The Locket, The Seventh Veil and Spellbound are all films of the 40s
that explain
or interpret emotional disturbance or breakdown of central character
with
psychoanalytic discourse delivered by trained doctor. The Locket is a
particularly interesting case, of complex construction, flashbacks
within
flashbacks; and Spellbound (1945) offers two interpretations: one of the
patient
(Gregory Peck) by doctor (Ingrid Bergman) and one of the doctor
(Bergman) by
veteran male analyst (Michael Chekhov). The father-like knowing doctor
who
explains/interprets and cures the female protagonist is a common figure
of 40s
cinema. The Claude Rains character in Now Voyager is another example.
Freda Freiberg, Melbourne

Bet MacArthur wrote:

> Greetings --
> While many of us would say that a film is .in itself. an interpretation of
> the makers' image --- here I am instead seeking suggestions of readily
> acquirable films from any period which .contain. scenes of a character(s)
> offering an interpretation about something to another character(s) -- whether
> of an event, or of the second person's (or someone else's) behavior, or of
> something the 2d person has said, or about a third party's behavior or
> speech.
>      Eg: the last scene of _Psycho_ where Martin Balsam explains (inerprets)
> the landscape of Norman Bates' madness to the gathered detectives.  OR:
> Woody Allen following his wife around the apartment in _Deconstructing Harry_
> spewing any number of manipulative interpretations about her needs or
> intentions -- clearly 'acts of aggression' on his part.
>      I am sure there are countless good examples from drama and comedy
> of1930-2000, including in some recent pop films (a colleague suggested
> looking in some of Jim Carrey's movies, for example).   Yes, even movies
> where an actual psychiatrist or analyst offers an interpretation to a patient
> would be fine, too.
>     Any help will be most welcome. Time sensitivity: by October 15.
> Best regards,
>    Bet MacArthur        Cambridge MA
>
> ----
> For past messages, visit the Screen-L Archives:
> http://bama.ua.edu/archives/screen-l.html

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