The Ninth Configuration

"How do you fight a war called madness?"

1980 1h 58m EN

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 177

DramaComedyHorrorMysteryThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Army psychiatrist Colonel Kane is posted to a secluded gothic castle housing a military asylum. With a reserved calm, he indulges the inmates' delusions, allowing them free rein to express their fantasies.

“How do you fight a war called madness?”

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Cast

Stacy Keach
Col. Hudson 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

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: William Peter Blatty
Writers: William Peter Blatty
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

46 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by William Peter Blatty, shot by Gerry Fisher. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Barry De Vorzon. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Tony de Zarraga shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Stacy Keach and Scott Wilson and Jason Miller carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "How do you fight a war called madness?".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0081237 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

William Peter Blatty directs. Gerry Fisher behind the camera. Barry De Vorzon scores. Tony de Zarraga cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

146 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by William Peter Blatty, shot by Gerry Fisher. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Barry De Vorzon. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Tony de Zarraga shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Stacy Keach and Scott Wilson and Jason Miller carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "How do you fight a war called madness?".
7IMDB entry: tt0081237 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 17 themes, including "vietnam war", "army", "post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd)", "based on novel or book".
9Released under 14 different titles around the world.