PRIVATE WORLDS
US, 1935, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Claudette Colbert, Charles Boyer, Joan Bennett, Helen Vinson, Joel Mc Crea, Esther Dale.
Directed by Gregory La Cava.
Private Worlds is about mental health – Joel Mc Crea’s character saying that there is no sanity or insanity but people live in their own private worlds.
At this stage of film-making, Sigmund Freud was still alive (dying in 1939). It means that psychiatry was still in its comparative infancy. This is a very interesting drama, highlighting mental institutions in the mid-1930s in the United States, the role of psychiatrists, the role of doctors, staff as well as an analysis of the illnesses of the patients.
In later decades, this became a popular theme – with hospitals and institutions the staple of television dramas.
This is a blend of drama – although it has many of the elements of soap opera. However, it has a very strong cast which gives the film great strength as well as psychological and emotional insight.
It was directed by Gregory La Cava who began directing as an animator in 1916. He made numerous films, short films during World War Two and in the immediate aftermath as well as quite a number during the 1920s. However, he did not have such a long career in sound films though his films include My Man Godfrey and Stage Door from the mid-1930s. His last film was Living in a Big Way in 1947.
1. The status of the film now? Stars, director?
2. The significance of the title and its explanation? Reference to mental illness? Presentation of mental illness and treatment with the understanding of the thirties? Humanity, understanding? Comparisons with the present?
3. How serious a drama? The film as soap opera, with soap opera, ingredients? The serious or romantic style?
4. The presentation of the hospital and the creation of atmosphere with details of staff and patients? Jane Everest and Alex McGregor? and their work together? The exemplification of their skills? Audience response to their capacities for healing and understanding?
5. The contrast with the Matron and her stern dealing with people? The jealousies, the later gossip, her dismissal, her humiliation, her reaction to the rest of the staff? The rest of the staff and their contribution to the work?
6. The arrival of Dr Monet and Alex’s jealousy? His reputation? In reality?
7. Jane’s presence, flirting with Alex and taking him away from his wife, the truth and Jane's discovery, of her admiration for Dr Monet after his treatment of her? How did the bonds between them grow especially when Dr Monet observed Jane’s abilities? Confrontation with Alex?
8. The portrait of Sally: in love with Alex, her silliness, seriousness, her concern for the patients, sympathising with them, trying to help, the pregnancy, the birth?
9. The build-up of the romance between Jane and Monet in work, truth? The important sequence of Jane's taking advice from the doctor with reference to herself?
10. An appropriate happy ending for this kind of film? Its human values, insight into suffering people, in the sequences with the Alex, Gerry and the others?
