"I'm sorry. It's... unlisted."
Dr. Richard Thorndyke (Brooks) is very nervous. He has high anxiety: a crippling fear of heights, which makes the opening plane ride and walk through the airport incredibly intense. This intensity is heightened through the camera work and music. Exiting the airport he remarks, "what a dramatic airport", and this is only the first few minutes. At the airport he is picked up by his driver/self-proclaimed side-kick Brophy (Carey) who has difficulties with easy tasks, such as lifting Dr. Thorndyke's trunk "I got it, I got it, I got it...I don't got it". Dr. Thorndyke is the new head of the Institute for Very, Very Nervous. The last head died under mysterious conditions. At the Institute he is met by the Nazi-esque Nurse Diesel (Leachman) who rules with an iron fist, and iron corset, and Dr. Montague (Korman) the highest ranking doctor in the institute. Things aren't what they appear at the Institute and when another doctor (Van Patten) turns up dead, he is sent away to a convention. At the convention Thorndyke meets icy blonde Victoria (Kahn) who has a tie to the Institute that someone wants to erase. Will they survive? Will Thorndyke survive his high anxiety? Will Nurse Diesel lighten up?
Why? Thats all I have to ask. I like Hitchcock and I like Brooks, so you'd think I would enjoy this film, but it just doesn't work. If you aren't familiar with Hitchcock you probably won't get some of the jokes, or things meant as jokes...but you could probably still find some enjoyment. References to Hitch:
-a psychiatrist with own psyche problems: "Suspicion" (Hitch is better)
-bird chase: "The Birds" (Brooks is funnier)
-shower scene: "Psycho" (both memorable, but for different reasons)
-the direction North by Northwest, and the airport: North by Northwest (Hitch)
-tower scene, Golden Gate Bridge, fear of heights (Hitch)
-according to imdb.com there are more, but I didn't catch any of them
Overall there are funny moments, like Kahn's camouflage outfit (her outfit blends into her car and other objects, but not nature) and the symphony orchestra in the bus (playing dramatic music), but they are few and far between. Apparently Hitch enjoyed it, but it isn't Brooks finest hour.
--: it's alright, but not great. Too many of the jokes are recycled from other Brooks films or used too many times within this film for it to be entirely good
--: I like old Hitch better...but the unwashed masses seem to enjoy his later stuff more, so who knows.
High Anxiety (1977) 94 minutes
Director: Mel Brooks
Starring: Mel Brooks as Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke
Madeline Kahn as Victoria Brisbane
Cloris Leachman as Nurse Diesel
Harvey Korman as Dr. Charles Montague
Ron Carey as Brophy
Howard Morris as Professor Lilloman
Dick Van Patten as Dr. Phillip Wentworth
Why? Thats all I have to ask. I like Hitchcock and I like Brooks, so you'd think I would enjoy this film, but it just doesn't work. If you aren't familiar with Hitchcock you probably won't get some of the jokes, or things meant as jokes...but you could probably still find some enjoyment. References to Hitch:
-a psychiatrist with own psyche problems: "Suspicion" (Hitch is better)
-bird chase: "The Birds" (Brooks is funnier)
-shower scene: "Psycho" (both memorable, but for different reasons)
-the direction North by Northwest, and the airport: North by Northwest (Hitch)
-tower scene, Golden Gate Bridge, fear of heights (Hitch)
-according to imdb.com there are more, but I didn't catch any of them
Overall there are funny moments, like Kahn's camouflage outfit (her outfit blends into her car and other objects, but not nature) and the symphony orchestra in the bus (playing dramatic music), but they are few and far between. Apparently Hitch enjoyed it, but it isn't Brooks finest hour.
--: it's alright, but not great. Too many of the jokes are recycled from other Brooks films or used too many times within this film for it to be entirely good
--: I like old Hitch better...but the unwashed masses seem to enjoy his later stuff more, so who knows.
High Anxiety (1977) 94 minutes
Director: Mel Brooks
Starring: Mel Brooks as Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke
Madeline Kahn as Victoria Brisbane
Cloris Leachman as Nurse Diesel
Harvey Korman as Dr. Charles Montague
Ron Carey as Brophy
Howard Morris as Professor Lilloman
Dick Van Patten as Dr. Phillip Wentworth
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