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Mesmerized

  • 1985
  • PG
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
977
YOUR RATING
Jodie Foster in Mesmerized (1985)
Drama

An orphaned New Zealand girl married to an older, wealthy businessman learns to deal with his strange sexual desires.An orphaned New Zealand girl married to an older, wealthy businessman learns to deal with his strange sexual desires.An orphaned New Zealand girl married to an older, wealthy businessman learns to deal with his strange sexual desires.

  • Director
    • Michael Laughlin
  • Writers
    • Jerzy Skolimowski
    • Michael Laughlin
  • Stars
    • Jodie Foster
    • John Lithgow
    • Michael Murphy
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    4.7/10
    977
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Laughlin
    • Writers
      • Jerzy Skolimowski
      • Michael Laughlin
    • Stars
      • Jodie Foster
      • John Lithgow
      • Michael Murphy
    • 33User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos13

    Jodie Foster and John Lithgow in Mesmerized (1985)
    Jodie Foster in Mesmerized (1985)
    Jodie Foster and John Lithgow in Mesmerized (1985)
    Jodie Foster and John Lithgow in Mesmerized (1985)
    Jodie Foster, John Lithgow, and Michael Murphy in Mesmerized (1985)
    Jodie Foster in Mesmerized (1985)
    Jodie Foster and Michael Murphy in Mesmerized (1985)
    Jodie Foster in Mesmerized (1985)
    Jodie Foster and John Lithgow in Mesmerized (1985)
    Jodie Foster and John Lithgow in Mesmerized (1985)
    Jodie Foster in Mesmerized (1985)
    Jodie Foster and John Lithgow in Mesmerized (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jodie Foster
    Jodie Foster
    • Victoria
    John Lithgow
    John Lithgow
    • Oliver Thompson
    Michael Murphy
    Michael Murphy
    • Wilson
    Dan Shor
    Dan Shor
    • George
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • Old Thompson
    Philip Holder
    • Dr. Finch
    Beryl Te Wiata
    • Mrs. Simmons
    Reg Evans
    Reg Evans
    • Mr. Simmons
    Jonathan Hardy
    Jonathan Hardy
    • Burley
    Don Selwyn
    • Joseph
    Derek Hardwick
    • Longwood
    George Spoors
    • Lawyer
    Bob Gould
    • Judge
    Jonathan Elsom
    • Public Prosecutor
    Norman Fairley
    Norman Fairley
    • Bailiff
    John Smith
    • Jury Foreman
    Patrick Smith
    • Court Clerk
    David Cameron
    David Cameron
    • Shipping Clerk
    • Director
      • Michael Laughlin
    • Writers
      • Jerzy Skolimowski
      • Michael Laughlin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The story is loosely based on that of Adelaide Bartlett, who, in 1886, went on trial for the chloroform poisoning of her husband.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Judge: Order in court! Council for the defense of Mrs. Victoria Thompson: Thomas Longwood, MP.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Dead Kids: Introduction by Producer Antony I. Ginnane (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Karu Karu
      Written by Sam Freedman and F.A. Bennett

      Performed by The Tura Kina Girls Choir

    User reviews33

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    good half
    It's 1880 New Zealand. Victoria (Jodie Foster) is on trial. She recalls her journey to that point. As a baby, she was dropped off at an orphanage. Growing up at the orphanage, she is introduced to merchant Oliver Thompson (John Lithgow) who quickly proposes. She marries the stranger and discovers that he's a controlling, volatile creep. His father is more of the same but his brother George is much more sensitive.

    The first half is perfectly fine. It's got the bad husband and brutalized young wife. It builds to a tense climatic moment halfway through. It does struggle to maintain that intensity in the second half. There is some ambiguity to the plot which does not really help. It needs to be tightened. It probably should turn into a trial movie with flashbacks. Although Jodie Foster was still in her early 20s, the character needs to be a teen and the closing text reveals the inspiration to be the trial of a 19 year old wife. Her vulnerability would be heighten with a younger actress. The movie seems to be holding back which prevents it from being better.
    helpful•5
    2
    • SnoopyStyle
    • Jan 25, 2018

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 31, 1986 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • My Letter to George
    • Filming locations
      • Auckland, New Zealand(on location)
    • Production companies
      • Challenge Film Corporation
      • Manchester Productions
      • Orinward Ltd.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $5,654,930 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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