"The Human Jungle" Struggle for a Mind (TV Episode 1964) Poster

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9/10
Outstanding from Joan Collins.
Sleepin_Dragon20 July 2023
A confused Liz Cross descends a staircase in an underground station, removes her clothes, and marches towards and oncoming train, Doctor Corder had recently treated her, this time she's in the hands of Doctor Tate.

I'll admit, when I first saw Joan Collins appear on screen, and start performing a striptease, my initial reaction wasn't a positive one, I thought they had possibly run out of ideas, and gone for something to shock the viewers, how wrong was I!

It's one of the best episodes I've seen so far, a compelling story, with some fascinating characters, and a truly wonderful, debut performance from Joan Collins. There are some very powerful scenes, the big family revelation was some moment.

It's interesting to consider how attitudes have changed, Liz's father so mean spirited, so ashamed of his daughter, who's managed to do very well for herself.

I thought the sisterly rivalry angle was very interesting, Angela was such a calculating monster, she tried to trick her father and daughter.

I was surprised to learn that this was Joan Collins first on screen role, it's an outstanding performance from her, passionate, sincere, rather captivating, one of the best I've seen from her.

9/10.
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7/10
Struggle for a Mind
Prismark1024 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This is probably the most well known episode of The Human Jungle.

Largely as it features Joan Collins. She plays Liz Kross who in the opening scenes is doing a striptease in a London tube station and goes starkers in front of members of the public. She then tries to throw herself in front of a train.

It is embarrassing for Dr Corder, he was treating Liz and discharged her just a few hours before this incident.

It turned out that Liz had reluctantly taken on stripping to help pay her invalid father's medical treatment in America.

Only for her father to disown her and tear up the cheque she gave him. This drove Liz into a complete mental breakdown.

The new doctor treating Liz was not impressed with Dr Corder's handling of the case. It leads to Corder trying to make amends.

Liz's mother and sister make a bodged attempt to help her. It only leads to dark secrets being revealed.

It is a messy psychological case. The Kross are a dysfunctional family warped by the father.

No wonder Corder wants little to do with the rest of them. He just hopes that Liz can pull through.

It is a good performance from Collins as she is allowed to stretch herself.
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