Images (1972)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers:

Robert Altman (written by)
Susannah York (book)

Release Date:

18 December 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

A motion picture of the extra senses.

Plot:

Schizophrenic housewife, engulfed by terrorizing apparitions, kills off each, unknowing if these demons are merely figments of her hallucinatory imagination or part of reality.

Plot Keywords:

Shower | Delusion | Surrealism | Stabbed In The Chest | Mental Breakdown

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Susannah York	...	Cathryn
Rene Auberjonois	...	Hugh
Marcel Bozzuffi	...	Rene
Hugh Millais	...	Marcel
Cathryn Harrison	...	Susannah
John Morley	...	Old Man
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barbara Baxley	...	Voice on telephone (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Altman

Writing credits
Robert Altman		(written by)
Susannah York		(book "In Search of Unicorns")

Produced by
Tommy Thompson	....	producer

Original Music by
John Williams

Cinematography by
Vilmos Zsigmond

Film Editing by
Graeme Clifford

Production Design by
Leon Ericksen

Makeup Department
Toni Delaney	....	makeup artist
Barry Richardson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Sheila Collins	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Seamus Byrne	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Rodney Holland	....	sound editor
Noel Quinn	....	boom operator
Liam Saurin	....	sound recordist
Doug E. Turner	....	dubbing mixer (as Doug Turner)
Stomu Yamashta	....	(sounds ) (as Stomu Yamash'ta)

Special Effects by
Jerry F. Johnson	....	special effects (as Jerry Johnson)

Camera and Electrical Department
Earl L. Clark	....	assistant camera (as Earl Clark)
Jack Conroy	....	gaffer
Paddy Keogh	....	grip
Nico Vermuelen	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jack Gallagher	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Robin Buick	....	assistant editor
Michael Kelliher	....	assistant editor
David Spiers	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Stomu Yamashta	....	musician: sound sculptures
John Williams	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Arthur Dunne	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Joan Bennett	....	continuity
John Collingwood	....	production accountant
Jean D'Oncieu	....	assistant to producer
Raymond Ray	....	clothes: Miss York

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Hemdale Film
• Lions Gate Films

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• Hemdale Film Distribution (1972) (UK) (theatrical)
• Lorimar Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• Suomen elokuva-arkisto (1980) (Finland) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Ardmore Sound  studio
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  re-recorded

Also Known As:

Efialtes (Greece) [el]
Enhjørningen (Denmark) [da]
Hayal ve görüntü (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Imagens (Brazil) [pt]
Sairaat mielikuvat (Finland) [fi]
Schizo - den kluvna verkligheten (Sweden) [sv]
Spiegelbilder (West Germany) [de]

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

UK | Ireland | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (1980) | Australia:M | Sweden:15 | UK:X | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios - Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Every character name is the real first name of another actor in this movie.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV)

Brilliant, Chilling, Lost Treasure.

Under the assumption that Altman was creatively peaking between the years 1970 and 1975, (I realize this is debatable) I sought out every film that was made during that period. Surprisingly, I could not locate the brilliant, chilling lost treasure that is the film "Images" it seemed to have simply vanished into history. Although Susannah York deservedly earned best actress at Cannes for her performance, and it was sandwiched between "The Long Goodbye" and "Mccabe and Mrs. Miller" this film, like "3 women" and "California Split", remain mysteries. Luckily, "Images" was released on DVD this past September. I immediately bought it without a second thought. I am very thankful that I did.

Images is one of those gems that make you appreciate cinema, directors and the creative process in general, because of the exploritive potential within the medium. Dredging up the inner fears and archetypes of the subconscious and weaving together what comes to the surface synergistically is Altmans vision in this film. Sadly, lately, film is about loud bangs and shiny things and very few adroitly capture the lost art of character development.

"Images" seems to be one of those films that could only have taken place in the early seventies. During the era of psychedelic drugs, the film indubitably feels as though it is on some kind of mind altering substance. It is completely trippy and unnerving. Logic seems to have flown out the window from the onset of the story. I won't give anything away, because you need to go into this film knowing nothing, or little to nothing about it, and just enjoy the ride.