SHOCK TREATMENT

US, 1964, 94 minutes, Black and White.
Stuart Whitman, Carol Lynley, Roddy Mc Dowell, Lauren Bacall.
Directed by Denis Sanders.

Shock Treatment was an arresting thriller of the 1960s. It was daring in its presentation of the inside of a mental institution, the patients, their illnesses, their nightmares.

Stuart Whitman is the hero who goes into the asylum to spy on an inmate who has disposed of over a million dollars. He needs to track down where the money is hidden. Lauren Bacall is the doctor in charge – also interested in the money. Other patients include Carol Lynley and Ossie Davis.

The film was directed by Denis Sanders who had a mixed career, making Warhunt with the young Robert Redford and Sidney Pollack, making the documentary Elvis: That’s The Way It Is as well as the biography of Norman Vincent Peale, One Man’s Way.

The film and its description of inmates and their experiences is still somewhat shocking today.

1. The purpose of this film, entertainment, its capacity for repelling its audiences?

2. The use of cinemascope, black and white photography, the atmosphere of the asylum, the courts, the strident melodramatic music? Contributing to the mood of the film?

3. The macabre look of the opening, the build-up, the shock killing, the credits of the title, an indication of tone? What feeling was there about the film, the reason for audiences continued interest?

4. The focus on Martin Ashley: the initial murder, the court case, the nature of his madness, the motives for this murder, his attitude towards money, his love for roses, the background of the orphanage and his explanations to Dale? How was he tricked by Dale? His need for a friend, his being lead on? His reliance on Dr. Beighly? The distrust of Dale and the attempt to kill him? The irony of the money really being in ashes? The brutality of his death? Was he a credible character for this kind of film, interesting?

5. The contrast with Dale, his role as an actor, the proposition to go to the asylum and the reasons for his acceptance? His reading and background for his part? The crimes to get him into the asylum, court decisions? The impact of the bus ride on him, the inmates? His skill in insinuating himself into Ashley's confidence? What kind of character was he? Strengths and weaknesses? Money motivation? His attraction towards Cynthia? The dance? Dr. Beighly's suspicions and his reactions? What had he achieved when he had ingratiated himself into Ashley’s favour and discovered Dr. Beighly's practices?

6. Did audience sympathy change for him when he was discovered, tortured? His ability to pretend to the ? Engaging Cynthia's help? The irony of the death of his sponsor, the police chasing him, his final encounter with Ashley and Dr. Beighly? The significance of his final compassion for her? Did he merit the happy ending?

7. The strength of the portrayal of Dr. Beighly? Her aims, her words at the court case, her handling of the interns and training them, the significance of the film and her dealing with animals and catalepsy? Her confidence in herself, her need for the money for research? Her ability to see through Dale? Her shrewdness in using hypnosis on Ashley? Her cruelty to Nelson and making him a victim of experimentation? Her frustration when the money was revealed to be Ashley's? How incredible was her breakdown, her behaviour in the court case, her role in the asylum as mad? What comment was the film making on psychiatrists?

8. The importance of Cynthia, her explanation of her background, her madness, her fears and sexuality, teasing and yet her reputation as a good girl? Her helping of Nelson? Could she be cured?

9. The portrayal of the staff, the patients, especially the black inmate who had been on the staff? The way of life in the asylum and its details of meals, dormitory, the portrayal of therapy for e.g. the hypnosis of Cynthia? How authentic did it seem?

10. The enjoyment value of the film as a hospital melodrama?

11. As a violent horror and murder movie?

12. With the background of science fiction, especially the mad experimenting doctor?

13. Is this kind of psychological horror thriller satisfying? Why? What does it presuppose in its audience?