SHOCK

US, 1946, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Vincent Price, Lynn Bari, Frank Latimore, Anabel Shaw, Michael Dunne.
Directed by Alfred L. Werker.

It is surprising to see that Shock was made by 20th Century Fox in the mid-1940s. It is a brief, small budget film that is more reminiscent of the films made at Universal. However, this is the kind of film that made Vincent Price's name in later decades. Here is a doctor who murders his wife, commits the witness to his sanatorium but cannot bring himself to kill her. Conniving with his assistant and lover (Lynn Bari), he kills her instead. Price made this between higher profile films, Leave Her to Heaven and Dragonwyck.

1.A psychological drama of the 1940s? Its focus on psychological treatment and illness? In retrospect?

2.Black and white photography, the hotel, the institution? The musical score?

3.The title, the effect on Janet of seeing the murder? The shock treatment in the hospital?

4.The focus on Janet, the end of the war, her husband in the prisoner of war camp? Waiting to meet him? Persuading the management to get the hotel room? Her seeing the killing? In shock? Paul's arrival? The manager, the doctor, Doctor Cross and his diagnosis, taking her to the institution?

5.Janet in the institution, Paul's coming to visit her, her revelation that she had seen the killing? Doctor Cross and his decisions, Elaine Jordan and her help? The treatment? Medicine, insulin? The possibility of killing her? Paul and his desperation, seeking the expert advice, the visit of the doctor?

6.Richard Cross, the confrontation with his wife, hitting her with the candlestick? Taking the body out? Taking it to the home, down the mountainside? The irony of his being called in to treat Janet? His treatment of her in the hospital? Elaine and her advice, egging him on? His suave manner, discussions with the police, with the supervising doctor? With the other members of the staff? Reassuring Paul?

7.The build-up to the confrontation, the discovery of the body, the police investigation, the neighbour having been beaten? The pressure on Doctor Cross? Elaine and her persuasiveness? His decision to give the insulin treatment? His stopping at the last moment and the confrontation with Elaine, killing her?

8.Paul, going to the expert, the information about the death weapon, going to the institution, being able to help Janet, her recovery?

9.A psychological thriller, the styles of the 40s? The treatment of psychological trauma, medicine, shock treatment, psychological methods?