Set in downtown New York in 1900, The Knick – short for The Knickerbocker Hospital – centers on the trailblazing surgeons, nurses and staff pushing the boundaries of medicine in a time of shockingly high mortality rates and zero antibiotics. The hospital is in a state of turmoil due to a decline in affluent patrons and an increase of poor patients, combined with a severe mishandling of its finances, but brilliant lead surgeon John Thackery (Golden Globe® winner and Oscar® nominee Clive Owen, also Emmy® nominated for HBO’s Hemingway & Gellhorn) tests the limits of medicine, morals and race relations in an era where social norms were slow to change. Directed by Oscar® winner Steven Soderbergh (also Emmy® winner for HBO’s Behind the Candelabra), The Knick will premiere on MAX on August 15th in the Caribbean and has already been confirmed for a second season.

Throughout this season’s 10 episodes, all of which are directed by Soderbergh, the series shows how the combination of skill, pride and luck influenced the evolution of modern medicine and how the growing technology boosted the Industrial Revolution to new and unchartered heights.

Cornelia Robertson (Juliet Rylance) serves as head of the hospital’s social welfare office and as chair of its board of trustees as proxy for her father, shipping tycoon Captain August Robertson (Grainger Hines). Cornelia exerts significant influence at the hospital and pushed for the hiring of Edwards over Thackery’s protégé, Dr. Everett Gallinger (Eric Johnson), who was hoping to be named assistant chief surgeon prior to Edwards’ arrival. Meanwhile, Herman Barrow (Jeremy Bobb), the Knick’s crooked and greedy superintendent, is inundated with debt and willing to risk the hospital’s future to pay it off;

The Knick was created by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler and directed by Steven Soderbergh, who also served as executive producers along with Gregory Jacobs (HBO’s Behind the Candelabra), Michael Sugar and Clive Owen; produced by Michael Polaire (HBO’s Behind the Candelabra) and supervising producer Steven Katz (HBO’s Behind the Candelabra). Peter Andrews served as director of photography, Howard Cummings as production designer, and Ellen Mirojnick as costume designer, with editing by Mary Ann Bernard, music by Cliff Martinez and casting by Carmen Cuba, CSA.
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