Hysteria (2012)

"Hysteria" (95 min.) brings the highly unlikely (but we are reminded at the beginning of the film that "This movie is based on true events. Really.") story of a young doctor Dr. Mortimer Granville (played by Hugh Dancy) in London, 1880, who is struggling but eventually finds a job with Dr. Robert Dalrymple (played brillantly by Jonathan Pryce) who is treating women for the so-called hysteria disease, really a catch-all for any and all things supposedly wrong with women in those days. The treatment is nothing else but to touch these women's private parts until they reach "paroxysmal convulsions" (wink, wink). The young doctor along with his buddy eventually come up with a mechanical device, which became the vibrator (still the number one sex toy in the world today, we are reminded at the end of the movie).

But the movie in fact is much more about Granville's romantic interplay with the 2 daughters of Dalrymple, Emily (played by Felicity Jones), who is "daddy's girl" and to whom Granville gets engaged, and Charlotte (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal), the "rebel" daughter who has set up a social center to help the poor. I don't want to give away much more from the plot, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Maggie Gyllenhall really shines in this movie. I couldn't help but think how much she reminded me of Diane Keaton in her late 70s performances (think Annie Hall). That aside, this movie is a pleasant romcom, nothing more, nothing less. And no, not an "important movie" about women's empowerment as some other reviews here (who obviously did not see the movie) are suggesting.

When, some time ago, I'd heard that Maggie Gyllenhaal was making a movie about the invention of the vibrator, I was excited. I mean, I love Maggie and I love vibrators so what more could I ask for in the way of entertainment? But time went by and I heard nothing about it. I'd almost forgotten it completely when, checking out the new offerings on Amazon (because as I've told you repeatedly for months now, NETFLIX SUCKS), there it was! Yippee!

I had fresh coffee, a French toast bagel with honey walnut cream cheese and a movie about vibrators. A near-perfect Saturday morning.

Honestly, I expected the movie to be interesting, perhaps even enlightening in an indie film kinda way, considered that it apparently got so little press I wasn't even aware it had opened. But what i got was a delighful little movie that had me chuckling and laughing out loud. Considering the subject, it gives the term "a feel-good movie" a whole new meaning.

Even better, the basic facts of the movie are true.

In England of the 1890's -the height of Victorian prudery, where furniture was draped with heavy fabric to prevent the scandalous sight of carved table "legs" giving rise to lascivious thoughts -the average doctor killed more patients than he saved. Medicine was still medieval, and leeching was still being prescribed even for broken bones.

Mortimer Granville, a young doctor who eagerly embraces all the cutting-edge research of the day, finds himself discharged from one hospital after another for his strange new ideas about "germs" and hand washing. In desperation, he ends up at the door of Dr. Dalrymple, who is eager for help in his thriving and lucrative practice treating "female hysteria."

Hysteria, an affliction of the female nervous system thought to stem from a disorder of the uterus, was at the time the catch-all diagnosis for just about every female ailment, particularly melancholia, nervousness, frigidity, nymphomania and excitability. What we realize now, of course, was that these women were actually suffering -and often quite seriously -from the sheer frustration of the limited, tedious and repressed lives they were forced to live.

A well-bred young woman had no choice but to marry a man she barely knew, submit to his "carnal lusts" with no preparation or expectation of pleasure, run his household, bear his children and do it all while smiling, biting her tongue and wearing a corset. Who wouldn't be depressed, frustrated and, yes, hysterical?

In extreme cases, hysterectomies were performed to remove the "offending" organs. Which says a lot about the complete and utter bigoted ignorance of men in understanding and valuing women's lives and bodies.

It should be noted that only well-to-do women suffered from hysteria. Poor women were too busy simply trying to survive, and barely had access to medical treatment for life-threatening emergencies.

Dr. Dalrymple -superbly played by Jonathan Pryce -specializes in the treatment of hysteria through "medicinal massage" to "lessen the tensions in the womb." With complete sincerity, he explains to Granville (played by Hugh Dancy) that his patients experience "paroxysms" -not to be confused with sexual pleasure, which women are of course incapable of experiencing without masculine penetration.

Granville becomes the doctor's assistant, and is soon suffering intense carpel tunnel and muscle cramps from the prolonged daily "massage" of dozens of women. When idly playing with his friend's new invention -an electric duster -he notices the vibrations bring amazing relief to his near-crippled hand.

Which leads to a moment of spectacular genius for which I am eternally grateful.

There's a love story, too, but it dovetails nicely with the theme of the movie, which is about women taking control of their lives. Maggie plays Dr. Dalrymple's "other" daughter, a passionate suffragette and doer of good works in the poorest parts of London. She sparkles. I think this may be my favorite role for her.

So, let's give a hand (metaphorically speaking) to Dr. Mortimer Granville, the inventor of the vibrator! Perhaps we should all celebrate a "paroxysm" in his honor.

Seriously, check out this very funny and enjoyable movie. If it sounds "risqué" it's really not. There's no nudity, no bad language, and only one kiss in the whole movie. It was actually amazing that they could deal with the subject matter in such a Victorian way. One reviewer has expressed his disgust at watching an "old dried up woman" experiencing pleasure in a completely demure and ladylike way. You'd have to be a serious prude or a sexist, ageist grump to characterize the scene in such a dismissive way. Maybe the more conservative of you might not want to watch it with your parents or children, but my mom would laugh right along with me.

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Yes, Hysteria really is about the invention of the vibrator in Victorian England. And in my opinion it is adorable. Not everyone's cup of tea I realize. If the subject matter makes you a little uncomfortable, then give this one a pass. I can certainly see that certain conservatives would not be amused by this premise.

If however you find it amusing that someone made a romantic comedy about...well...you know what... then you will have a lovely light evening with lots of laughs.

Read Best Reviews of Hysteria (2012) Here

A deliciously fun treatment based (loosely) on the true story of the invention of the personal vibrator.

Dr. Mortimer Granville, a young, inspiring doctor is fired from many jobs in London hospitals due to his firm belief in Germ Theory the idea that infections were caused by germs. Not being a popular theory at the time, he was terminated repeatedly by the "solid Victorian medical foundation" for believing in "quackery."

The only job he can find is with a private practice that prevalently deals with women in the grips of "Hysteria" a quaint, Victorian term for women that are in essence, sex-starved. The treatment? To manually stimulate women with hand massaging until orgasm, thereby relieving the tension and associated emotional stress that comes with the condition. Since this is definitely a temporary relief, obviously the young and attractive doctor soon finds himself overrun with current and new patients leading to the development of a unique form of handstrain! Most certainly, alternative forms of stimulation for women need to be found to keep up.

Heaped on top is his employer, who with two daughters is pushing his "proper" one toward our protagonist for marriage, while the wild, wooly socially unacceptable daughter is the one who actually attracts him.

A comedic, fun historical piece that romps through the bedroom without being dirty or crass and handles delicate subjects beautifully without being dull or "prim." Definitely not for the kiddies (simply for the subject matter instead of any particular scene/situation; I don't think there was one even partially nude scene) but enough fun for adults on a Friday night to snuggle with popcorn and wine to enjoy.

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We see how the first mechanical vibrator was invented in the name of medical science. This is a sly R-rated in-crowd joke that becomes semi-militant when it launches into what was done to women in the latter 1800s (pre-Suffragette). If they were unhappy with their lives they were deemed "hysterical," sent to mental institutions, and if they had the temerity to object, were subjected to mandatory hysterectomies. This was before Lister's ideas about sanitation were widely accepted by the medical community, so this often was a death sentence.

That being said, let's focus on the sly humor:

* Jonathan Pryce ("Very Annie Mary") is Dr. Dalrymple, a charlatan who treats women suffering from hysteria through "manipulation" that results in "paroxysms," after which the women are "greatly relieved." His waiting room is jammed with "sufferers."

* Hugh Dancy ("Adam") is Dr. Mortimer Granville, the physician who really DID develop the first vibrator, which remains the most popular "sex toy" in the world. After Dr. Dalrymple hires him, it's clear that our hero soon suffers from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, so he has to invent something! His treatment was for muscle aches, as masturbation was considered deviant.

* Maggie Gyllenhaal ("Crazy Heart") is Dr. Dalrymple's progressive daughter Charlotte; she runs a soup kitchen, teaches children to read (and wash their hands), and then to cap it off, passes out literature that promotes women's right to vote. Hussy!

* Rupert Everett ("Wild Target") has a blast as the tinkerer Edmund St. John-Smythe, Dr Granville's good friend and collaborator. Edmund is always struggling with one invention or another and is constantly trying to get that new-fangled gadget, the telephone, to work: "Ahoy! Ahoy! Is anyone there?"

* Felicity Jones ("Like Crazy") is Dr. Dalrymple's other (perfect) daughter Emily: acquiescent, cultured, well-groomed and lovely.

Hugh Dancy always impresses me, as does Maggie Gyllenhaal, so I was happy to sign up to be notified when Amazon has this available.

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