Procaine was first synthesized in 1905, shortly after amylocaine. It was created by the German chemist Alfred Einhorn who gave the chemical the trade name Novocaine, from the Latinnov- (meaning new) and -caine, a common ending for alkaloids used as anesthetics. It was introduced into medical use by surgeon Heinrich Braun. Prior to the discovery of amylocaine and procaine, cocaine was the most commonly used local anesthetic. Einhorn wished his new discovery to be used for amputations, but surgeons preferred general anesthetic. Dentists, however, found it very useful. Einhorn was displeased by this perceived misuse of his "noble" invention and spent many years touring dental schools to advise them not to use it.
Novocaine is a 2001 black comedythriller film written and directed by David Atkins and starring Steve Martin, Helena Bonham Carter, Laura Dern, Lynne Thigpen and Elias Koteas. It was shot in the Chicago, Illinois area, during a limited 32-day schedule. The film received extra publicity during production and as its release approached because of an off-the-screen romance between Martin and Bonham Carter. It had lukewarm reviews and low box-office receipts.
Plot
Generally, the film is a dark and quirky "tragicomedy". The "everyman" protagonist, Dr. Frank Sangster (Steve Martin), is a dentist with a fairly pleasant but rather innocuous, ordinary and uneventful life. But all of this gets derailed, and Frank's life descends into an increasingly complex mess, from the minute a beautiful and seductive new patient named Susan Ivey (Helena Bonham Carter) comes to him, seeking a root canal and a little pain relief...
On Susan's initial office visit, Frank schedules her for a root canal the very next day, and offers her some Ibuprofen to address her pain in the meanwhile. Claiming that she is allergic to the offered medication, Susan requests a prescription for the addictive pain-killerDemerol. Frank provides the prescription, but only for five tablets. However, Susan changes the dosage from five tablets to fifty when she collects the medication from her pharmacist.
You can take back all your secrets, we'll divide up all the lies Keep all the pictures in their frames, cut me out, yeah I'll be fine Tell the neighbors all my feelings, go on and give away my pride It's hard to laugh and cry, live and die every night Keep your Rolodex of friends and all the remnants can be mine I guess, there'll be no happy endings when 'Once upon' is doing time There's a different kind of meaning now to livin' on a prayer Oh some don't seem to notice and the rest don't seem to care I tell myself I (Feel no pain) But I'm feeling the pain (Walk away) Can't walk away I'm hanging on the ropes of hope It's getting hard to cope you know When you're the needle running through my veins I've changed my name to Novocaine You put my favorite belongings in a box in the garage (Let's get this straight) Burned my favorite sweats from high school, tried to sell my muscle car (That's not okay) Your mother's gonna visit for a couple of months this year They say you do the crime, do the time, it's all so clear I tell myself I (Feel no pain) But I'm feeling the pain (Walk away) Can't walk away I'm hanging on the ropes of hope It's getting hard to cope you know When you're the needle that's running through my veins I've changed my name to Novocaine, Novocaine (Feel no pain) Well things ain't what they used to be It's a sleepless, self-help century Man, I'm up to here with Dr. Phil and the modern man in me I tell myself to feel no pain But I'm feeling the pain (Walk away) Can't walk away I'm hanging on the ropes of hope It's getting hard to cope you know When you're the needle that's running through my veins I've changed my name to Novocaine (Feel no pain) Novocaine, Novocaine (Feel no pain) Novocaine, I feel no pain
With exactly $8.7 million in earnings coming from stateside markets and $1.8 million internationally, Novocaine led the slowest weekend of the year ...
Five new movies opened wide in North American theaters this weekend including a starry spy picture from Steven Soderbergh, an A24 thriller, a Looney Tunes movie and a high concept action-comedy with "The Boys" star Jack Quaid. But the myriad ... .
Five new movies opened wide in North American theaters this weekend including a starry spy picture from Steven Soderbergh, an A24 thriller, a Looney Tunes movie and a high concept action-comedy with "The Boys" star Jack Quaid. But the myriad ....
Novocaine Debuts at Top of Dismal Weekend. Coming out on top for the unfortunately dubious distinction this week is Dan Berk and RobertOlsen’s Novocaine with Jack Quaid ... Novocaine – $8.7 million ($8.7 ...
Between the premiere of new arrivals such as Novocaine ($8.8 million), Black Bag ($7.6 million), and Opus ($1 million), paired with other movies such as ...
"Novocaine," an action-comedy starring Jack Quaid as a banker who cannot feel pain, topped the North American box office in its debut weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday, but ticket sales overall were brutally slow ... .
Novocaine, an action-comedy starring Jack Quaid as a banker who cannot feel pain, topped the North American box office in its debut weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday, but ticket sales overall were brutally slow ... film ... AFP. .
The Indiana Times
18 Mar 2025