Part 3 of the Chayefsky Trilogy

1.) The Hospital (1971)

2.) Network (1976)

3.) Altered States (1980)


Not an official trilogy, because Chayefsky never referred to the three films that way, and each film has the stamp of a different director. But each story is a variation on a similar set of elements and themes: a.) The spiritual/psychological crises of three professional men -- a doctor, a journalist, and a scientist; b.) An exploration of the pernicious influence of narcissism (i.e., egotism, selfishness) in modern society, and where it can lead; c.) The importance of human relationships in preserving sanity.

These are debatable points, but I encourage anyone who knocks AS without first seeing Chayefsky's other two films to see them first. They will help put it in context.





There, daddy, do I get a gold star?