Shock Treatment (1964)

A private investigator endures the rigors of an insane asylum in order to locate $1 million in stolen loot.

Director:

Denis Sanders

Writers:

Sydney Boehm (screenplay), Winfred Van Atta (novel)

Stars:

Stuart Whitman, Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowall

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Stuart Whitman	...	Dale Nelson / Arthur
Carol Lynley	...	Cynthia Lee Albright
Roddy McDowall	...	Martin Ashley
Lauren Bacall	...	Dr. Edwina Beighley
Olive Deering	...	Mrs. Mellon
Ossie Davis	...	Capshaw
Donald Buka	...	Psychologist
Paulene Myers	...	Dr. Walden
Evadne Baker	...	Intern
Robert J. Wilke	...	Technician Mike Newton
Bert Freed	...	Frank Josephson
Judith De Hart	...	Matron
Judson Laire	...	Harley Manning

Storyline

A private investigator endures the rigors of an insane asylum in order to locate $1 million in stolen loot.

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Plot Keywords:

insane asylum | shock treatment | insanity | decapitation | psychopathology | 

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Taglines:

The Nightmare World of the Mad ...

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 1964 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Agonia mes' ti nyhta

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arcola Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anthony Perkins reportedly campaigned for role that went to Stuart Whitman.

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Goofs

At one point, Dr Beighley shows colleagues some amateur home movies demonstrating her interacting with animals at a zoo. Although quality of film is unpolished, supposedly amateurish film is heavily-edited, filled with reverse angles, close-ups, inserts, etc. that is clearly the work of a professional film crew, not simply a photographic record on a home movie camera.

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Connections

Referenced in Popcorn (1991)

User Reviews

A Forgotten Gem

This movie is one of those that's great to watch in the dark with popcorn, on a rainy night, or come to think of it, pretty much anytime. The actors are great, and the mood is very intense. Whitman was early in his career, McDowell does his usual stellar work, and Lauren Bacall gives one of her best performances as someone who belongs in the asylum, not running it. This is a great old flick that deserves a lot more recognition that it gets. If you watch it, and like it, tell others about it so the word can be spread. This deserves to be released on DVD if it hasn't already, and should be mentioned with the other great Hollywood thrillers.