{"id":28085,"date":"2012-11-06T12:27:24","date_gmt":"2012-11-06T19:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=28085"},"modified":"2022-12-21T22:47:46","modified_gmt":"2022-12-22T05:47:46","slug":"high-anxiety-1977","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=28085","title":{"rendered":"High Anxiety (1977)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Those who are tardy do not get fruit cup.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Poster-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-28087\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Poster-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Poster.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nRenowned but highly strung psychiatrist Dr. Thorndyke (Mel Brooks) becomes the new director of a mental institute, where a militant nurse (Cloris Leachman) and her colleague (Harvey Korman) are involved in nefarious dealings related to a wealthy patient whose grown daughter (Madeline Kahn) is concerned about her father&#8217;s well-being.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cloris Leachman Films<\/li>\n<li>Madeline Kahn Films<\/li>\n<li>Mel Brooks Films<\/li>\n<li>Mental Illness<\/li>\n<li>Satires and Spoofs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nMel Brooks&#8217; sixth feature film was this explicit homage to Hitchcockian thrillers, which satirizes <a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0076141\/trivia?tab=mc#spoofs\">many of his most beloved titles<\/a> (including <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=28420\"><em>Vertigo<\/em><\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=10590\"><em>The Birds<\/em><\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=11699\"><em>Spellbound<\/em><\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5177\"><em>Psycho<\/em><\/a>), in addition to giving a quick nod to Vincente Minnelli&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4347\"><em>The Cobweb<\/em> (1955)<\/a> (through reference to the institute&#8217;s drapes!), and poking fun at <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=44163\"><em>One Flew Over the Cuckoo&#8217;s Nest&#8217;s<\/em><\/a> Nurse Ratched through the over-the-top character of Nurse Diesel (Leachman). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman2-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman2-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman2-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman2-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman2-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman2-1536x832.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman2-499x270.png 499w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman2.png 1815w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Indeed, there are so many cinematic references and in-jokes packed into the storyline that film fanatics will likely find themselves in a near constant state of recognition (&#8220;Oh! Look what he&#8217;s spoofing now!&#8221;) &#8212; which makes it all the more unfortunate that the storyline itself doesn&#8217;t do justice to the series of endless referential gags. Brooks gives away the film&#8217;s villains from the get-go, so what we&#8217;re mostly left waiting for (in addition to more gags\/references, as well as a completely gratuitous and self-indulgent rendition of the title song by Brooks himself) is Dr. Thorndyke&#8217;s belated recognition that his own life is in danger. It&#8217;s difficult to fault Brooks for his clear attempt here to have fun with the genre, and it&#8217;s especially enjoyable to see Leachman given the opportunity to literally dominate the proceedings; however, the film as a whole doesn&#8217;t work well enough to designate as must-see viewing. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cloris Leachman as Nurse Diesel<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman-1-1024x544.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"340\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68603\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman-1-1024x544.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman-1-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman-1-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman-1-768x408.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman-1-1536x816.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman-1-508x270.png 508w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Leachman-1.png 1816w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Some fun spoofs of Hitchcock&#8217;s best-known films<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Spoof-Shower2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Spoof-Shower2-1024x549.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"343\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Spoof-Shower2-1024x549.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Spoof-Shower2-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Spoof-Shower2-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Spoof-Shower2-768x412.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Spoof-Shower2-1536x824.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Spoof-Shower2-503x270.png 503w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/High-Anxiety-Spoof-Shower2.png 1829w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but film fanatics will probably want to check it out at least once. Listed as a Cult Movie in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0076141\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/high-anxiety-1978\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=4400&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.combustiblecelluloid.com\/classic\/highanx.shtml\">Combustible Celluloid Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/high-anxiety\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Those who are tardy do not get fruit cup.&#8221; Synopsis: Renowned but highly strung psychiatrist Dr. Thorndyke (Mel Brooks) becomes the new director of a mental institute, where a militant nurse (Cloris Leachman) and her colleague (Harvey Korman) are involved in nefarious dealings related to a wealthy patient whose grown daughter (Madeline Kahn) is concerned about her father&#8217;s well-being. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Cloris Leachman Films Madeline Kahn Films Mel Brooks Films Mental Illness Satires and Spoofs Review: Mel&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=28085\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28085"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28085\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88984,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28085\/revisions\/88984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}