Hysteria (2011)

Hysteria (2011)

Charlotte: Dr. Granville, I can assure you that women enjoy physical pleasure just as much as men, even if it can be hard to come by.
Mortimer: Pleasure has nothing to do with it.  It is strictly a medical treatment that stimulates the nervous system.
Charlotte: Indeed it does, and it’s a bargain at a guinea!  But my point is, according to your diagnosis, hysteria seems to cover everything from insomnia to toothache.  It’s nothing more than a catch-all for dissatisfied women.  


This is not an Oscar winner, but Tyler and I watched it the other day and really enjoyed it.  He was reluctant, but it won him over.

Warning: If sexual topics make you uncomfortable, don't read on or watch the movie!

When I told Tyler that Hysteria was about the invention of the vibrator, he thought I was joking.  But no, really, it is.

The movie is not only hilarious, it is also a fascinating look at the science and medicine of that time period (the late 1800s).

The opening scene shows the main character, Dr. Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy), a young, idealistic doctor trying to do some good, working at a hospital with primitive medical practices.  Bleeding, leeches, pills that do nothing.



Granville gets into a heated argument with the head doctor about the necessity of changing a bandage on a patient to avoid infection, which the head doctor thinks is nonsense.  He tries explaining that otherwise germs cause infection: "Germs. They’re tiny creatures that invade the body."  The patient, an elderly lady, says "I don't think I have those," and Granville responds, "You can’t see them.  They’re invisible."  Everyone stares at him like he's crazy, and you can kind of see why -it did sound a little like science fiction.

He joins the practice of Dr. Robert Dalrymple (Jonathan Pryce), telling him "Sir, I would be enormously grateful for any position that allowed me to offer relief to my patients, with little chance of killing them."  He helps Dalrymple treat "hysteria" in women, something that seems to encompass any sort of nervous/dissatisfied complaint that women have, which Dalrymple believes can be cured by "pelvic massage."  The men are dopes, and have no idea that they are actually causing female orgasms.  There is nothing sexual about it, of course, because "Women are incapable of any physical satisfaction without the insertion of the male organ."

Granville's hand begins cramping after repeated procedures, which leads him to help create the first vibrator, with the help of his wealthy and tech-savvy friend, Edmund St. John-Smythe, played by the always funny Rupert Everett.  They test it on the maid, Molly, with great success.  She wants to know what it's called, and when they aren't sure, she says "Well I'd think of something quick, so that a girl knows what to ask for."  They bring it to Dr. Dalrymple, and then the three proceed to try it out on an actual patient.  They all look so serious and ridiculous standing around with goggles on.

I think a lot of reviewers didn't like the movie, because they were expecting a serious feminist take on the subject, but I think that would have made it uncomfortable to watch.  It was the humorous approach to the subject that made it work, in my opinion.

The actors (Hugh Dancy, Rupert Everett, Felicity Jones, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Pryce, Sheridan Smith) are all great comic actors.

I would recommend it to anybody not squeamish and looking for a really funny movie.

The cherry on top is that it's a cute love story, with Granville being pushed towards Dr. Dalrymple's proper, well-mannered daughter, Emily (Felicity Jones), but finding himself attracted to his wilder, more progressive daughter, Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal):

Granville: It must be difficult pleasuring half the women in the city.
Mortimer: Madame, pleasure has nothing to do with it, I can assure you.
Charlotte: I suppose that depends on whether you're over the table or on it.