It's difficult to categorize this film as a comedy, since the
laughs are few and far between, but it's an interesting trial
at things Altman got right on later tries. HealtH has
never been officially distributed on video or DVD, and barely
got a theatrical release, and it's no surprise. It's an ambitious
film, attempting to recreate the feel of Nashville,
but set at a Florida hotel's annual health convention, but it
fails in being the satire I think Altman intended it to be.
HealtH depicts the events of the yearly
convention and elections of the national organization H.E.A.L.T.H.
(we never find out what this acronym stands for, aside from
health, obviously.) Running for the office of president are
incumbent and insane Esther Brill (Lauren Bacall), the highly
political and constantly orating Isabella Garnell (Glenda Jackson),
and independent candidate Gil Gainey (Paul Dooley.) Visiting
on behalf of the White House, presidential advisor Gloria Burbank
(Carol Burnett) tries to remain neutral, a feat she finds exceedingly
difficult since her ex-husband Harry Wolff (James Garner) is
Brill's campaign manager.
With all this going on, it's easy to miss the
plot. Especially because there isn't one. Nothing meaningful
is at stake here, and though there are a lot of characters,
the audience remains distant from all of them. There are a few
moments of genuine comedy, worthy of Altman's name, such as
Paul Dooley's campaign gimmicks at the bottom of the pool, and
Lauren Bacall's sudden paralysis. We also get to listen to some
wonderful health-food themed music in the background and the
mascots dressed as giant vegetables never lose their comedic
value. Anyone who's ever spent time with health nuts will love
the self-righteousness and superficiality the characters display,
and might be able to overlook the lack of pretty much anything
else in the film.
Good performances abound, but those that one would
expect to lead the cast aren't the ones doing so (Bacall aside.)
The show-saving performance is 1970's talk-show host Dick Cavett
playing himself. It not only adds a sense of realism, but he
delivers most of the truly funny lines, and the nighttime scenes
of him watching Johnny Carson are two of the rare moments in
the film that represent Altman's sardonic wit. Alfre Woodard
also adds a great supporting performance (which is much too
small in my opinion) as the manager of the hotel. Her real-world
take on the absurdities of the convention often paralleled those
I was feeling about the movie.
The film isn't a complete failure, though, because
we can see signs of things to come in Altman's later work. The
election we see in the movie is a clear commentary on the political
process on a national level, and serves as a microcosm of real
presidential elections. There are many elements that reappear
eight years later in Altman and Garry Trudeau's masterpiece
miniseries "Tanner '88". He also [re]perfected the
ensemble comedy a decade and a half later with Short Cuts
and Prêt-à-Porter so we can forgive him
his error here.
I have a feeling most people will never have the
opportunity to see this film, but if the chance presents itself,
don't just jump at it without considering why the film was so
rare for so long. It's always a shame when one's heroes and
idols make a false step and do something that embarrasses themselves
and their fans vicariously, and I am feeling that now. I wish
I hadn't seen HealtH so that I could retain the illusion
that Altman was a nearly flawless director. I'll just stick
around for the next convention, that of the American Hypnotists
Association, (was Altman aware of the need to brainwash his
audience into liking the film?) and have them erase the memory
from my mind.
