The Ninth Configuration (1980)

Director:

William Peter Blatty

Writers:

William Peter Blatty (novel)
William Peter Blatty (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 February 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

How Do You Fight A War Called Madness?

Plot:

A new commanding officer arrives at a remote castle serving as an insane asylum for crazy and AWOL U.S...

Plot Keywords:

Castle | Insane Asylum | Army | Marine | Murder

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Stacy Keach	...	Col. Vincent Kane
Scott Wilson	...	Capt. Billy Cutshaw
Jason Miller	...	Lt. Frankie Reno
Ed Flanders	...	Col. Richard Fell
Neville Brand	...	Maj. Marvin Groper
George DiCenzo	...	Capt. Fairbanks
Moses Gunn	...	Maj. Nammack
Robert Loggia	...	Lt. Bennish
Joe Spinell	...	Lt. Spinell
Alejandro Rey	...	Lt. Gomez
Tom Atkins	...	Sgt. Krebs
Steve Sandor	...	1st Cyclist (Stanley)
Richard Lynch	...	2nd Cyclist (Richard)
Gordon Mark	...	Sgt. Gilman
William Lucking	...	Highway Patrolman

Also Known As:

Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane

Runtime:

118 min | USA:99 min (re-issue version) | USA:140 min (combined extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | 70 mm 6-Track | 4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 | Norway:18 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

Ninth Configuration

Trivia:

Stacy Keach and Scott Wilson were last-minute replacements for Nicol Williamson and Michael Moriarty, who were originally slated to play the roles of Colonel Kane and Captain Cutshaw.

Quotes:

Captain Cutshaw: You're so dumb you're adorable.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Dead End (1985)

Soundtrack:

There's a Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder

Blatty not so tatty

After seeing the excellent job William Peter Blatty did with Exorcist 3, I was intrigued to see what other films he had directed ('The Ninth Configuration' turned out to be the only other). The movie popped up on late-night TV here in the UK last week, so I gave it a shot. What can I say? What starts out as an extremely bizarre black-comedy, takes the viewer through a whole range of emotions before spitting him out on the other side, dazed but somewhat lifted. I can't recommend this movie enough to anybody lucky enough to get the chance to watch it. It is most definitely difficult viewing in it's first hour, with it's barrage of (eminently quoteable) one-liners and strange behaviour. Once a major change in story hits you, you are sucked in until the end which will leave you feeling....well, I'll leave it to you to find out. Great performances all round from great (either dead or forgotten) actors like Joe Spinell, Jason Miller, Neville Brand & Tom Atkins. Indeed, it's probably the best performances of their careers (at least up till 1980). WATCH THIS NOW! A life-affirming experience. Guaranteed. 9/10