Hysteria (2011)

The truth of how Mortimer Granville devised the invention of the first vibrator in the name of medical science.

Director:

Tanya Wexler

Writers:

Stephen Dyer (story), Jonah Lisa Dyer (story),

Stars:

Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Pryce

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Dancy	...	Mortimer Granville
Maggie Gyllenhaal	...	Charlotte Dalrymple
Jonathan Pryce	...	Dr. Robert Dalrymple
Felicity Jones	...	Emily Dalrymple
Rupert Everett	...	Edmund St. John-Smythe
Ashley Jensen	...	Fannie
Sheridan Smith	...	Molly
Gemma Jones	...	Lady St. John-Smythe
Malcolm Rennie	...	Lord St. John-Smythe
Kim Criswell	...	Mrs. Castellari
Georgie Glen	...	Mrs. Parsons
Elisabet Johannesdottir	...	Mrs. Pearce
Linda Woodhall	...	Nurse Smalley
Kim Selby	...	Lady Wheaton
John Overstall	...	Mr. Huddleston

Storyline

In 1880 pioneering doctor Mortimer Granville,sacked from various hospitals for challenging his superiors' out-moded methods,gets a job with Dr Dalrymple,who relieves female patients' frustrations - or hysteria - with pelvic massages which allow orgasm. The handsome young doctor attracts a large female clientele and gets engaged to Dalrymple's studious younger daughter Emily but after the constant massaging brings on a carpal injury he is sacked. Fortunately an enterprising inventor friend has come up with a power operated feather duster which will soon be transformed into a vibrator and make Mortimer a fortune. Along the way he also realises that his heart really lies with Emily's older sister Charlotte,an outspoken suffragette who runs a home for disadvantaged women in London's East End.

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Plot Keywords:

doctor | invention | hysteria | vibrator | treatment | 

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Taglines:

He created an invention that turned on half the world.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK France Germany Luxembourg

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 December 2011 (France)

Also Known As:

Histeria

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$35,656 (USA) (18 May 2012)

Gross:

$1,799,187 (USA) (21 September 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Informant Media, Forthcoming Productions, Beachfront Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director 'Tanya Wexler' stated that the hardest shot to get for the movie was of two ducks mating. After filming hundreds of hours of ducks with nothing to show for it, they finally got the shot they needed when someone found a video on YouTube.

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Goofs

When Emily and Mortimer are sitting on a bench towards the end of the film, a few drops of rain or dew from a leaf land on the Mortimer's coat, resulting in a few spots of moisture which disappear and reappear in subsequent shots.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mrs. Bellamy: I truly don't even know why I'm here, doctor.
[pen scraping]
Mrs. Bellamy: Well, of course it's difficult running a large household by oneself. And raising four children is exacting, but they're wonderful, wonderful children. And my husband, he's a good man. A very hard worker. Um... Ahem. Well, there is just one thing. Sometimes at night, when he comes to me, I imagine myself splitting his fat bald head with a great large ax.
[pen scraping]

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Crazy Credits

During the end credits images of several different vibrators throughout history are shown.

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: Battleship (2012)

User Reviews

Nice and easy

While I guess some might be offended by the way some things are depicted here, the movie itself plays it safe when it comes to the story. It is pretty predictable and you will know where this is heading not long after the movie has started. But the movie itself has so much heart (especially Maggie G.), that you are more than willing (no pun intended) to look over those flaws.

The jokes work, the characters are finely drawn and the movie itself is really nice. Again do not expect anything deep and you won't be disappointed. I haven't checked my history books either to look if the characters were based on anyone particular (it does leave you with that impression)