High Anxiety

Dr Richard H. Thorndyke is a psychiatrist whose fear of heights turns every assessment into a tightrope act. He accepts a job at a secluded mental institution that looks normal at first, but quickly reveals a staff whose behavior is stranger than the patients they treat. Behind the polished walls and orderly routines lie secrets so dangerous that murder becomes a coping mechanism. The hospital hums with sly humor and escalating peril as Thorndyke maneuvers through a maze of tall tales, false leads, and quirky personalities. The place is crowded with a chatty nurse, a pompous doctor, and a chorus of red herrings that push the tension and jokes in surprising directions. The result is a fast paced spoof that plays suspense straight while inviting laughs at the genre's cliches. The ensemble includes Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Harvey Korman, and Ron Carey, whose sharp delivery and timing amplify the film's absurd rhythm.

Directed by Mel Brooks, High Anxiety arrived in 1977 with a screenplay by Brooks, Ron Clark, and Rudy De Luca. It spoofs classic Hitchcock thrillers while delivering Brooks signature humor, lampooning suspense tropes through a vivid cast and brisk pacing.

It grossed about $31,063,038 at the box office against a budget of $4,015,000, signaling a strong return for a satire based on classic thrillers and a popular star-studded ensemble.

High Anxiety is widely regarded as part of Mel Brooks' streak of spoof classics that blend suspense with broad humor. The film leans into Hitchcock tropes while letting the cast shine, with Kahn and Leachman delivering memorable moments that anchor the spoof in character and shape later parodies.

Critics at the time mixed delight with mild reservations, praising the performances especially Madeline Kahn and Cloris Leachman, while some felt the humor occasionally stalls. The movie skewers professional vanity, fear driven plots, and the tension between control and chaos in institutions.