Barnard Hughes (RIP) actually played TWO roles in this films, if my eyes are right. In addition to the crazy old man he has an uncredited speaking part as a surgeon who operates on the wrong patient. Anyone else catch this?
I was just thinking the same thing. I watched the hospital last night and I swore he had two parts too.
This is SOOO odd, cheap, and cheesy. What, they couldn't afford to hire a relatively unknown actor for this very small role? So they use the same actor in different make-up to play another role and then they lie about it by giving the credit to a pseudonym.
Perhaps the strangest casting event in Hollywood history.
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I've read that Barnard Hughes was originally just cast to play the hysterectomy doctor. I think someone else was supposed to play the father, but that actor had to back out. If it was a last minute re-cast, maybe they'd already filmed the hysterectomy/cardiac scene before resorting to having Hughes play the father? It is weird.
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I just watched the film and this was bothering me, I thought, "Oh, it's Barnard Hughes as the doctor", then ten minutes later I was thinking, "wait, that's Barnard Hughes as the father." I waw trying to figure this out until I saw this thread. It doesn't help to hide him under makeup when he has such a distinct voice.
shareDrummond is a doctor. I just assumed he had put on a mask and gown and impersonated the hysterectomy surgeon. The whole point is that the staff of the hospital don't recognize each other (like the nurse who plugs the glucose IV into a doctor with diabetes). Drummond isn't really in a coma, he's going around killing people, right?
share <I just assumed he had put on a mask and gown and impersonated the hysterectomy surgeon.>
I just saw the film again, and I agree. Had to think about it though. I was confused for a bit.
I trust I make myself obscure.
There is no question that Barnard Hughes played both parts. Even before I was aware Hughes was in the film, and before he was identifiable as the Rigg's crazy father patient in his room, I said, aloud, when the operation on the wrong patient was about to start, "Look, there's Barnard Hughes". He was absolutely superb and his performance(s) were worthy of an Oscar.
But the question remains: Why was someone named Douglas Owen credited ("uncredited") for the part of Dr. Mallory? Why does Owen (at least this one) have only one credit on IMDb - for this film, alone? Is "Douglas Owen" a fictitious person or a hoax? How and why did this cast mixup/mystery come about in the first place?
Barnard Hughes' son's name is Doug.
Barnard Hughes" father's name was Owen.
So, that's how they came up with "Doug Owen."
Love this movie!!!