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November 2001, Week 4

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From:
Donald Larsson <[log in to unmask]>
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Date:
Wed, 21 Nov 2001 11:48:40 -0600
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John Dougill requests:

> Are there any mainstream films or scenes in mainstream films that deal with
> euthanasia?  The nearest I can think of is the scene at the end of One Who
> Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest where Jack Nicholson is put out of his comatose
> state by his native American friend...

WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY?, with Richard Dreyfus, is one of the most
obvious choices.

In DeMille's circus epic, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, Jimmy Stewart
hides under clown makeup to avoid arrest for a "mercy killing."

The several versions of Steinbeck's OF MICE AND MEN more or less deal
with the issue through George's killing of Lenny.

Peter Medak's A DAY IN THE DEATH OF JOE EGG has parents contemplating
euthanasia for their child.

The issue is raised in the documentary BROTHER'S KEEPER.

The subject gets a darkly comical treatment in ARSENIC AND OLD LACE

I could be misremembering, but I seem to recall Jason Robards' death
being hastened in MAGNOLIA.

It probably doesn't count as "mainstream" but BEFORE NIGHT FALLS has
the AIDS-afflicted poet Arenas having his death expedited.

Some other possibilities:
Scorsese's BRINGING OUT THE DEAD
JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN
ONE TRUE THING

I don't know if any of these might be available to you, but as you
might expect some episodes of ER, ST. ELSEWHERE, CHICAGO HOPE, and
various lawyer shows have dealt with euthanasia from time to time.

Don Larsson

-----------------------------------------------------------
Donald F. Larsson, English Department, AH 230
Minnesota State University
Mankato, MN  56001

----
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http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite

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