MovieChat Forums > Coma (1978) Discussion > Nurse at Jefferson Institute

Nurse at Jefferson Institute

posted 18 years ago by mecahill
25 replies | jump to latest

Was it me or was Elizabeth Ashley's character (Mrs. Emerson) straight out of the Haunted Mansion? Wasn't she a bit over the top? That first scene she appeared in made this movie show its age. I can't imagine a nurse and a doctor having that conversation. Back in the 70's, her character would be considered very creepy. Watching that now though came off as unintentionally funny. ( I admit though, I would have found her frightening when this first came out because I would have been a nine year old kid.)

[–] shrink54 18 years ago

Notice she only blinks once through that whole scene?!

[–] SkiDooDad 17 years ago

This is my favorite scene in the whole movie, and one of my all time favorites from ANY movie. I drive by this building twice a day on my way to and from work, and it still creeps me out.

I love how we are taken from the peaceful serentity of a romantic, New England shoreline escape, when all finally appears right with Michael Douglass and Genevieve Bujold (who looks quite sexy in this movie), to quite suddenly plunged into the sinister, foreboding sense we get from the Jefferson Institute. This is a great example of how really great movie music can almost completely carry a scene.

I agree that perhaps Elizabeth Ashley was a bit over the top, but I think the scene warranted it. Because of what they were doing inside, she needed to come across as quite cold and standoffish, so that she could get rid of Genevieve Bujold.

[–] Druff 17 years ago

Nice, glad I'm not the only one who picked this as their favorite scene. Where is that building? If it's not too far, I'll visit it the next time I'm in the Boston/Weymouth area. I love that awesome 1970s concrete ultramodern motif.

[–] shrink54 17 years ago

Its right off of Rt 95 (128) in the town of Waltham on the Lexington town line. It doesnt have the slanted style windows anymore. Its been covered over with shaded glass. Other than that the building is the same. Try to drive up on a Sunday-its usually deserted. Take the Trapelo Rd exit off of 95/128 and the building is on Spring Street. You cant miss the driveway-it still looks the same.

[–] Mandy_Whitsands 14 years ago

what kind of building is it?

[–] shrink54 14 years ago

http://www.jimusnr.com/thejeffersoninstitute.html

[–] Mandy_Whitsands 14 years ago

This is my favorite scene in the whole movie, and one of my all time favorites from ANY movie. I drive by this building twice a day on my way to and from work, and it still creeps me out.

where do you work?

[–] moonspinner55 17 years ago

Perhaps one would HAVE to be robotized or desensitized to be in her line of work. Also, she was probably so used to dealing with comatose people that she had absolutely no people skills with those still functioning. Either way, it's a brilliant exchange, and Ashley and Bujold pull it off. Would like to see these two in a wrestling match!

[–] hilljayne 17 years ago

Obviously she's been around coma patients so long she has lost any people skills she may have once had. Notice how she acts when the coma patient is swinging back and forth, 'There there...' I think Elizabeth Ashley is brilliant in this movie!

Professional Jayne Mansfield fanatic/lover™ since 1980.

[–] noveltylibrary 8 years ago

I absolutely agree, she was brilliant!

[–] Druff 17 years ago

I pretty much thought the same exact thing. She was over the top, a total charicature. But I loved it. That was the only scene I went back and re-watched after the movie ended.

People will bitch about *anything* these days.

[–] josebut8 16 years ago

I think there are a lot of arrogant nurses who think they are superior, even to sacrosanct doctors. Look at all the Angel of Death nurse cases. Kind of smacks of superiority! I could see Mrs. Emerson smothering deserving patients with a pillow and stringing them up at the Jefferson Institute. I saw this when I was 13 and she made a long lasting impression. That character is kind of a gay icon! Go figure.

[–] karana_geldar 16 years ago

That woman is creepy, and the one in the novel is perfectly normal and is quite friendly to Susan.

Obi-Wan is my hero!

[–] Mars_atax 16 years ago

I wonder what the building is used for now.
Last thing I heard was that a new company was aware of the bad publicity surrounding what happened in the Jefferson Institute, so they promised to make it clean and innocent. It now serves as Waste Disposal Plant #3 for the Soylent Food Corporation!

[–] shrink54 16 years ago

You can view a whole page on the building then and now:
http://www.jimusnr.com/Comamain.html

[–] joonas2058932 16 years ago

she look little Bit from some horrormovie

[–] HarrisOR8 16 years ago

In this scene, You can see the camera crew on the dolly panning Miss Ashley. The reflection is in the glass window pane, It's quick but you see them moving. It happens right before she greets Dr. Wheeler......Notice my board name..LOL

[–] BadGalOfAutism 15 years ago

She always reminds me of Mrs Dudley in 'The Haunting'.

Your mother darns socks in hell

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

Mrs. Emerson was creepy to the max – straight out of "The Stepford Wives." in fact, I expected her to be a robot or something. Great portrayal by Elizabeth Ashley.