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La Constellation des damnés

Original title: The Ninth Configuration
  • 1980
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
9.7K
YOUR RATING
La Constellation des damnés (1980)
Dark ComedyComedyDramaHorrorMysteryThriller

An ex-marine psychiatrist attempts to rehabilitate his patients by indulging their fantasies, and seeks to prove the existence of a loving God to one especially troubled inmate.An ex-marine psychiatrist attempts to rehabilitate his patients by indulging their fantasies, and seeks to prove the existence of a loving God to one especially troubled inmate.An ex-marine psychiatrist attempts to rehabilitate his patients by indulging their fantasies, and seeks to prove the existence of a loving God to one especially troubled inmate.

  • Director
    • William Peter Blatty
  • Writer
    • William Peter Blatty
  • Stars
    • Stacy Keach
    • Scott Wilson
    • Jason Miller
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    9.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William Peter Blatty
    • Writer
      • William Peter Blatty
    • Stars
      • Stacy Keach
      • Scott Wilson
      • Jason Miller
    • 139User reviews
    • 61Critic reviews
    • 46Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 4 nominations total

    Photos53

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    Top cast28

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    Stacy Keach
    Stacy Keach
    • Col. Vincent Kane
    Scott Wilson
    Scott Wilson
    • Capt. Billy Cutshaw
    Jason Miller
    Jason Miller
    • Lt. Frankie Reno
    Ed Flanders
    Ed Flanders
    • Col. Richard Fell
    Neville Brand
    Neville Brand
    • Maj. Marvin Groper
    George DiCenzo
    George DiCenzo
    • Capt. Fairbanks
    Moses Gunn
    Moses Gunn
    • Maj. Nammack
    Robert Loggia
    Robert Loggia
    • Lt. Bennish
    Joe Spinell
    Joe Spinell
    • Lt. Spinell
    Alejandro Rey
    Alejandro Rey
    • Lt. Gomez
    Tom Atkins
    Tom Atkins
    • Sgt. Krebs
    Steve Sandor
    Steve Sandor
    • 1st Cyclist (Stanley)
    Richard Lynch
    Richard Lynch
    • 2nd Cyclist (Richard)
    Gordon Mark
    • Sgt. Gilman
    William Lucking
    William Lucking
    • Highway Patrolman
    Stephen Powers
    Stephen Powers
    • Sgt. Christian
    David Healy
    David Healy
    • 1st General
    William Paul
    • 2nd General
    • Director
      • William Peter Blatty
    • Writer
      • William Peter Blatty
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews139

    6.79.6K
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    Featured reviews

    10JimSpy

    Aren't the hidden gems wonderful?

    Well, well, well. At last a rating I can fully agree with. Yes, the Shawshank Redemption was very good. But this is a hidden classic. If you're one of those people (like me) who loves to be taken completely by surprise by a movie, this is the one for you. The IMDB rating says it all: VERY few people know about this one, but those who do are nearly unanimous: this is outstanding storytelling. First time viewers, be warned: be patient. Let it happen. You won't know where it's going at first. Your patience will be rewarded, I assure you - it all comes together, culminating in a bar-room brawl that is an absolute textbook piece of tension-building. And then, you'll want to rewind it and watch it all over again, to pick out all the clues that slipped by you the first time through. Quentin Tarantino, eat your heart out: THIS is how it's supposed to be done.
    8Jerghal

    A hidden gem

    I'm always looking for a hidden gem, something I haven't seen before that hasn't been hyped to death on the internet. This film by William Peter Blatty (writer of The Exorcist) might be such a gem. I certainly never heard of it before. I was intrigued by the title and the cover (an astronaut on the moon with Jesus on a crucifix...what on earth could this be about?). This is the plot synopis from IMDb: 'A new commanding officer arrives at a remote castle serving as an insane asylum for crazy and AWOL U.S. Army soldiers where he attempts to rehabilitate them by allowing them to live out their crazy fantasies while combating his own long-suppressed insanity.' Sounds good to me. First of, the dialogue of these insane people is written brilliantly. The actors really go all the way in portraying these nut jobs. It's really funny to watch. But the film is a mix of a lot of different styles. It might start out as a comedy, it also contains horror like elements, drama, surrealistic and tragic parts. It's best not to know to much about this movie beforehand. So just check it out. You might not love it, maybe even hate it but it certainly will be like no other film you've seen before and in these times of cookie cutter productions that is a welcome relief.
    6SnoopyStyle

    oddity

    An isolated castle in the Pacific northwest serves as the last secret experimental insane asylum for the US military. Billy Cutshaw (Scott Wilson) broke down after getting dragged out of a moon-bound rocket after an aborted launch. Psychiatrist Colonel Kane (Stacy Keach) is the new commanding officer. Colonel Richard Fell (Ed Flanders) is the world-weary medic. Kane indulges the patients in their delusions.

    This is not quite at the level of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Stacy Keach is deliberately stiff which dampens the humor. He's almost robotic. There are some wacky characters in weird craziness but it's mostly dark seriousness. It's a real oddity and an original creation. While the rest of Hollywood zigs, this one zags.
    9Captain_Couth

    William Peter Blatty's Twinkle, Twinkle Killer Kane!!

    The Ninth Configuration (1980) was William Peter Blatty's directorial debut. He adapts his own novel for the big screen in this bizarre film about an astronaut (Scott Wilson) who's reached his breaking point and a military doctor (Stacy Keach) who's trying to reach out to him. The cast has a who's who of Hollywood cast-offs (William Peter Blatty has a cameo himself as one of the patients).

    This is a strange film that'll cause you to think (if you don't enjoy these type of films then I suggest you look elsewhere). An interesting movie about things that aren't as they seem, soul searching and seeking redemption through honor and self sacrifice. I liked the way these people have to look into themselves and see who or what they really are. I wished that William Peter Blatty made more movies and Hollywood should have gave Stacy Keach more film roles like these. He was quite impressive.

    I have to to highly recommend this movie. But if you're expecting some mainstream popcorn nonsense then look elsewhere.
    8ryan-10075

    Impressive Directorial Debut from William Peter Blatty

    Upon my initial viewing of this film I found it extremely difficult to really sit down and review it. To the point where it may have been impossible. I was not ready for this film. I received a film I was not expecting. I was quite excited to see it as it is highly rated here on this website to go along with a great cast and William Peter Blatty writing and directing it. I hated the first and second acts, but the 3rd act I loved. I was torn. So I gave it about 6 months and rewatched it. In the end I found it to be a great film and there is much to digest from it. Also extremely difficult to just pigeonhole into one genre. It has strong comedy going on, but can be very dramatic and has elements of horror as well.

    Blatty throws away much of the mainstream ideas of filmmaking in his quite impressive directorial debut as he brings his 1966 novel TWINKLE, TWINKLE KILLER KANE to the screen. I have not read the book, but what we get in the end it may have in fact been difficult to have the big studios understand what he was bringing to the screen. I think Martin Scorsese's SHUTTER ISLAND has a bit to thank this film for.

    An insane asylum is being run by the US government for those who were in the military. The setting is excellent as a old abandoned castle is where it is set. A new psychiatrist is coming on board Col. Vincent Kane (wonderful performance by Stacy Keach). We are introduced to all of the inmates of the asylum and each give great performances (including Jason Miller, George DiCenzo and Moses Gunn to name just a few). Kane becomes quite involved with former astronaut Capt. Billy Cutshaw (Scott Miller) and in turn leads to thoughts on sacrifice, faith and God.

    To me Keach puts in quite an amazing performance and the scene near the end where Capt. Cutshaw goes to the bar and gets involved in a bar fight with a rough and tough bike gang (that includes Richard Lynch) to me is an extremely powerful scene. Blatty even has an extremely funny role as Lt. Fromme. Also starring Ed Flanders, Neville Brand and Tom Atkins.

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Joe Spinell's character of "Spinell", a patient at the castle-hospital, was not in the novel nor the original script. Spinell had begged writer and director William Peter Blatty, a close friend of his, to cast him in a small role as the sidekick to Jason Miller's character of Lieutenant Reno. Since there was no part for Spinell in the movie, his character was given the same last name. Nearly all of Spinell's dialogue was ad-libbed.
    • Goofs
      When Capt. Cutshaw places the mud pie on Col. Kane's desk it is whole and intact. In the next shot the mud pie is very noticeably crumbled.
    • Quotes

      Col. Vincent Kane: In order for life to have appeared spontaneously on earth, there first had to be hundreds of millions of protein molecules of the ninth configuration. But given the size of the planet Earth, do you know how long it would have taken for just one of these protein molecules to appear entirely by chance? Roughly ten to the two hundred and forty-third power billions of years. And I find that far, far more fantastic than simply believing in God.

    • Alternate versions
      There are five different versions of this film, with various running times from 99 up to 140 minutes. Director William Peter Blatty disowned all versions except one: his approved cut runs 118 minutes and is the version that was originally released theatrically in the USA. This version is available on DVD.
    • Connections
      Featured in Night of the Creeps: Tom Atkins, Man of Action (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      There's a Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder
      Written by Al Jolson (uncredited), Billy Rose (uncredited) and Dave Dreyer (uncredited)

      Performed by Al Jolson

      Courtesy of MCA Records

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 29, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La Neuvième Configuration
    • Filming locations
      • Castle Eltz, Wierschem, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany(exteriors of the castle)
    • Production company
      • Ninth Configuration
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 58m(118 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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