Mel Brooks' renowned spoof of the most famous Hitchcockian classics-"Vertigo," "The Birds," "Psycho" and "Spellbound"-is one of his most outrageous comedy classics. After a Harvard psychiatrist (Brooks) takes over the Psycho-Neurotic Institute for the Very, Very Nervous, he realizes his predecessor died under suspicious circumstances. When events take a murderous turn, he is accused of the crime and left with a full blown case of High Anxiety. Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman and Cloris Leachman co-star in this hilarious parody.
An affectionate homage more than a spoof of Alfred Hitchcock thrillers, Mel Brooks's hilarious movie is one of the funniest modern comedies around. Brooks plays a psychiatrist with a severe fear of heights who moves to the Bay Area to take over a psychiatric hospital after its former head mysteriously disappears. He must contend with the resident psychiatrist (Harvey Korman) and the twisted resident nurse (Cloris Leachman) as they plot against him, eventually framing him for murder. While on the run, Brooks teams up with the alluring daughter (Madeline Kahn) of the missing doctor to solve the mystery and confront his own fears. Containing some classic sequences and cowritten by Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Wag the Dog), who appears briefly as a too-touchy bellhop in a Psycho-shower-scene takeoff, High Anxiety is a thoroughly enjoyable romp from one of the masters of comedy today. --Robert Lane
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
it was the thriller/suspense moments that worked the most for me:
this comedy/thriller actually works for me to a certain degree.it's a
spoof of Hitchcock films,and some of the comedic moments work well.i
actually laughed once in awhile.but what really works are the thriller
and suspense moments.Cloris Leachman is particularly effective as the
nurse from hell,Nurse Diesel.she really created a memorable
character,in my opinion.Mel Brooks was actually not bad in a semi
serious role.actually the acting was good all around.and i don't mind... more info
You have... HIGH ANXIETY:
Nobody is safe from satire, not even Alfred Hitchcock. But Mel Brooks straddles the line between parody and affectionate homage in "High Anxiety," a hysterical psychiatric comedy that deftly references all sorts of Hitch films -- while keeping in Brooks' trademark slapstick, hilarious dialogue, and weird characters. Dr. Richard Thorndyke (Brooks) has just been hired as the director of Psychoneurotic Institute for the Very, VERY Nervous, after the sudden death of the previous administrator. Something... more info
Very Satisfied:
Video came new like it was supposed to. It was a gift for my parents - they just watched it the other day, it works great, and they love it!
Those who are tardy do not get fruit cup...:
Not only Hitchcock, but also the 1980's were completely hilarious. We would forget this if not for Mel Brooks' nearly flawless "High Anxiety." To watch Madelyn Kahn enter in her matching Gucci-over-symbolled jumpsuit, purse, shoes and car is to realize that wearing designer labels will be pointless for you from then on -- you won't be able to do it without giggling hysterically. Freud is about commerce as much as mommy and male reproductive organ obsessions ("a psychiatrist's most important rule -- never... more info
