Celebrated heart surgeon Thomas Vrain supports the research of an offbeat scientist who has invented an artificial heart. Against the advice of the Ethics Committee, Dr. Vrain decides to perform the first artificial heart transplant.
Acting
Donald Sutherland's haunted eyes carry entire scenes.
Direction
Pearce makes hospital corridors feel like moral labyrinths.
Director
Richard Pearce
Donald Sutherland
Dr. Thomas Vrain
John Marley
Edgar Fine
Sharon Acker
Tilla Vrain
Mare Winningham
Carol Severance
Jeff Goldblum
Dr. Aldo Gehring
Michael Lerner
Henry De Vici
Richard Blackburn
Dr. Cutter
Robert Joy
David Art
Allan F. Nicholls
Dr. Basil Rents
Kate Trotter
Mrs. Anderson
Lally Cadeau
Anita, Vrain's Secretary
Stuart Gillard
Dick Getts
Barbara Gordon
Wanda, Vrain's Scrub Nurse
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was the first dramatic film about an artificial heart transplant—released the same year the Jarvik-7 made real medical history.
The real Barney Clark heart transplant happened one year later, making this eerily prescient and instantly dated in the best way.
CA
