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Drama Cult Classic

Three nurses tackle more than just medicine in a hospital tangled in drugs, racism, and danger.

PRIVATE DUTY NURSES

It's what they do off duty that's really private!

1971 · 1h 20m · R · Drama / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

A trio of beautiful private-duty nurses that practice more than the medical arts must confront underground drug traffickers, racism and murder in their local hospital.

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Quick Answer

What is Private Duty Nurses about?

Private Duty Nurses is a 1971 American drama-thriller directed by George Armitage about three private-duty nurses who face drug traffickers, racism, and murder within their community hospital.

Programmer's Pick

If you think hospital drama starts and ends with bedside romance, Private Duty Nurses prescribes a potent dose of 1970s grit—with drug smuggling, environmental activism, and a healthy disregard for institutional taboos.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Private Duty Nurses introduces us to Spring, Lynn, and Lola—three private-duty nurses whose skills extend well beyond the hospital floor. Spring cares for Domino, a Vietnam veteran with a severe head injury requiring surgery by Dr. McClintock, while Lynn finds herself fighting for environmental justice and getting involved with Dewey. As their routines collide with issues of racism, drug trafficking, and violence within the hospital, the nurses confront both personal and societal challenges. With themes of feminism, social justice, and the collision of medical care with urban crime, this early 1970s drama-thriller uses its characters’ experiences to probe the boundaries of professional and personal responsibility, all set against a backdrop of emergency rooms and social unrest.

Details & Specs

Director
George Armitage
Writer
George Armitage
Release
1971
Runtime
1h 20m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Drama, Thriller
Also Known As
Young L.A. Nurses 3

Why This Matters

This George Armitage film is a sequel to The Student Nurses (1970) and part of New World Pictures' nurse-themed series, with its title inspired by a real letter of complaint from the Private Duty Nurses Association. It was succeeded by Night Call Nurses (1972).
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: George Armitage Writer: George Armitage
Katherine Cannon Katherine Cannon Spring Joyce Williams Joyce Williams Lola PB Pegi Boucher Lynn JK Joseph Kaufmann Dr. Doug Selden DR Dennis Redfield Domino Robert F. Simon Robert F. Simon Dr. Sutton Morris Buchanan Morris Buchanan Kirby Herbert Jefferson Jr. Herbert Jefferson Jr. Dr. Elton Paul Hampton Paul Hampton Dewey Paul Gleason Paul Gleason Dr. McClintock DO David Osterhout Hank Ibsen CC Cliff Carnell Bartender MD Meredith Duncan Angela Selden GS George Sawaya Ahmed DA Dinah Anne Rogers Nurse Brandt (as Dinah Rogers) JW Joe Wertheimer Sulif Stanley Bennett Clay Stanley Bennett Clay Leo (as Stanley Clay) Nancy Valentine Nancy Valentine Waitress EA Elizabeth Ann Coffin Secretary (as Elizabeth Coffin) MP Mike Payne Dr. Black GR Guy Remsen Dr. Wasp JH Janear Hines June Robert Tessier Robert Tessier Super Bouncer DT Dennis Thorlaksen Mailman DF Doug Fieger Band member - Sky RS Robbie Stawinski Band member - Sky JC John Coury Band member - Sky S Sky Band in Nightclub BA Brent Armitage Boy on Beach (uncredited)

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Why Cult

Nurses in the Hot Seat

Spring, Lynn, and Lola are on the front lines, facing danger, drugs, and prejudice while practicing much more than medicine.

Social Issues Front and Center

From race relations and racism to feminism and gender equality, the film tackles a roster of 1970s hot-button topics within its hospital walls.

B-Movie Exploitation Flair

Expect classic exploitation touches: nudity, sex scenes, and a parade of taboo-breaking moments befitting its drive-in roots.

Hospital Noir

The hospital is a hotbed of crime, from murder to drug smuggling, giving new meaning to bedside manner.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Hospital entangled with drugs and corruption

Threat

Drug traffickers and violent crime

Effect

Endangers staff and patients; fuels racism and murder

Setting

Community hospital

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Private Duty Nurses? +

Private Duty Nurses was directed by George Armitage.

How long is Private Duty Nurses? +

Private Duty Nurses has a runtime of 80 minutes.

What genre is Private Duty Nurses? +

Private Duty Nurses is a drama-thriller.

Where can I watch Private Duty Nurses? +

Private Duty Nurses is available to stream on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips

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