''Whose Life Is It Anyway?'' is a 1981 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

John Badham John MacDonald Badham (born August 25, 1939) is an English television and film director, best known for his films ''Saturday Night Fever'' (1977), ''Dracula'' (1979), ''Blue Thunder'' (1983), ''WarGames'' (1983), ''Short Circuit'' (1986), and ...

and starring Richard Dreyfuss. It was adapted by Brian Clark and

Reginald Rose Reginald Rose (December 10, 1920 – April 19, 2002) was an American screenwriter. He wrote about controversial social and political issues. His realism (arts), realistic approach was particularly influential in the anthology programs of the ...

from Clark's 1972 television movie and 1978 stage play, all under the same title. ''Whose Life Is It Anyway?'' received a 70% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 10 reviews and an average rating of 6.58/10.

Plot

Set in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

, this film features sculptor Ken Harrison (played by Richard Dreyfuss), who becomes paralyzed from the neck down after a car accident. He is no longer able to use his hands, create art, walk, feed himself, make love, or have any semblance of a normal existence. Because he cannot pursue any of his passions any more, and because he will likely need medical help for the rest of his life, he wants to end his life. However, he is physically unable to commit suicide... so he looks to end his life in other ways... all of which would require his body to be discharged from the hospital. He asks for this from Dr. Emerson, the hospital administrator (played by

John Cassavetes John Nicholas Cassavetes ( ; December 9, 1929 – February 3, 1989) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. First known as a television and film actor, Cassavetes also helped pioneer American independent cinema, writing and direc ...

), and he refuses; Emerson is staunchly opposed to euthanasia, and is determined to keep his patient alive—even against his wishes. He dumps his girlfriend, who is initially distraught, but eventually accepts that their relationship could not realistically continue, and accepts his decision to end his life. Harrison hires Carter Hill (played by

Bob Balaban Robert Elmer Balaban (born August 16, 1945) is an American actor, author, comedian, director and producer. He was one of the producers nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture for ''Gosford Park'' (2001), in which he also appeared. Balab ...

), a lawyer—who is at first reluctant to represent him, but eventually does so. Harrison legally petitions the hospital for the right to end his life. Dr. Claire Scott, Harrison's sympathetic physician (played by

Christine Lahti Christine Ann Lahti (born April 4, 1950) is an American actress and filmmaker. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the 1984 film '' Swing Shift''. Her other film roles include '' ...And Justice for All'' (19 ...

, eventually develops personal feelings for Harrison. She wants to keep him alive, even though Harrison's girlfriend, Pat, accepted his decision to end his life. A young male orderly and a young female nurse at the hospital do what they can to keep Harrison's spirits up—even wheeling him to the hospital basement in the wee hours of the night, where they treat him to a live

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

concert and marijuana. The film's climax is a legal hearing that determines if Harrison has a moral, ethical and legal right to choose to end his own life, on his own terms.

Cast

* Richard Dreyfuss as Ken Harrison *

as Dr. Emerson *

as Dr. Scott *

as Carter Hill * Thomas Carter as John *

Kaki Hunter Kaki Hunter (born Katherine Susan Hunter; November 6, 1955) is an American actress, architect, and writer, perhaps best known for her role in the trilogy of '' Porky's'' films in the 1980s. Life and career Hunter was born in Silver Spring, Maryl ...

as Mary Jo * Kenneth McMillan as Judge Wyler * Janet Eilber as Pat

References

External links

* * * * 1981 films 1981 drama films American drama films Films about euthanasia Films about paraplegics or quadriplegics Films directed by John Badham Films set in hospitals Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films with screenplays by Reginald Rose Films scored by Arthur B. Rubinstein United Artists films Films about suicide 1980s English-language films 1980s American films Films about disability {{1980s-drama-film-stub

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links