Vital Signs (1990)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Marisa Silver

Writers (WGA):

Larry Ketron (story)
Larry Ketron (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 April 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

During one incredible year, seven friends discover that love is alive and living in the 90's.

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Sex | Ambulance | Female Nudity | Beautiful Woman | Medical

Cast

Adrian Pasdar	...	Michael Chatham
Diane Lane	...	Gina Wyler
Jack Gwaltney	...	Kenny Rose
Laura San Giacomo	...	Lauren Rose
Jane Adams	...	Suzanne Maloney
Tim Ransom	...	Bobby Hayes
Bradley Whitford	...	Dr. Donald Ballentine
Lisa Jane Persky	...	Bobby
William Devane	...	Dr. Chatham
Norma Aleandro	...	Henrietta Walker
Jimmy Smits	...	Dr. David Redding
Wallace Langham	...	Gant
James Karen	...	Dean of Students
Leigh C. Kim	...	Dr. Chen
Enid Kent	...	Vivian
Telma Hopkins	...	Dr. Kennan
Dan Ziskie	...	Dr. Kelly
Rob Neukirch	...	Rita's Resident
Grant Heslov	...	Rick
Karen Fineman	...	Julie
Laurie Souza	...	Mother
Stanley DeSantis	...	Loan Officer
Kenia	...	Rita
Steve Bean	...	OB / GYN Intern
Claudia Harrington	...	Pregnant Woman
Seth Isler	...	Male Resident
Jay Arlen Jones	...	Paramedic
Donna Lynn Leavy	...	Cynthia
Matthew Thompson	...	Billy (as Matt Thompson)
Jeanne Mori	...	Billy's Nurse
Gigo Vorgan	...	Nell
Angelo Tiffe	...	George
Christine Avila	...	Non-Clown Nurse
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Rotunda Woman
Perla Walter	...	Hispanic Woman
Paul Carlton Bryant	...	Pharmacist
Ellaraino	...	Phone Nurse
Rose Weaver	...	Henrietta's Night Nurse
Myra Turley	...	Henrietta's I.V. Nurse
Lou Saint James	...	Reddings' Paramedic
Joan Newlin	...	E.R. Nurse
Vicki Winters	...	Hospital Employee
Doug Robinson	...	Competing Swimmer
Charlie Hawke	...	Swimmer
Billy Bacon	...	Swimmer
Craig Hosking	...	Helicopter Pilot
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gigi Vorgan	...	Nell

Directed by
Marisa Silver

Writing credits (WGA)
Larry Ketron		(story)
Larry Ketron		(screenplay) and
Jeb Stuart		(screenplay)

Produced by
Tom Joyner	....	delegate producer
Laurie Perlman	....	producer
Cathleen Summers	....	producer

Original Music by
Miles Goodman

Cinematography by
John Lindley

Film Editing by
Robert Brown
Danford B. Greene

Casting by
Margery Simkin

Production Design by
Todd Hallowell

Set Decoration by
Daniel Loren May		(as Dan May)

Costume Design by
Deborah Everton

Makeup Department
Susan A. Cabral	....	makeup artist (as Susan Cabral)
Bruce Hutchinson	....	makeup artist
Dale Miller	....	assistant hair stylist
Dave Miller	....	hair stylist
Marilyn Patricia Phillips	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Verónica González Rubio	....	second assistant director
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director
Scott Printz	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Keith Brian Burns	....	set designer (as Keith Burns)
Tracy Farrington	....	property master
Tracy Harrington	....	property master
Steven Curtis Husch	....	set dresser
Daniel Maltese	....	assistant art director
John Sweeney	....	property master

Sound Department
Ed Callahan	....	sound editor
Dominick De Stefano	....	boom operator (as Dominik V. De Stefano)
Susan Dudeck	....	dialogue editor
Arnold Finkelstein	....	sound effects recordist
Christopher Flick	....	foley editor
Allan Hartz	....	dialogue editor
Petur Hliddal	....	sound
Martin Maryska	....	supervising sound editor
Bob Newlan	....	sound effects editor
Linda Yeaney	....	assistant sound editor
Hugo Weng	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Bret Culpepper	....	stunt swimming double: Adrian Pasdar
Matt Norklun	....	stunts
Chuck Picerni Jr.	....	stunts (as Charles Picerni Jr.)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bruce Birmelin	....	still photographer
Curtis Foster	....	rigging gaffer
Lawrence Karman	....	first assistant camera (as Larry 'Doc' Karman)
Tim Pershing	....	key grip
Amy Vincent	....	second assistant camera
Earl C. Williman	....	gaffer
Earl Williman Jr.	....	gaffer
Kenneth D. Zunder	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Franklyn Warren	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kathy O'Rear	....	wardrober

Editorial Department
Robert W. Hedland	....	assistant editor
Jim Prior	....	additional editor
Pattye Rogers	....	assistant editor
Liza Sullivan	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Jim Weidman	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Gina August	....	driver
Howard Bachrach	....	transportation captain
Steve Duncan	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Lori A. Balton	....	assistant location manager
Robert Dawson	....	title designer
Mary Lou Devlin	....	production coordinator
RaeAnn Emery	....	stand-in: Diane Lane
Tom Joyner	....	production administrator
Tom Joyner	....	production controller
Lynn Twentyman	....	script supervisor
Robert Wait	....	assistant to producer

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
• CBS Entertainment Production

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Abril Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Clairmont Camera  camera equipment provided by
• Clairmont Camera  opticals
• White Knight Health Care  chirurgical products and material
• Workwear Inc.  teachers costumes

Runtime:

Germany:99 min | USA:103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | Germany:16 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center - 1200 N. State Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Quotes:

Dr. David Redding: Third year is like being a rookie pitcher called on to pitch the seventh game of the World Series... blindfolded.

Soundtrack:

The Birds and the Bees

Overall, an accurate depiction of medical school competition

Although some scenes are over-dramatized, the film, as a whole, accurately depicts the cut-throat competition in medical school, as opposed to another critic's opinion that it was less accurate than the movie, Gross Anatomy, which in my opinion, was the furthest away from reality.

Some scenes in Vital Signs imply that medical school students in their third year (the first year out of the classroom) have more authority and autonomy than what is true in reality. But the film shows the human side of medicine and that medicine isn't an exact science. Physicians can practice and study for years and still not completely understand the human body.

The relationships in the movie are very realistic, especially with Kenny Rose and his wife. Medical school (and medicine in general) takes up a great deal of personal time, which can be damaging to a relationship. The "hanky-panky" between Michael and Gena happens all the time. The relationship between Michael and his father is realistic as well. Sometimes the profession consumes the physician and without knowing it, harms the family life.

Again, I found this film to be a realistic portrayal of medical school. In fact, I have this film on tape and watch it from time to time to motivate me in my medical career. I would recommend this movie to anyone in the medical field, especially students thinking about medical school.