Hysteria: the movie

Many of you are familiar with the Victorian diagnosis of "hysteria" and its treatment with pelvic massage, and later with vibrators, which would result in a "hysterical paroxysm" (orgasm). Here's the trailer for a new film dealing with this interesting time in medical history:

http://youtu.be/zf4IlHaPRUg

Very interesting. Hope the film proves to be as good as the trailer. Here is a link to another film that also deals with the early history of the vibrator:

http://www.quicksilverscreen.im/watch?video=606178

http://www.quicksilverscreen.im/watch?video=606181

(there is a 72 minute limit on watching the video for free, wait 72 minutes then you can watch the rest)

There was a brief scene involving a vibrator operated by turning a handle like a hand powered drill with dildo attatchment being used in a tv program called "casualty 1910" I think on bbc last year.

Thanks for mentioning this movie, DrYesss. I watched the trailer and it looks terrific. I can hardly wait for it to be released. Does anyone know the release date?

I love this time period for fantasies. I would have loved to have been one of the early patients needing treatment. As a matter, I still treatment by a good Doctor 😉 .

Lady Teddy, Pacific Northwest, USA

IMDB does not show a U.S. release date yet. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1435513/

So excellent. The whole notion that sexual desire, or frustration, is pathological is fascinating to me.

Thank you for providing the link and information on his movie ... otherwise I would certainly have missed its release ...

As one comment on YouTube says, "it's the feel good movie of the year". How could it not be?

There was a program on the "science channel" about a week ago discussing orgasms and brain activity. They even had a couple engage in sexual intercourse inside the MRI to see brain activity and genital motion.

In one of the sections, they were electrically stimulating a woman by inserting fine wire electrical probes in her pelvic area while she was undergoing an MRI. When she came out of the MRI she was glowing. She asked the researcher, "can you teach my husband how to do that?"

Mary Roach in her excellent book, "Bonk: The Science of Sex" goes into a lot of detail about MRI machines and sex. It is an excellent book about the science of sex.

Lady Teddy, who loves to read

Hysteria seems as if it will be a gr8, but lite med.fet movie. Ya gotta wonder about the writer and producer, and how they sold it to the actors. It is seemingly well done...

Applause, applause, and applause!

There is also a play called "in the next room" about similar subject

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDrffdPFnic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKY1yCvZF6o&feature=related

Smith

Thanks for mentioning the play, Smith--I had wondered if the film was in some way based on the play, but I haven't seen any indication that it is.

The film hysteria is on my must see list without a doubt!! Thanks for the info. The play looks fantastic, too. Another Must-See!!

Looks like an interesting movie. I also wonder how they developed the plot and sold it to the cast. Quirky topic. But looks like a fun movie.

Excellent on both counts. Both the movie and the play are definitely 'must see'. I too love the Victorian/Edwardian setting. All those corsets and frothy underwear!

Thanks for posting the links Dr Yess and Mr Peacock !

they are so funny and I do like the 1900's settings , Loved both the trailer and the play,I really hope to see them. @Hugh2075, thanks for pointing these link out to me !

Darn, the vid is gone...I've seen something similar, perhaps the same one, we'll never know.

I think the diagnosis of hysteria is still a good one for a play doc to make.

Of course, there must be follow up treatment.

I saw the trailer on youtube a while ago but have never heard any more about it. Its about doctors making women have orgasms to cure them of hysteria about a hundred years ago.One of them finds it tiring using his fingers and invents the vibrator.Smith

Sounds like an interesting film. Has it been released yet?

Have any of you actually seen the film?

I know some of you have pointed out that the topic has been discussed before the film came out but none of you had told me if they had seen the film.Smith

Have any of you actually seen the film?

I know some of you have pointed out that the topic has been discussed before the film came out but none of you had told me if they had seen the film.Smith

_____________________

I´ve seen the movie and it is not really worth the time if you are looking for anything that even feels remotely like a historical period movie. Nor does it even show much of anything medical and certainly nothing even mildly sexually arousing. It´s just a run of the mill romantic comedy which happens to be unbelieveably set in a Hollywood version of Victorian Britain with a bunch of characters who act more like modern New Yorkers than anyone from the 19th century. The wardrobes of course points to a historical setting, but that is the only element of historical semi-veracity to be found in the movie.

And besides, even as a romantic comedy it falls very short. I´d give it a big ´Don´t Waste Your Time´ rating ...

Sorry, but it´s my honest opinion.

During the Christmas break two and a half years ago, we all went to see "In the Next Room" at Lincoln Center. My husband, daughters (about 13 and 16 then) and I all greed it was very well done. The movie was more of a comedy than the play.

The origin of the vibrator was deliberately suppressed by the anti-sexual forces 100 years ago. It was a dissertation by a woman for her PhD in Women's Studies (I believe) about 20 years ago, who first made this history known to the general public. The PhD dissertation and some articles led to wide publicity in The New York Times and other newspapers. As I recall, The New York Times ran a summary of her dissertation in a long 1/3 page (or maybe 1/2 page) article in the Science section. That's how revolutionary it was.

Most people, including women, don't seem to know about it, however.

Personally, I see a lot of classical Women's Hysteria all the time. The Internet dating sites are full of women with severe symptoms -- but not seeking any cure. The vast majority of women on Internet dating sites claim they are (or want to be) "old fashioned girls" (who don't have sex, or even disire it).

^^^^ I don't even have the words.

^^^^ I'm incredulous, too.

That sounds WAAAY off.

I missed the movie when it played in my town (briefly!!). Then I looked on Amazon.com to see if the DVD would be available. Pre-release price is abut 55 bucks!! Wow - first movie at that price??

Too bad reports above say this isn't a great movie. Sounds like a good premise and if done right could be very entertaining.

Personally, I loved the movie but I wasn't expecting anything of it going into watching it. I had no idea what it was going to be about (except the invention of the vibrator) and I was a little bit delighted when it turned out to be a total lighthearted comedy.