Health

HealtH (also known as Health and H.E.A.L.T.H.) is a 1980 film directed by Robert Altman. Generally considered to be one of Altman's more underrated movies, HealtH takes a satirical look behind the scenes at a health-food convention at a Florida luxury hotel, where a powerful political organization is deciding upon its new president. This election, however, is not unscathed by backroom deals and scandal. In the middle of the skullduggery is a no-nonsense hotel events manager (Woodard).

It is an ensemble film starring Carol Burnett, Glenda Jackson, James Garner, Lauren Bacall, and Paul Dooley. It was written by Robert Altman, Frank Barhydt, and Paul Dooley.

Produced by 20th Century Fox, the film was dumped by its studio, barely released, and never released on VHS or DVD. However, it did turn up occasionally on premium and movie channels, including Fox Movie Channel.

Trivia

This film marks the first time Robert Altman collaborated with writer Frank Barhydt, who later had a bit part as speechwriter Frank Gatling in the HBO miniseries Tanner '88 (and served as political consultant) and co-produced Short Cuts and Kansas City.

President Ronald Reagan called this film the "worst film ever".^{[citation needed]} It has been argued that the senile character played by Bacall was parodying Reagan and that the film itself was a satirical look at the American political scene.

The theme song for this movie ("Exercise Your Right to Vote") was later recycled for Tanner '88.

External links

• New York Times Review by Vincent Canby
• Film Threat Bootleg Files: "Health"
• HealtH at the Internet Movie Database

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