porter | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
| Rich Redlands | ... | second grip (uncredited) |
| Joel Stout | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Ken Harvey | ... | wardrobe |
| Linda Matthews | ... | wardrobe |
| Joseph Watts | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
Location Management
| W. Paul Henley | ... | location manager (uncredited) |
Music Department
| William David Brohn | ... | additional orchestrator (as William D. Brohn) |
| Harry V. Lojewski | ... | music supervisor |
| Sally Stevens | ... | singer |
| Ken Wilhoit | ... | music editor |
| Zita Carno | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Gayle Levant | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Richard Nash | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Arthur B. Rubinstein | ... | conductor (uncredited) / orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Thomas Z. Shepard | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Betsy Norton | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Eugene Schwartz | ... | transportation gaffer (uncredited) |
| Allan Yamauchi | ... | transportation captain (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Ted Albert | ... | unit publicist |
| Gregg Champion | ... | production associate |
| Marge Champion | ... | choreographer |
| William H. Everett | ... | medical advisor (as William H. Everett M.D.) |
| John Garber | ... | dialogue coach |
| Katie Guymon | ... | technical advisor (as Katy Guymon R.N.) |
| Kevin King | ... | payroll accountant |
| Jean Urban | ... | assistant to producers |
| Harley M. Wishner | ... | medical advisor (as Harley M. Wishner M.D.) |
| J. Steven Hollander | ... | auditor (uncredited) |
| Kim Kaufman | ... | secretary to director (uncredited) |
| Tom Udell | ... | auditor (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)
- SLM Production Group
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1981) (United States) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (United States) (theatrical) (released thru)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (France) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Italy) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Argentina Video Home (1982) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Esselte CIC Video (Netherlands) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (Netherlands) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (West Germany) (VHS)
- WGN (1986) (United States) (tv)
- Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Central Casting (extras casting)
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts (special thanks)
- Everest & Jennings (special medical equipment provided by)
- Hill-Rom Company (special medical equipment provided by)
- Ivac (special medical equipment provided by)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios (titles and opticals)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (sound re-recording)
- Panavision (Panaflex camera and lenses by)
- Puritan-Bennett (special medical equipment provided by)
- Travenol Laboratories (special medical equipment provided by)
- Williamstown Theatre Festival (special thanks)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Ken Harrison is an artist who makes sculptures. One day he is involved in a car accident, and is paralyzed from his neck down. All he can do is talk, and he wants to die. In hospital he make friends with some of the staff, and they support him when he goes to trial to be allowed to die.
Written by Eva Kristin Berntzen |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | You'll have a lot of laughs.....before you cry. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Box Office
| Budget | $13,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Richard Dreyfuss claims to have no memory of making this film. This was a side effect to his heavy drug use during the early 1980s. See more » |
| Goofs | When Dreyfuss is seen on a surveillance camera throbbing his head back and forwards in anger. You can clearly see that he's using his upper body in the scene to move his head. He wouldn't of been able to do this in the condition he was in ,with his spinal difficulties. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in On Golden Pond, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Four Friends, Modern Problems (1982). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Hospital Ladies See more » |
| Quotes |
Ken Harrison:
I better be nice to this woman. Otherwise, the good doctor will dissolve her in water and inject her into me. See more » |