Images (1972)

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:

Fall From Height | Schizophrenia | Kitchen | Jigsaw Puzzle | Waterfall

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)
• Suomen elokuva-arkisto (1980) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Lorimar Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)

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:

It was long rumored that the film's original negative was burned by Columbia Pictures. This rumor turned out to be false when MGM's home video wing released a DVD in the fall of 2003, apparently from a new print struck from an existing negative.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "M*A*S*H: Images (#6.9)" (1977)

One of Altman's most satisfyingly challenging films

I'm a big fan of 70's films and movies like Robert Altman's "Images" are a good reason why. This thoughtful and sometimes jarringly astute look into one woman's bout of schizophrenia is an actress's tour-de-force and a cornucopia of delights for the viewer. The always watchable Susannah York is the driving force behind this dream-like film that is not a narrative so much as a puzzle. From the film's opening shots, the audience is asked to participate in piecing together just what is going on with this young author who finds herself confronted with her real or imaginary past. Discovering what the images that assault her (and us) actually signify make for one of the best psychological thrillers since Polanski's "Repulsion." Unlike the films of today, "Images" forces you to watch, listen and seek the answers for yourself. A tip: 'You' and "Hugh" are sometimes interchangeable. Robert Altman is the best! Will someone PLEASE put "3 Women " out on DVD!!!!