Altered States (1980)
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- R
- 1h 42min
- Horror, Sci-Fi
- 25 Dec 1980 (USA)
- Movie
A psycho-physiologist experiments with drugs and a sensory-deprivation tank and has visions he believes are genetic memories.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| William Hurt | ... |
Eddie Jessup
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| Blair Brown | ... |
Emily Jessup
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| Bob Balaban | ... |
Arthur Rosenberg
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| Charles Haid | ... |
Mason Parrish
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| Thaao Penghlis | ... |
Eccheverria
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Miguel Godreau | ... |
Primal Man
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Dori Brenner | ... |
Sylvia Rosenberg
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Peter Brandon | ... |
Hobart
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| Charles White-Eagle | ... |
The Brujo
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| Drew Barrymore | ... |
Margaret Jessup
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Megan Jeffers | ... |
Grace Jessup
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| Jack Murdock | ... |
Hector Orteco
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| Francis X. McCarthy | ... |
Obispo
(as Frank McCarthy)
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Deborah Baltzell | ... |
Schizophrenic Patient
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| Evan Richards | ... |
Young Rosenberg
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| Hap Lawrence | ... |
Endocrinology Fellow
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John Walter Davis | ... |
Medical Technician
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Cynthia Burr | ... |
Parrish's Girl
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Susan Bredhoff | ... |
Eccheverria's Girl
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| John Larroquette | ... |
X-Ray Technician
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| George Gaynes | ... |
Dr. Wissenschaft
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Ora Rubinstein | ... |
Young Medical Student
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| Paul Larsson | ... |
Charlie Thomas
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Eric Forst | ... |
Mingus
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Adriana Shaw | ... |
Dr. Antonini
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Martin Fiscoe | ... |
Graduate Student
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Olivia Michelle | ... |
Veronica
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Directed by
| Ken Russell | ||
Written by
| Paddy Chayefsky | ... | (written for the screen by) (as Sidney Aaron) |
| Paddy Chayefsky | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| Stuart Baird | ... | associate producer |
| Howard Gottfried | ... | producer |
| Daniel Melnick | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| John Corigliano | ||
Cinematography by
| Jordan Cronenweth | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Eric Jenkins | ||
| Jack Harnish | ... | (uncredited) |
Editorial Department
| Cari Coughlin | ... | apprentice editor |
| Arthur W. Forney | ... | assistant editor |
| Paul Hamill | ... | post-production assistant: Cinema Research Corp. |
| Thomas Penick | ... | assistant editor |
| William J. Meshover | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Howard Feuer | ||
| Jeremy Ritzer | ||
Production Design by
| Richard Macdonald | ... | (as Richard McDonald) |
Set Decoration by
| Thomas L. Roysden | ... | (as Thomas Roysden) |
Costume Design by
| Ruth Myers | ||
Makeup Department
| Carl Fullerton | ... | special makeup assistant |
| Michael Hancock | ... | makeup artist |
| Craig Reardon | ... | special makeup assistant |
| Dick Smith | ... | special makeup |
| Dione Taylor | ... | hair stylist (as Dione Taylor-Demsky) |
| Rick Baker | ... | special makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| David Silver | ... | unit production manager (as Dave Silver) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Gary Daigler | ... | assistant director |
| Peter Schindler | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Gary Clark | ... | head paint foreman |
| Stan Cockerell | ... | assistant props |
| Tony Dyson | ... | props |
| Sidney H. Greenwood | ... | property master (as Syd Greenwood) |
| Jeff Howard | ... | assistant art director |
| Joseph Hurley | ... | illustrator (as Joe Hurley) |
| Bill Iiams | ... | general foreman |
| Roger Irvin | ... | construction coordinator |
| Ronald C. Jacobs | ... | lead man (as Ron Jacobs) |
| Stephane Goulet | ... | property supervisor (uncredited) |
| William Hams | ... | construction foreman (uncredited) |
| Richard M. Kristy | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Willie D. Burton | ... | sound mixer (as Willie Burton) |
| Michael Colgan | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Laurey Condon | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Les Fresholtz | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Don Higgins | ... | sound editor |
| Jerry Jacobson | ... | adr editor |
| Stephen Katz | ... | sound consultant |
| Marvin E. Lewis | ... | boom operator (as Marvin Lewis) |
| Michael Minkler | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Arthur Piantadosi | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Fred Stafford | ... | sound editor |
| Colin Waddy | ... | sound editor |
| Jay Wertz | ... | sound editor |
| Robert W. Harris | ... | cableman (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| David Domeyer | ... | special effects |
| Larry L. Fuentes | ... | assistant special effects (as Larry Fuentes) |
| Chuck Gaspar | ... | special effects |
| James Kagel | ... | sculptor |
| Kevin Pike | ... | special effects technician |
| Jeffrey A. Wischnack | ... | special effects technician |
| Thomas R. Burman | ... | special effects makeup (uncredited) |
| Ted Koerner | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Woody Omens | ... | director of photography: special effects (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Robert Blalack | ... | special optical effects (as Robbie Blalack) |
| Bran Ferren | ... | special visual effects |
| Louie Schwartzberg | ... | time lapse photography (as Lou Schwartzberg) |
| Jamie Shourt | ... | special optical effects |
| Max W. Anderson | ... | visual effects (uncredited) |
Stunts
| M. James Arnett | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Garrett Brown | ... | steadicam operator |
| James Glennon | ... | camera operator |
| Adam Glick | ... | set lighting technician |
| Barbara Hanania | ... | additional assistant camera: Boston |
| Gary Holt | ... | gaffer |
| Johnny E. Jensen | ... | first assistant camera (as John Jensen) |
| Carey Jones | ... | second assistant camera |
| Sal Martorano | ... | electrician |
| Mark Ratering | ... | camera operator: intern |
| Morgan Renard | ... | still photographer |
| Bob Rose | ... | key grip (as Bobby Rose) |
| Chris Strong | ... | electrician |
| John Burrell | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Carl R. Gibson Jr. | ... | second grip (uncredited) |
| Larry Lydia | ... | company grip (uncredited) |
| Walter Nichols | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
| A.J. Robicheau | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Eric Smith | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Lynn Troupe | ... | company grip (uncredited) |
| Don Whipple | ... | dolly grip (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Stephen Kolzak | ... | additional casting (as Steve Kolzak) |
| Joel Thurm | ... | additional casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Darryl M. Athons | ... | costumer: men (as Darryl Athons) |
| Shanan Harrell | ... | costumer: women |
Location Management
| Paul Pav | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| John David Earnest | ... | orchestrator |
| Donald Harris | ... | music editor (as Don Harris) |
| Pierre Henry | ... | music excerpt: Voile d'Orphee |
| Christopher Keene | ... | conductor |
| Charles Morrow | ... | composer: additional music |
| Sheldon Shkolnik | ... | assistant to composer |
| Vince De Rosa | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| John David Earnest | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
| Brian L. McCarty | ... | music playback (uncredited) |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Dan Wallin | ... | scoring mixer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Carline Davis-Dyer | ... | script supervisor (as Cariline Davis-Dyer) |
Transportation Department
| Gina August | ... | driver |
| John M. Woodward | ... | transportation coordinator (as John Woodward) |
| Anthony Ardito | ... | driver: honeywagon (uncredited) |
| Ed Golab | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Vern Jacobs | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Charles Misere | ... | transportation captain (uncredited) |
| Fred Moshier | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Ron Riner | ... | driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Scott Bartlett | ... | technical advisor |
| Richard Clark | ... | technical advisor |
| Jimsie Eason | ... | production associate |
| Richard Greenberg | ... | title designer |
| Christina Lear | ... | assistant to producer |
| Vivian Russell | ... | assistant: Mr. Russell (as Vivian Jolly) |
| David Sadava | ... | scientific advisor |
| Alan Shapiro | ... | production intern |
| Lee Stitch | ... | production secretary |
| Susan Tarr | ... | research assistant |
| Bill Iiams | ... | general foreman (uncredited) |
| George Leslie | ... | production auditor (uncredited) |
| John C. Lilly | ... | scientific researcher (uncredited) |
| Craig Miller | ... | marketing consultant (uncredited) |
| Philip Sharpe | ... | effects technician (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1980) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia-EMI-Warner (1981) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Produzione Intercontinentale Cinematografica (PIC) (1981) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1981) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Victor Michailides (1981) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1981) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1981) (France) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1981) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Home Box Office (HBO) (1981) (United States) (tv)
- Vista Películas (1981) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. / Columbia Pictures (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. Pictures Mexico (1981) (Mexico) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros.)
- Warner Bros. (1981) (Canada) (VHS) (Québec)
- Warner Home Video (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1982) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Przedsiebiorstwo Dystrybucji Filmów (1983) (Poland) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1983) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- Warner Home Video (1984) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
- Audio Visual Enterprises (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV) (1990) (Finland) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2005) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Audio Visual Enterprises (2006) (Greece) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2006) (Italy) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2012) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- RCA VideoDiscs (United States) (video)
- VideoVisa (Mexico) (VHS)
- VideoVisa (Mexico) (video) (Betamax)
- Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (1999) (Mexico) (DVD)
- Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Cinema Research (optical effects)
- InSync Plus (marketing and advertising)
- Laser Media (special laser effects)
- Oxford Scientific Films (macro photography)
- R/Greenberg Associates (title credits produced and designed by)
- The Optical House (optical effects)
- VA Medical Center, Sepulveda, California (medical facilities)
- Waxwork Records (soundtrack available from)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In the late 1960s, just for a lark, graduate student Eddie Jessup, known for being unconventional, brilliant and slightly mad, conducts experiments with an isolation chamber, using himself as the subject. His experiences in the chamber cause him to hallucinate, much of the imagery being religious-based although he's not religious. Seven years later, he is a respected full professor in the Harvard Medical School. Believing he has lost his edge and fallen into an unwanted state of respectability, Eddie decides to resume his work with sensory deprivation, this time using hallucinogens, specifically untested ones used in mystical Mexican rituals, to enhance the isolation-take experience. After initial tests, he claims he entered an alternate physical and mental state. Although unbelieving of Eddie's claims, his colleagues Arthur Rosenberg and Mason Parrish, as well as Eddie's wife Emily, herself a respected academic, are concerned for Eddie's well being. However, if Eddie's claims are indeed true, he could do irreparable harm to himself and others around him, especially if his altered states are uncontrollable. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | When he heard his cry for help it wasn't human See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Box Office
| Opening Weekend United States | $174,650, 28 Dec 1980 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Film debut of William Hurt. See more » |
| Goofs | When the Brujo tells Eccheverria that he'll allow Eddie to participate in the ceremony, he walks off. Although in only a matter of seconds he's far enough away that they have to run quite a distance to catch up to him to ask him some further questions, this is consistent with other literary and screen depictions of shamans having "spooky" abilities, sure-footedness, and being surprisingly limber for their age. Rather than an error in continuity, this seems to be a dramatic device. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into 365 Days, also Known as a Year (2019). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Voile d'Orphee See more » |
| Crazy Credits | In the end credits, the cast list appears last after all but the movie company name and logo. Usually the cast list appears either very early in the credits or sometimes approximately a third of the way through. See more » |
| Quotes |
Eddie Jessup:
Emily's quite content to go on with this life. She insists she's in love with me - whatever that is. What she means is she prefers the senseless pain we inflict on each other to the pain we would otherwise inflict on ourselves. But I'm not afraid of that solitary pain. In fact, if I don't strip myself of all this clatter and clutter and ridiculous ritual, I shall go out of my fucking mind. Does that answer your question, Arthur? Arthur Rosenberg: What question was that? Eddie Jessup: You asked me why I was getting divorced. Arthur Rosenberg: Oh, listen, it's your life. I'm sorry I even asked. See more » |