Freud (1962)

This pseudo-biographical movie depicts 5 years from 1885 on in the life of the Viennan psychologist Freud (1856-1939). At this time, most of his colleagues refuse to cure hysteric patients,... See full summary »

Director:

John Huston

Writers:

Charles Kaufman (screenplay), Charles Kaufman (story),

Stars:

Montgomery Clift, Susannah York, Larry Parks

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Montgomery Clift	...	Sigmund Freud
Susannah York	...	Cecily Koertner
Larry Parks	...	Dr. Joseph Breuer
Susan Kohner	...	Martha Freud
Eileen Herlie	...	Frau Ida Koertner
Fernand Ledoux	...	Dr. Charcot
David McCallum	...	Carl von Schlossen
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Frau Freud
David Kossoff	...	Jacob Freud
Joseph Fürst	...	Herr Jacob Koertner
Alexander Mango	...	Babinsky
Leonard Sachs	...	Brouhardier
Eric Portman	...	Dr. Theodore Meynert
John Huston	...	Narrator (voice)
Victor Beaumont	...	Dr. Guber

Storyline

This pseudo-biographical movie depicts 5 years from 1885 on in the life of the Viennan psychologist Freud (1856-1939). At this time, most of his colleagues refuse to cure hysteric patients, because they believe they're just simulating to gain attention. But Freud learns to use hypnosis to find out the reasons for the psychosis. His main patient is a young woman who refuses to drink water and is plagued by always the same nightmare.

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Plot Keywords:

sigmund freud | psychoanalysis | one word title | character name in title

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 December 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Freud: The Secret Passion

Filming Locations:

Bavaria Filmstudios, Geiselgasteig, Grünwald, Bavaria, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bavaria Film, Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min 120 min (theatrical) 140 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Trevor Maskell was favored for the role of Wilke.

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Connections

Referenced in El don de la duda (2006)

User Reviews

a strange collaboration

I found this film by accident. A happy one? Montgomery Cliff, John Huston, Jean-Paul Sartre and an image of Marilyn Monroe are purposely put together though it comes across as accidental.

On the plus, it is educational to see how something mainstream presents material which should be avant guard. The dream sequences are interesting for that reason as the film would have been much better if they pushed the envelope. Instead, the film maintains a balance in the imaginings of what an Oedipal Complex were, of what dreams are like, and, I suppose, the images are as developed as they could be for 1960's America. For that reason I recommend it: The film is a bit of time capsule in how films were made.

Against the film, the pacing is unnecessarily slow and the acting is wooden or melodramatic for todays audience. The dialogue presents the Freud's ideas with ease but there 's no art in the language.