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Mel Brooks, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Harvey Korman, Ron Carey ... see more see more... , Howard Morris , Dick Van Patten , Jack Riley , Charlie Callas , Ron Clark , Rudy De Luca , Barry Levinson , Joe Bellan , Frank Campanella , Lee Delano , John Dennis , Murphy Dunne , Bullets Durgom , Bryan Englund , Sandy Helberg , Al Hopson , Henry Kaiser , Bernie Kuby , Robert Manuel , Eddie Ryder , Billy Sands , Alan U. Schwartz , Pearl Shear , Arnold Soboloff , Richard Stahl , Darrell Zwerling , Robin Menken , Ira Miller , Albert J. Whitlock , Mitchell Bock , Jimmy Martinez , Hunter von Leer , Robert Ridgely

This is Mel Brooks' spoof of over ten Alfred Hitchcock classics, including Psycho, Vertigo, and The Birds (Brooks actually used the bird trainer from that classic suspense movie in making his film). B... read more read more...rooks plays Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke, a renowned Harvard psychiatrist with a concealed fear of heights, or High Anxiety. Thorndyke takes over as the newest director of the PsychoNeurotic Institute for the Very, Very Nervous after the last director dies under suspicious circumstances. He soon finds himself to be in the company of some very strange colleagues, including longtime Brooks collaborators Cloris Leachman and Harvey Korman, with Madeline Kahn as Victoria Brisbane, the eccentric daughter of a patient at the institute and Thorndyke's love interest. Korman takes on the role of Dr. Charles Montague, a psychiatrist with a closeted habit of his own. Leachman plays Charlotte Diesel, a charge nurse with a dark sneer and tendency towards domination. As Thorndyke heads to a psychiatry conference, he is faced with saving the Institute, his reputation, and his own sanity. Although the film was not well-received by critics, it picked up a 1978 Golden Globe nomination for best picture (musical or comedy) and landed Brooks a nomination for best actor. The movie has a number of cameos, from a young Barry Levinson's spot as an unstable bellboy to a small part by Hitchcock's right-hand special effects man, Albert J. Whitlock, who plays Kahn's father. ~ Rachel Koetje, Rovi

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66% liked it

14,109 ratings

Critics

74% liked it

27 critics

PG, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Mel Brooks

Release Date: December 25, 1977

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DVD Release Date: April 4, 2006

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Flixster Reviews (793)

  • blkbomb
    May 12, 2012
    blkbomb
    Dr. Charles Montague: Enjoy yourself, for God's sake! Get your mind off the Wentworth murder... Accident! Accident! 

    "A Psycho-Comedy"

    High Anxiety is a really stupid, moderately funny Hitchcock spoof. This isn't one of Mel Brooks better films. It doesn't touch his classics lik... read moree Blazing Saddles or Young Frankenstein, but it is much better than his bottom dweller Dracula: Dead and Loving It. This one works just enough for me because of the subject matter. I am a huge Alfred Hitchcock fan; just like everyone else who is familiar with his work. So a spoof of some of his most legendary films and scenes was, at the very least, going to be interesting. While I think Brooks could have done a much better job with the material, it was still decent enough. 

    The highlights of the film are two scenes that are reenacted from two different Hitchcock films. The first being the shower scene from Psycho and the second being the birds landing behind the woman from The Birds. Both brilliant scenes are taken and used in the most ridiculous context imaginable. Watch the scenes and you'll know what I mean. They definitely aren't smart comedy, but smart comedy was never what Brooks was selling; and that's what makes him such a genius I guess.

    This should be good enough if you are a fan of Brooks' brand of comedy. It would also help if you are familiar with Hitchcock because if not, a lot of the references and comedy will be lost on you. Still it's a little disappointing just because I wanted a Young Frankenstein caliber film from Brooks when he was working with Hitchcock's films as his material. 
  • spielberg00
    January 27, 2012
    spielberg00
    Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke (Mel Brooks) is a well-known psychiatrist suffering from what his own doctor calls "high anxiety," one of the many recurring references to the titular psychiatric condition in Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller VERTIGO. After being appointed as the head... read more of the Psychoneurotic Institute for the Very, VERY Nervous, he is framed for murder and must face his condition.

    Even if there was not a title card in the very beginning of the film to tell us so, it would still be clear that this is Mel Brooks's look at Alfred Hitchcock, the Master of Suspense. Though the plot pokes fun at VERTIGO, there are many notable sequences that work as spoofs of other films directed by Hitchcock, such as the nonsensical PSYCHO scenes and the scatological parody of THE BIRDS.

    Music, as always for Brooks, is a key component to this spoof. Remember the scene in PSYCHO when Marion is driving in the rain away from her boss, and we hear the driving violin music? There is a scene from HIGH ANXIETY that is a direct copy, only instead of us hearing the violin music, the radio is turned on. In another scene, we see Brooks's eyes bulge in surprise and hear suspenseful music. At first we actually do believe that Mel Brooks is using Hitchcock's corny suspense methods, but within less than five seconds the chord transitions into pep rally music, and we see Brooks's character turn to look at a bus on the other side of the road, filled with people carrying band instruments.

    The most important part about HIGH ANXIETY is that if you have not seen Hitchcock or you have not appreciated any of his films, skip it. This film was most likely constructed out of inside jokes for those who understood Alfred Hitchcock. Otherwise, I would highly recommend watching it, as for an overlooked film, it's quite decent.
  • ajv2688
    January 5, 2011
    ajv2688
    Another hilarious spoof comedy from Brooks, this one spoofs Hitchcock's films, and it's very effective. If you like Brook's films, check it out.
  • TomBowler
    August 21, 2010
    TomBowler
    Hitchcock parody film with Mel Brooks. Full review later.
  • flixsterman
    July 12, 2010
    flixsterman
    Mel Brooks' homage to Hitchcock that hits a little more than it misses. Cloris Leachman is at the top of her game, stealing every scene she's in. Funny stuff.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 20, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    I loved this movie. Mel Brook's Hitchcock send-up is marvelous.
  • sanjurosamurai
    March 23, 2009
    sanjurosamurai
    mel brooks meets alfred hitchcock in this spoof comedy that smartly pokes fun at the main themes and iconic moments of the master of suspense. a bit slow at times but an overall fun film for any fan of brooks and hitchcock.
  • DrZeek
    January 14, 2008
    DrZeek
    Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke: What a dramatic airport!

    A funny Mel Brooks parody film, centered around Alfred Hitchcock thrillers.

    Brooks stars as Richard H. Thorndyke, a celebrated psychiatrist, who has just been put in charge of the Institute for the Very Very Nervous.

    He soon f... read moreinds that things are not the way they should be as suspicious activities start to occur and foul play is suspected.

    All of the Brooks' film regulars show up here, including Cloris Leachman, stretching her face throughout as the evil Nurse Diesel, Harvey Korman, Dick Van Patten, and my favorite, Madeline Kahn as the Hitchcock Blonde, Victoria.

    Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke: What's your sign?
    Victoria Brisbane: I'm sorry. It's... unlisted.

    There are a plethora of Hitchcock films being parodied, with obvious takeoffs from The Birds, Psycho, Vertigo, Suspicion, and North by Northwest. This is all easily done through names, scenes, and references, but it is all handled very well, and is consistently funny.

    It even makes sure to acknowledge the "drama" unfolding by breaking the fourth wall on occasion to recognize the over-the-top music cues.

    It may not be in the same league as Blazing Saddles or Young Frankenstein, but it is still an entertaining movie, with a number of hysterically funny sequences.

    Victoria: Have you seen my father at the Institute? Is he all right?
    Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke: He's fine, he's fine. He's coming along just fine. He's very affectionate. He licked me.
    Victoria: He what?
    Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke: Well, he thinks he's a dog these days.
    Victoria: A dog?
    Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke: A dog, yes.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    October 25, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Mel Brooks take on Hitchcock films, plus a few others. It was fun to watch.
  • garyX
    July 14, 2007
    garyX
    One of Brooks' better spoofs, this affectionate pastiche of Hitchcock will probably go right over the heads of non-aficionados, but fans of Hitch will have great fun spotting the references and in-jokes.

View All High Anxiety Reviews

Critic Reviews

Joly Herman
December 19, 2010
Joly Herman, Common Sense Media

Very very funny Hitchcock spoof with some adult humor. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
June 11, 2010
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Most of this stuff isn't particularly funny however, and even though I watched High Anxiety for the first time in 2010, I'm not sure it would have been very funny back in 1977 either. Full Review

Christian Toto
May 19, 2010
Christian Toto, What Would Toto Watch?

Brooks spoofs the master, Alfred Hithcock, and make a minor comedy classic of his own with High Anxiety Full Review

Scott Nash
March 23, 2009
Scott Nash, Three Movie Buffs

One of Brooks lesser comedies from the 1970s, but it beats hands-down any of his later work. Full Review

Bill Chambers
April 16, 2006
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central

The cinematic equivalent of an Elvis impersonator Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
April 11, 2006
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com

Mel Brooks reached his comedy peak with this riotous spoof of Alfred Hitchcock thrillers. Full Review

Rich Cline
August 26, 2005
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

ridiculous and hilarious

Kevin Carr
June 14, 2005
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

Brooks at his most brilliant!

Don Willmott
January 20, 2004
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com

its endless parade of campy Hitchcock gags makes us feel smart Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 12, 2004
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Some sketches are indeed very very funny and some sketches just stink stink. Full Review

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  • Mel Brooks' 'High Anxiety' was a spoof of what?  Answer »
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