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4.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Emergency Case remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Is it worth watching today? Honestly, if you have twenty minutes and like seeing people dig their own graves with lies, yes.
It’s perfect for anyone who likes old-school situational comedy. If you hate movies where the main character makes you feel second-hand embarrassment, you should probably skip this one.
The whole thing starts with Hugh Cameron driving way too fast. We’ve all been there, right? He gets pulled over and sees his brother's doctor bag sitting in the seat next to him.
Instead of just taking the ticket like a normal person, he decides to play doctor. It’s a classic setup. You can almost see the gears turning in his head, and none of them are turning the right way.
The cop, played by Al Ochs, is way too nice. He’s so polite it actually makes the lie feel worse. Usually in these movies, the cop is a jerk, but here he just seems like a guy worried about his family.
The movie really gets going when they get to the cop's house. The house looks very lived-in. There are some weird shadows on the walls that I think weren't supposed to be there.
Loretta Shea plays the wife, and she’s just lying there in bed. She looks remarkably healthy for someone who needs an emergency doctor visit, but that’s just how these old films are.
There is this one shot where Cameron is holding a stethoscope. He looks at it like it’s a piece of alien technology. It’s a small detail, but his shaking hands really sold the panic for me. 🩺
He tries to look professional, but he’s basically just poking at her. It reminds me of the awkwardness in A Close Shave, though the stakes feel a bit higher here because, well, medicine.
I kept waiting for the brother to show up and ruin everything. The tension is actually pretty high for a short film.
The dialogue is simple, but the timing is what matters. Cameron has these wide, bug-like eyes when he realizes he can't get out of the house without actually doing something "medical."
It’s a bit like Trying to Get Along in the way that everything just spirals out of control because of one tiny decision. Why didn't he just pay the fine?
There’s a moment where he looks at a bottle of medicine and you can tell he can't even read the label. The camera lingers on his face for a few seconds too long, and it’s actually hilarious.
I wish the ending had a bit more punch. It feels a little rushed, like they ran out of film or the sun was going down.
The editing is a bit choppy in the hallway scenes. One second he’s by the door, and the next he’s halfway down the stairs. It’s a bit jarring if you’re paying close attention.
Still, Hugh Cameron is great at playing a man who is absolutely terrified. You can feel the sweat through the screen.
If you enjoy these kinds of "identity mishap" stories like The Gambling Fool, this is a solid way to spend a coffee break. Just don't expect a medical drama.
It’s just a guy, a bag he doesn't own, and a lie that gets way too big. Simple as that. 🚑
IMDb —
1925
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