Health (film)
| HealtH | |
|---|---|
An advertisement for the film in The New York Times, April 1982
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| Directed by | Robert Altman |
| Produced by | Robert Altman |
| Written by | Frank Barhydt Robert Altman Paul Dooley |
| Starring |
Carol Burnett Glenda Jackson James Garner Lauren Bacall Paul Dooley Alfre Woodard |
| Music by | Joseph Byrd |
| Cinematography | Edmond L. Koons |
| Edited by | Tony Lombardo Dennis Hill Tom Benko |
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Production
company |
Lion's Gate Films
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| Distributed by | 20th Century-Fox |
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Release date
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Running time
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105 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | US$6 million |
HealtH (also known as Health and H.E.A.L.T.H.) is a 1980 ensemble comedy film, the fifteenth feature project from director Robert Altman. It stars Carol Burnett, Glenda Jackson, James Garner, Lauren Bacall, and Paul Dooley, and was written by Altman, Dooley and Frank Barhydt. The film's title is an acronym for "Happiness, Energy, and Longevity through Health".
A parody and satire of the U.S. political scene of the time, HealtH is set at a health food convention at a Florida luxury hotel, where a powerful political organization is deciding on a new president. The election is rife with backroom deals and scandal; a businessman, Colonel Cody, is out to rig the votes and the outcome. Dick Cavett and Dinah Shore, two television talk show personalities of the time, are mentioned prominently in the film.
HealtH was made by Robert Altman's company, Lion's Gate Films (no relation to Lionsgate Films), in early 1979. It was the director's last film for the 20th Century-Fox studio, which shelved its official release for over two years. Despite this, it received festival showings and a brief Los Angeles run during 1980. The film was broadcast on various U.S. television stations over the years, including The Movie Channel and Fox Movie Channel, but has never been issued on home video.
Bearing similarities to Altman's 1975 film Nashville, along with a plotless structure,HealtH chronicles the progress of a health-food convention held at a luxury hotel in St Pete Beach, Florida. As the convention takes place, the members of an organization called HealtH hold a campaign to find out who will become its President. (Their name stands for "Happiness, Energy and Longevity through Health"; it also serves as their slogan.) The candidates are Esther Brill, an 83-year-old afflicted with narcolepsy who calls herself "the first lady of health"; Isabella Garnell, who is serious against commercialism and materialism; and Dr. Harold (Gil) Gainey, a salesperson-turned-independent.
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