Ok, film buffs. Dr. Drummond, crazy old guy who assists in the mayhem, Diana Riggs' father, is he also Dr. Mallory who does the hysterctomies?? The full cast and crew shows Mallory uncredited and played by Douglas Owens but this actor has only one credit in the IMDb, this movie! I think they are both Barnard Hughes. So?
shareI wonder if the idea was to fool audience members who were already familiar with Hughes from other films and TV shows. He is third billed after Scott and Rigg, but we don't see Drummond until near the end of the film when he is revealed as the madman who has been killing the interns and nurses. So perhaps he was also cast as Mallory to make viewers think, "Ah, okay, there's Hughes," thereby making it a surprise when he shows up at the climax in his real significant role. This is convoluted, but it might have been a way to fool those people expecting Hughes to turn up. This was my experience - I knew that Hughes was in this, but not which role. When he turned up in the O.R. as a surgeon, I figured this was his "bit." So I was surprised when Drummond was revealed to be him later on.
shareI totally agree with what you're saying. I just watched this movie again, (I own it, love it, and usually watch it every couple of years...) this was the FIRST time in 40 years that it hit me that Hughes was possibly in a double role, had to be, because the editing went straight from the O.R. and Dr. Mallory, to a comatose Drummond. And that sent me to this message board to get some ideas.
I had always assumed it was Hughes as Drummond (as 'Dr. Schaefer') following through to observe the death of the nurse. But on this viewing I said 'WAIT a minute...'
Now, I think, because this is a murder mystery among other things....that it did work as a red herring for the audience and anyone looking for Mr. Hughes. Dr. Mallory is so obviously (and hilariously) played by Barnard Hughes.
And good grief, what if Mr. Hughes had been singled out for acting honors? (certainly deserved)...it would have made the audience even more curious as to when he would show up.
Mr. Chayefsky wrote it, co-produced it, approved casting, had to have given the thumbs up for Hughes to appear in the O.R. room scene as a completely different character...
Hah. Same Here SusanLeslie. I was sitting there doing that cartoon double take...LOL.
But I think they were two separate characters. When Drummond confesses, they show in the flashbacks that he was acting out his set ups with no disguises. And as serious (black comedy serious) as this movie wanted to be, I don't think that they would have gone that cheezy with the "disguise" route.
Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...share