THE SEARCH FOR BRIDEY MURPHY

US, 1956, 84 minutes, Black-and-white.
Teresa Wright, Louis Hayward, Nancy Gates, Kenneth Tobey, Richard Anderson.
Directed by Noel Langley.

This is a 1950s look at hypnotism and its possibilities in healing and cures. It is also a speculation on reincarnation. The screenplay makes references to a Dr Cayce and his experiments on himself, self-hypnotism.

This film is introduced by Louis Hayward talking to the audience as the central character, businessman Morey Bernstein, and his interest in hypnosis. He is intrigued by a doctor doing an experiment with a young woman at a party and her obeying his commands, especially when she came out of the hypnotic state. Bernstein continues to study hypnosis.

When he experiments on the wife of a friend, played by Teresa Wright, she not only goes back into her own past but another character from the 18th and 19th centuries emerges, an Irish woman called Bridey Murphy. This character speaks with an Irish accent, sings an Irish song, gives details of her background and life, of her marriage, and even of her death. When she is urged to go back even further, she seems to express a character living in New York even earlier. While the subject is willing, her husband is very cautious as is the family doctor. The experiment with the wife is discontinued.

Decades on, there has been a lot more work done on hypnosis and reflections on reincarnation and individuality.

The film was written and directed by South African Dir, Noel Langley, who wrote a lot of hits at MGM in the 1950s including The Knights of the Round Table.

1. Audience interest in the themes? Hypnosis? Healing? Issues of reincarnation? The impact in the 1950s? Now?

2. A film of interiors, offices, homes, lounge rooms? The flashbacks to Ireland? The musical score?

3. The title, Ruth Simmons and her hypnosis, Morey Bernstein and his skills, the emergence of Bridey Murphy? The continued hypnosis sessions? Further revelations?

4. The framework with the speeches to the audience, Morey Bernstein and his life, scepticism about hypnosis, interest, developing skills, his work? The statement that the dialogue from Ruth Simmons corresponds to the recorded speeches she made?

5. The status of hypnosis in the 1950s, the references to Dr Cayce, self hypnotism, links with his patients, knowledge, healing? Developments in hypnosis since the 1950s?

6. The status of reincarnation, Buddhist traditions? Western scepticism? Scientific interest, medical interest? The presence of the priest, his tolerance of the experiences but his own personal disagreement with theories of reincarnation? The Christian tradition, God, creation, souls, individuality?

7. Louis Hayward as Morey Bernstein, earnest, ambitious, working in his company, the encounter with his visitor, the demonstration with the woman, going back to her childhood, detailed descriptions, bringing her out of the hypnosis and her hunger, taking off of her shoe and stocking…? The reaction of the group?

8. The presence of Dr Deering, medical, discussions with Morey? Morey and his continued training, skills? The tests with his wife? Her willingness to support him? Her migraines, cures?

9. The group, Rex and Ruth Simmons? Ruth agreeing to the hypnosis? The effect on her, her agreement to the tests, listening to the tapes?

10. Going back into Ruth’s childhood? Going further, the emergence of Bridey Murphy, Cork, the family, her growing up, her parents, her marrying the barrister, his continued care for her, her cold and chill? Going to her death? Describing her death? Her continued presence, able to move from place to place? Going back further, New Amsterdam, the bad memories? Bringing her back to Bridey Murphy? The singing the song, her accent? Dancing the jig when she came out of hypnosis? The final difficulty in bringing her out? The doctor’s concern, Rex Simmons and his concern, the permission of his wife?

11. The drama, the dialogue, the issues? From the 50s? Now?