AMOS was a surprisingly effective TV-movie which owes a lot to ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, but stands on its own as competent little shocker. Kirk Douglas, who ironically starred in CUCKOO'S NEST on Broadway, plays the title role here, a cantankerous senior citizen who finds himself committed to a senior citizens facility that is run by an iron-fisted nurse (Elizabeth Montgomery)who Amos suspects is over stepping the bounds of her authority by physically abusing the clients and robbing them of their life savings. Stanley Gordon West's strong teleplay is an asset,but what makes this film sizzle is the cat and mouse game between Amos and the head nurse, who Montgomery bone-chillingly brings to life in one of her best performances, burying her Samantha Stephens image forever. Strong support is also provided by screen veterans Dorothy McGuire, Pat Morita, and Ray Walston but it is the Emmy-nominated performances by Douglas and Montgomery that are the main selling points here. It's no CUCKOO'S NEST, but it is an entertaining second cousin.
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Isaac58558 February 2008
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lee_eisenberg9 September 2007OK, so "Amos" is in many ways the same sort of idea as "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", but it's still worth seeing. Kirk Douglas plays elderly Amos Lasher, who loses his wife in a car wreck. He gets sent to a retirement home run by nurse Daisy Daws (Elizabeth Montgomery). But as it becomes clear that Daisy is not a nice gal, Amos becomes more desperate about what to do.
Probably the movie's most interesting aspect is the casting of Elizabeth Montgomery. When she first appears, she's putting on her nurse outfit (she actually looks mighty fine wearing those stockings). When she first greets Kirk Douglas, here we basically see a slightly older version of Samantha Stephens, but with just a hint of malice in her eyes. As the movie progresses, you might say that Samantha becomes more and more like Endora...an evil Endora, that is.
So, this isn't any kind of masterpiece; "OFOTCN" did a better job with this topic. But it's good to see that these folks still had it no matter their age, and to see the big screen's most famous gladiator meet the small screen's most famous witch (and she's a REAL witch here). Also starring Dorothy McGuire (of "Gentleman's Agreement"), Pat Morita (of the "Karate Kid" movies) and Ray Walston (Mr. Hand in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"). -
harmony_bear200020 November 2002This movie isn't the greatest ever, but it's good if you're bored and happen to have it around. Elizabeth Montgomery is (as usual) wonderful in her role, although decidedly evil. Don't see this movie the same way I did, while waiting to go in for day surgery. Daisy is one nurse you do not want looking after you!
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This TV movie has excellent acting and a sad commentary on senior care facilities. Kirk Douglas plays a retired baseball player who, after a car accident (that kills his wife) is sent to a old folks home by his kids. Once there he suffers just about every indignity you can imagine. Elizabeth Montgomery plays head nurse who would rather kill off the patients than spend the money required to keep them alive. Ms. Montgomery is brilliant in this role. I don't want to give away any plot twists but there are a few. The best scenes in this movie are between stubborn "Amos Lasher" (Kirk) and "Daisy Daws" (Liz) who butt heads more than once. Dorothy McGuire gives a touching performance as a lonely woman who falls for Amos. Not only good drama but a movie with a social message as well regarding the treatment of our senior citizens.
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bkoganbing4 September 2013Kirk Douglas plays the title role in made for television film Amos, a film where he finally transitions into playing senior citizens which he would do the rest of his career. Who knows, at 96 he might yet have another role in him.
After losing his wife and home in a tragedy, Douglas is forced into a nursing home run by Elizabeth Montgomery. The sweet and wholesome Samantha Stevens gives way to Nurse Ratched's mentor Daisy Dawes. She runs the home with a corrupt iron hand. She encourages the staff to be cruel and vicious to the residents if they make a complaint.
The infirmities of old age are truly explored in this film. Douglas is a former athletic coach and presumably in good shape. But even he's a victim of the staff and Montgomery.
Such familiar faces as Pat Morita, Ray Walston, and Dorothy McGuire are other residents who Douglas sacrifices for to bring them respect and justice.
Abuses of senior citizen homes was a hot topic back in those times and Amos was both timely and entertaining. Kirk was great in the part, but the real revelation in this film was how evil Liz Montgomery could play. -
HotToastyRag5 January 2018While there are tons of movies about old folks in senior homes to choose from, if you want one with a bit of a spooky flavor to it, rent Amos. Kirk Douglas, Ray Walston, Pat Morita, and Dorothy Maguire are in a senior home, but the head nurse, Elizabeth Montgomery, isn't nearly as sweet as she appears to outsiders. . .
A lot of these types of movies are "old folks still got it" movies, but Amos differs from the usual themes. Kirk Douglas and his "inmates" are abused and, for the most part, are trapped from rebelling against the head nurse, rather like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. If you feel like I do about Kirk Douglas, you might want to look away when he gets ruffed up by Elizabeth Montgomery's goons. Then again, even if you don't remember him from his hunky days, who likes to watch older folks get beat up?
Amos isn't the best senior-cast film I've seen, and in general, I watch a lot of them. It's meant to be exciting-and at times it is-but all in all, it's mostly sad. You're better off renting films with younger versions of the stars, unless you go in for depressing old-people movies, like Wrestling Ernest Hemingway. -
planktonrules7 February 2020Amos (Kirk Douglas) is an elderly man when the story begins. Soon he has a traffic accident. His wife is killed and his legs are broken. With no other options, he's sent to a retirement home. Once there, however, he sees that this place suck--mostly because the lady in charge (Elizabeth Montgomery) does everything she can to drain the fun out of the place. As for the rest of the staff, some are absolute sadists. But things end up being far darker than this...and this retirement home is anything but a great place to live...or die.
This is a really depressing movie--among the most depressing you can find. That does not mean it's bad, as it is well made. But seeing elderly folks being mistreated and dying isn't exactly an upbeat picture! However, it did help to expose to expose the problems of elder abuse...and worse. Well worth seeing...but if you are depressed, try something different...anything! -
JLRMovieReviews8 February 2011Kirk Douglas is Amos Lasher, a man who's married and retired and enjoying home life. That is, until he has a car accident, which kills his wife, left him with a broken hip and with little to no money to pay for an operation, recovery, etc. He lost his house and has to go to a rest home for recovery. Little does he know, t.l.c. is the last thing on the mind of Head Nurse Daisy Dawes, played by Elizabeth Montgomery, who plays her role to the hilt. And, Ms. Montgomery gets a very fulfilling send-off for the viewer to enjoy. Fans of Ms. Montgomery, myself included, will love her performance and wish more of her TV movies and work can be found on DVD. I had to find this on VHS. On a entertainment level, this is a very good movie with great actors who know their business, including Ray Walston and Dorothy McGuire. But, the movie takes its entertainment from an otherwise very sobering subject matter, which may be too disturbing and real for some people watching, especially when the viewer might have a parent in a rest home, subjected to such treatment. If you can watch a movie about a rest home, then this is one to see, which is similar to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which was produced by Michael Douglas, the son of Kirk Douglas, the star of this. Kirk's Amos Lasher is a survivor and a fighter and will not go quietly....
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searchanddestroy-115 June 2014I watched it on a french channel years ago. I searched for it since. And was finally rewarded. What a film. I don't know any movie about retirement homes for elders. I guess there are somewhere. And I am not sure they would be better than this one. OK, every one thinks of ONE FLEW OVER A COCOO NEST, that took place in an insane asylum. OK, Milo's Forman's film is more magnificent. Speaking of it, Kirk Douglas played it on stage, back in the seventies. So may be that explains why he accepted this TV feature.
Elizabeth Montgomery is here as her best as the evil female manager, as Louise Fletcher was in ONE FLEW...
The opposite characters between Douglas and Montgomery are tremendous. A poignant and painful story which my father was particularly sensitive about before he himself went to a retirement home...Unless to say that he was not excited to go to it. -
jarrodmcdonald-129 January 2023Elizabeth Montgomery made some terrific TV movies. And without a doubt, AMOS is one of the best. Though she had already proven her ability to play dramatic roles in stories about Lizzie Borden and Belle Starr, it's still a shock to see her take on the role of a nurse who abuses elderly patients.
The patients are played by Ray Walston, Pat Morita, Dorothy McGuire and Kirk Douglas. Douglas stars as the title character, and his company produced the film. He was on a personal mission to raise awareness about elderly abuse. He gives a very thoughtful performance as a man who butts heads with the evil nurse and refuses to be her victim.
Nurse Daisy Daws enjoys mistreating the patients entrusted to her care, and we can be sure she's been doing it a long time. She has staff and outsiders, including the local sheriff, manipulated to see things her way. She fools an inspector who shows up once a year, because she finds out in advance that he's coming-- so she passes with flying colors.
But one day Amos decides to speak up and tell the inspector he and his friends are not treated well. His comments are not taken seriously by the inspector; and the other patients do not back him up, since they're afraid Daisy will retaliate. One patient was recently killed in their sleep.
What makes the story stand out, aside from scenes that are written and performed to jolt the viewer, is how human the characters are. We learn a considerable deal about Amos' background. He was a baseball coach (and often uses baseball metaphors); he slept with a lot of women in his younger days but loved his wife; his son died; and his grandson who lives far away is his only connection to the outside world.
We learn about McGuire's character, too; she and Amos gradually fall in love. The romantic scenes between them give us a tender respite from the violence that Miss Montgomery's character inflicts on them.
The story makes comments about people who run institutions with an iron hand. Also, it makes a statement about treating senior citizens with dignity. In the end, when it looks like Nurse Daisy is going to kill Amos, the two characters reach an impasse. The only way Amos can win is to take his own life and leave evidence that implicates Daisy.
If he waited for her to kill him, she would cover her tracks. He intends to finish the last inning on his terms. Not only will he bring her down, he will give his friends a chance to live their last days in a way he cannot. It's a film that leaves you thinking after it ends.