"Hysteria" director Tanya Wexler hadn't made a movie in years when producer Tracey Becker approached her with an idea: a romantic comedy about the invention of the vibrator. "I’ve made teeny little movies. Then I made a bunch of kids and so I was in the mom cave for a while," Wexler says. But when she learned about Joseph Mortimer Granville, the doctor responsible for the world's most popular sex toy, she couldn't resist. "Oh my god, Tracey and a friend of hers mentioned that this weird historical fact existed. She wrote up a two-page treatment idea, and I was like, 'Ok, I’ll get the writers. I’ll find our co-producers. I don’t care what it takes. I have to see that.'"
The resulting movie, starring Hugh Dancy and Maggie Gyllenhaal, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September and opens in theaters this weekend. Wexler...
The resulting movie, starring Hugh Dancy and Maggie Gyllenhaal, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September and opens in theaters this weekend. Wexler...
- 5/16/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Your Mind’s in Disturbia: Tanya Wexler Gives Us a Lobotomized History of the Vibrator
Another example of boring, banal people ruining potentially great ideas has been birthed in the form of director Tanya Wexler’s latest film project with Hysteria. Based on the 1880’s invention of the vibrator, producer Tracey Becker apparently had the brilliant concept to butcher a landmine idea. Taking a subject that has the potential to explore the still volatile subject of female sexual pleasure, sexual repression, heteronormative sexual expression, and not to mention the uncomfortable censorship still dictating how representations of this still filter what films get made and what we see in them, Ms. Becker had the audacity to find a director and two screenwriters to craft the invention of the vibrator into a simpering romantic comedy, one that focuses on “the spirit of change,” and isn’t “another dusty biopic.” In a perfect world,...
Another example of boring, banal people ruining potentially great ideas has been birthed in the form of director Tanya Wexler’s latest film project with Hysteria. Based on the 1880’s invention of the vibrator, producer Tracey Becker apparently had the brilliant concept to butcher a landmine idea. Taking a subject that has the potential to explore the still volatile subject of female sexual pleasure, sexual repression, heteronormative sexual expression, and not to mention the uncomfortable censorship still dictating how representations of this still filter what films get made and what we see in them, Ms. Becker had the audacity to find a director and two screenwriters to craft the invention of the vibrator into a simpering romantic comedy, one that focuses on “the spirit of change,” and isn’t “another dusty biopic.” In a perfect world,...
- 5/16/2012
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Watch 4 clips from the Hysteria comedy, directed by Tanya Wexler. that tells an untold tale of discovery – the surprising story of the birth of the electro-mechanical vibrator at the very peak of Victorian prudishness. Cast of the Sony Pictures Classics release which opens May 18th, also includes Anna Chancellor, Gemma Jones, Tobias Menzie and Kate Linder. Jonah Lisa Dyer, Stephen Dyer and Howard Gensler wrote the script for the Tracey Becker, Sarah Curtis and Judy Cairo-produced film. Support the film and check out the Official Site for Hysteria...
- 4/13/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Watch 4 clips from the Hysteria comedy, directed by Tanya Wexler. that tells an untold tale of discovery – the surprising story of the birth of the electro-mechanical vibrator at the very peak of Victorian prudishness. Cast of the Sony Pictures Classics release which opens May 18th, also includes Anna Chancellor, Gemma Jones, Tobias Menzie and Kate Linder. Jonah Lisa Dyer, Stephen Dyer and Howard Gensler wrote the script for the Tracey Becker, Sarah Curtis and Judy Cairo-produced film. Support the film and check out the Official Site for Hysteria...
- 4/13/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Watch 4 clips from the Hysteria comedy, directed by Tanya Wexler. that tells an untold tale of discovery – the surprising story of the birth of the electro-mechanical vibrator at the very peak of Victorian prudishness. Cast of the Sony Pictures Classics release which opens May 18th, also includes Anna Chancellor, Gemma Jones, Tobias Menzie and Kate Linder. Jonah Lisa Dyer, Stephen Dyer and Howard Gensler wrote the script for the Tracey Becker, Sarah Curtis and Judy Cairo-produced film. Support the film and check out the Official Site for Hysteria...
- 4/13/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Poster for Hysteria, starring Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Felicity Jones Maggie Gyllenhaal stars in the Sony Pictures Classics romantic comedy based on the truth of how Mortimer Granville (played by Hugh Dancy) devised the invention of the first vibrator, all in the name of medical science. Cast of the Tanya Wexler-helmed film includes Rupert Everett, Jonathan Pryce, Anna Chancellor, Gemma Jones, Tobias Menzie and Kate Linder. Jonah Lisa Dyer, Stephen Dyer and Howard Gensler wrote the script for the film produced by Tracey Becker, Sarah Curtis and Judy Cairo. Check out all the posters and images under the new international movie poster...
- 1/31/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Poster for Hysteria, starring Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Felicity Jones Maggie Gyllenhaal stars in the Sony Pictures Classics romantic comedy based on the truth of how Mortimer Granville (played by Hugh Dancy) devised the invention of the first vibrator, all in the name of medical science. Cast of the Tanya Wexler-helmed film includes Rupert Everett, Jonathan Pryce, Anna Chancellor, Gemma Jones, Tobias Menzie and Kate Linder. Jonah Lisa Dyer, Stephen Dyer and Howard Gensler wrote the script for the film produced by Tracey Becker, Sarah Curtis and Judy Cairo. Check out all the posters and images under the new international movie poster...
- 1/31/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Poster for Hysteria, starring Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Felicity Jones Maggie Gyllenhaal stars in the Sony Pictures Classics romantic comedy based on the truth of how Mortimer Granville (played by Hugh Dancy) devised the invention of the first vibrator, all in the name of medical science. Cast of the Tanya Wexler-helmed film includes Rupert Everett, Jonathan Pryce, Anna Chancellor, Gemma Jones, Tobias Menzie and Kate Linder. Jonah Lisa Dyer, Stephen Dyer and Howard Gensler wrote the script for the film produced by Tracey Becker, Sarah Curtis and Judy Cairo. Check out all the posters and images under the new international movie poster...
- 1/31/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Sony Pictures Classics has announced that they have acquired all U.S. and South African rights to Hysteria . The film is directed by Tanya Wexler from a script by the team of Stephen Dyer and Jonah Lisa Dyer. A trio of women produced Hysteria - Forthcoming Films' Sarah Curtis, Informant Media's Judy Cairo, and Beachfront Films' Tracey Becker. The film stars Academy Award nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal and Hugh Dancy alongside Jonathan Pryce, Rupert Everett, and Felicity Jones and had its World Premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. Hysteria , a mischievously inspired romantic comedy, is based on the surprising truth of how Mortimer Granville came up with the world's first electro-mechanical vibrator in the name of medical science. "'Hysteria' is meant...
- 11/11/2011
- Comingsoon.net
Deadline revealed September 30 that Sony Pictures Classics would acquire Hysteria, the film that covers the accidental discovery of the vibrator. Spc has just issued this official announcement of the deal: New York (November 10, 2011) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all Us and South African rights to Hysteria. The film is directed by Tanya Wexler from a script by the team of Stephen Dyer and Jonah Lisa Dyer. A trio of women produced Hysteria- Forthcoming Films’ Sarah Curtis (Mansfield Park, Her Majesty Mrs. Brown), Informant Media’s Judy Cairo (Crazy Heart), and Beachfront Films’ Tracey Becker (Finding Neverland). The film stars Academy Award® nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal (Crazy Heart, Nanny McPhee Returns) and Hugh Dancy (Adam, Confessions Of A Shopaholic) alongside Jonathan Pryce, Rupert Everett, and Felicity Jones and had its World Premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. Hysteria, a mischievously inspired romantic comedy, is based on...
- 11/10/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Gast Waltzing has recently scored the British romantic comedy Hysteria. The movie directed by Tanya Wexler stars Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Pryce, Rupert Everett and Felicity Jones. Christian Henson (the Devil’s Double, Black Death) has written additional music for the film. Sarah Curtis (Her Majesty Mrs. Brown), Judy Cairo (Crazy Heart) and Tracey Becker are producing the comedy, which centers on the invention of the vibrator in Victorian London. The story follows a young doctor treating cases of Hysteria who struggled to establish himself while confronting the gutsy daughter of his boss. The project is arguably Waltzing’s highest profile scoring assignment to date. The composer previously scored the 2008 comedy drama Jcvd starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Hysteria will premiere at this year’s Toronto Film Festival. No domestic release date has been set yet.
- 8/17/2011
- by filmmusicreporter
- Film Music Reporter
Premiering at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, Hysteria stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Dancy, Rupert Everett, Jonathan Pryce, and Felicity Jones. The movie is directed by Tanya Wexler and will hit theaters this fall. Written by Jonah Lisa Dyer & Stephen Dyer, Hysteria is a romantic comedy about the true story of the Victorian era gynecologists who invented a device that freed women sexually and socially: the vibrator. The film is directed by Tanya Wexler (Finding North) and produced by Sarah Curtis, Judy Cairo, and Tracey Becker. It stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Dancy, Rupert Everett, Jonathan Pryce, Felicity Jones, Ashley Jensen, Gemma Jones, Anna Chancellor, Tobias Menzies, and Georgie Glen.
- 8/17/2011
- by Eric Whitman
- The Daily BLAM!
Ashley Jensen, Sheridan Smith, Gemma Jones, Felicity Jones and Anna Chancellor have joined the cast of the romantic comedy "Hysteria," based on the invention of the vibrator in Victorian-era England.According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce and Rupert Everett.Tanya Wexler is directing from a script by Stephen Dyer and Jonah Lisa Dyer.Dancy and Pryce star as doctors in London treating cases of hysteria, a condition characterized at the time by a woman's irritability and anger. Dancy and his best friend, played by Everett, experiment with a new electrical device (the vibrator) as a treatment for the ailment.Forthcoming Films' Sarah Curtis, Informant Media's Judy Cairo and Beachfront Films' Tracey Becker are producing.Shooting begins in...
- 10/22/2010
- by Adnan Tezer
- Monsters and Critics
Maggie Gyllenhaal and Hugh Dancy will star alongside Jonathan Pryce and Rupert Everett in Hysteria.
The project sound quite interesting. Who would say No to a Victorian-era romantic comedy about the invention of the vibrator?
Hysteria will be directed by Tanya Wexler from the screenplay written by Stephen Dyer and Jonah Lisa Dyer.
At this moment we know that the movie will follow “the pair’s fling against the backdrop of the invention of the vibrator, apparently created by a doctor who used it to treat hysteria in women.”
Jonathan Pryce will play a physician, who is also Gyllenhaal’s character’s father; Dancy plays another medic, who, along with a colleague played by Rupert Everett, stumbles upon the discovery.
As for Gyllenhaal’s character, she already gave us a little insight:
“I play a firecracker whose father is a doctor who is in the business of curing hysterical women.
The project sound quite interesting. Who would say No to a Victorian-era romantic comedy about the invention of the vibrator?
Hysteria will be directed by Tanya Wexler from the screenplay written by Stephen Dyer and Jonah Lisa Dyer.
At this moment we know that the movie will follow “the pair’s fling against the backdrop of the invention of the vibrator, apparently created by a doctor who used it to treat hysteria in women.”
Jonathan Pryce will play a physician, who is also Gyllenhaal’s character’s father; Dancy plays another medic, who, along with a colleague played by Rupert Everett, stumbles upon the discovery.
As for Gyllenhaal’s character, she already gave us a little insight:
“I play a firecracker whose father is a doctor who is in the business of curing hysterical women.
- 8/22/2010
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
Maggie Gyllenhaal will star in the independent romantic comedy "Hysteria," which is based on the invention of the vibrator in Victorian-era England. According to Variety, Tanya Wexler is directing a cast that includes Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce and Rupert Everett. The script was written by Stephen Dyer and Jonah Lisa Dyer.Forthcoming Films' Sarah Curtis ("Mansfield Park"), Beachfront Films' Tracey Becker ("Finding Neverland") and Informant Media's Judy Cairo ("Crazy Heart") are producing. Shooting will begin in October in London and Luxembourg. Dancy and Pryce star as doctors in London treating cases of hysteria, a condition characterized at the time by a woman's irritability and anger. Dancy and his best friend, played by Everett, experiment with a new electrical device...
- 8/21/2010
- by Adnan Tezer
- Monsters and Critics
Variety confirms that Maggie Gyllenhaal has joined the project and breaks the news that Hugh Dancy will be ready for the October shoot of Hysteria, the true story about the invention of the first vibrator set in Victorian England to be directed by Tanya Wexler. Gyllenhaal would be replacing the once attached Sally Hawkins and seeing that this will play as a comedy, my thinking is we can expect something in the tone of a Calender Girls and Kinsey, so I don't imagine her having to put a brave face a la Secretary or Sherrybaby for the role. Synopsis: Scripted by Stephen Dyer and Jonah Lisa Dyer, this is set in Victorian England, 1880. Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy), a young doctor sick of his colleagues' medieval practices, starts working for Dr Dalrymple (Jonathan Pryce), who treats women's "hysteria" by offering them intimate manual relief... Demand is so great that Mortimer fears...
- 8/19/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
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