Coma
Mystery, Thriller
Warner Bros.  (1978) 113 mins TV-PG

6.8 (5,291 votes)
Ten cases. Now 12. Why are young, healthy patients admitted for minor surgery at Boston Memorial Hospital ending up on life support? Dr. Susan Wheeler wants to know. Somebody else wants her dead.

Long before he created ER, Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park, Twister) adapted and directed this medical chiller based on Robin Cook's bestseller. Genevieve Bujold plays Wheeler, trailing clues, clambering along ductways, hiding among morgue cadavers, infiltrating the eerie Jefferson institute (an unforgettable marvel of spooky technology) and persuading her skeptical boyfriend and fellow doctor Mark (Michael Douglas) that her suspicions are not mere paranoia. For thriller fans, Coma is heartpoundingly good medicine....

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Cast and Crew
Geneviève Bujold  ......  Dr. Susan Wheeler (as Genevieve Bujold)
Michael Douglas  ......  Dr. Mark Bellows
Elizabeth Ashley  ......  Mrs. Emerson
Rip Torn  ......  Dr. George
Richard Widmark  ......  Dr. Harris
Lois Chiles  ......  Nancy Greenly
Director  .....  Michael Crichton
Producer  .....  Martin Erlichman
Writer  .....  Robin Cook; Michael Crichton
Notes
Goofs:
Continuity: When Dr. Harris completes an appendectomy, the anesthesiologist reaches for the patient's endotracheal tube, as Dr Harris begins to turn away. When he completes the turn, the anesthesiologist is seen removing a face mask from the patient. There was no time for the anesthesiologist to remove the tube and replace it with the mask. (more)

Trivia:
Director Michael Crichton and author Robin Cook are both doctors. (more)

Filming Locations:
Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (more)

Quotes:
Dr. Susan Wheeler: You did it.
[Put people in irreversible comas]
Dr. George A. Harris: No decision is easy, Sue. It only looks that way when you're young. When you're older, everything is complicated. There is no black and white, only gray.
(more)

Awards:
1 nomination (more)