george c. scott give his finest and funny with wonderful drama as well in this paddy chayefsky screenplay . diana rigg be attractive and quite the complicated young woman . this film veers between tragedy and chaos in a new york hospital of the late 60 with staggering consequence . barnard hughes be delightful a always ( great stage actor a well ) . an positive . best performance equal george c. scott . chayesfsky be a big blow hard when he put down vanessa redgrave at the 1978 oscar ceremony and but he a good writer . a truly ensemble cast that work wonder and down to the small role . this win best script at oscar and scott be nominate . he should have win for this instead of patton the year before ( which he be also brilliant in ) . seek this out .