Hospitals Don't Burn Down

Made by Film Australia 1977. Directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith. A disturbingly realistic film about a fire in a large hospital. This program pulls no punches and has never dated. The issues remain the same. Designed to blast through the complacency of the "it can't happen here" attitude, the docu-drama vividly portrays a series of credible events that could happen in a hospital, large nursing home or any high-rise complex. This film shows the terrifying speed with which flames and smoke can engulf a building and the difficulties of evacuating the seriously ill and incapacitated, especially at night with a skeleton staff and when visibility is low. The consequences are disastrous. Brian Trenchard-Smith made only one film for Film Australia and it is one that displays his talent for horror. Long recognised as a leading maker of slasher films, Quentin Tarantino has referred to him as one of his favourite directors.