Psyche 59

This film came on Turner Classic Movies recently, with the host mentioning that it was the film's debut on that channel, and the first film Patricia Neal made after winning the Oscar for Hud.

The story concerns a privileged upper-class blind woman named Alison (Neal), her husband Eric (Jurgens) and her younger sister, Robin (Eggar). At first all seems perfectly OK, given the circumstances, but bits of conversation are dropped here and there, darting looks are thrown here and there, and soon we realize that there is something lurking beneath the veneer of a privileged life. Alison, in the final stages of her second pregnancy, suffered a fall in her home that rendered her blind, though as she states early on, it's not that her corneas don't function, it's that her brain won't permit her to see images (paraphrasing here). Apparently this happened in 1959, hence the "'59" in the title: The story then takes place in 1964, five years after this fact, over a time period that seems to be about a month, or maybe two, when Robin re-arrives back into the lives of Eric and Alison after what appears to be a 5-year absence.

The black-and-white cinematography adds much to this film, such that I believe if it were in color, it would not be as effective. The language, dialogue and subject matter covered was ahead of its time, at least by U.S. standards, but stylistically, this matches a number of thrillers and socially-conscious dramas that came out of England in the early- to mid-1960s (e.g., Victim, Pumpkin Eater, etc.).

The first part of the film, set in London, sets up the story beautifully, and it isn't long before we start to realize that something's "up" - the carefully-worded dialogue, with certain key words and phrases omitted, or the glances of the blind Alison behind her sunglasses, to the beat of her words...you see that all that glitters is not gold, so to speak.

The second part of the film takes place at the characters' country house, located near a coastline; It is here that the set-up for what could be a riveting tale, as depicted in the first part of the film, loses steam and slows to a crawl, such that the conclusion is neither climactic nor satisfying; this is a shame, because it could have been done much better. Besides that, I do agree with the comments made by a previous observer, including that the grandmother doesn't seem quite grandmotherly (and actually, I'm sort of confused as to why this character is even in the picture).

Nonetheless, the acting is superb by all the leads, and particularly by Neal, who carries the film, in my opinion. Pay attention to every movement she makes, whether it's with her eyes, her head or her hands; listen intently to every syllable she utters, for it is through her character that we understand the real story of what has happened, or is happening, to these three people.

The movie is based on a book by the same name by Francoise des Ligneris, which is available online.

Those who think of Patricia Neal as a strong lady who can take care of herself, rent Psyche 59, a thriller. She's blind and completely dependent on the kindness of her husband, Curd Jurgens. Curd is a wonderful companion, waiting on her, showing her patience and kindness, and providing a personal maid to attend her when he's not around. Ian Bannen is also devoted to her, but since she's a married lady, he knows he can only be there for her as a friend.

The story would be interesting enough with just the above paragraphs as a synopsis, but it gets even more complicated and intriguing when Patricia's sister, Samantha Eggar, comes for a visit. Young, pretty, sexy, she's the kind of sister no one wants to have - let alone a blind woman who fears she's burdening her husband! Samantha constantly tries to entice Curd, and since he's a red-blooded man (and a very sexy one, if you've seen some of his other movies), he can't stay immune to her forever...

This thriller is entertaining, but I wouldn't really recommend watching it with your sister, or your husband if you have a sister. It has strong performances and a solid story, but it does have a European flavor that sometimes comes across as odd in America. Check it out to see what you think!

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. During some of the flashbacks, there are some blurred swerving camera motions, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

Obviously based on a novel (and on a novel by a woman too). I saw this film on TV forty years ago and remembered only the menacing conversation the heroine has with her mother, but that was sufficient to make me want to take another look at it again.

Having enjoyed enormous critical acclaim a couple of years earlier with 'A Cold Wind in August', Alexander Singer blew all the clout he'd gained with that freak success in this elaborate, breaktakingly pretentious folly about the love lives of the fabulously wealthy; and found himself condemned to spend the rest of his career in television. But 'Psyche 59' has awarded him the last laugh, it exists.

A weird hybrid of 'The Miracle Worker' and 'The Pumpkin Eater' (both of which ironically starred Anne Bancroft, who replaced Patricia Neal when she nearly died following a series of debilitating strokes while filming '7 Women' in 1965, barely a year after she'd won an Oscar for 'Hud'). Had Ms Neal died this film would probably be better remembered today, and it would certainly make it an even more vivid experience to watch than it already is. She wears a succession of fabulous outfits devised by Julie Harris plus a pair of those chic sunglasses that blind people always do in the movies, the photography by Walter Lassally is stunning, and the restless score by Kenneth V. Jones creates a similar mood to that his music lent soon afterwards to Roger Corman's 'The Tomb of Ligeia'.

Definitely a film to be watched at least once.

Allison Crawford is blind, though there's nothing physically wrong with her eyes. What did Allison see that was so shocking it mentally snapped her vision closed?

This concept alone opens up lots of possibility doors and windows. However, the screenplay writer Julian Zimet decided to go for the weakest of the scenarios available. When the mystery is revealed, though you've probably worked it out well before then, you may feel a little letdown... I know I did.

I don't know if this is the same climax the Francoise Des Ligneris novel has, not having read it, but it could have been a little stronger and believable. This, however, is a small point as the direction and the acting should have you hooked before you get close to the ending.

Alexander Singer uses his cast well and isn't adverse to use them to create a few iconic shots. Some nice close-ups are stronger thanks to the casts acting skills. You can see the worry, the concern, the cunning, and the realisation on their faces. I have to admit I still believe both Patricia Neal and Ian Bannen are miss-cast. They are both good in their portrayals but don't quite hit the mark. It's Samantha Eggar who steals the show as the cunning and oh-so-sexy and sensual sister, Robin. I have to say I even loved the sci-fi reading Grandma played brilliantly by Beatrix Lehmann. Though it's Curd Jurgens as Eric Crawford who surprised me the most. Being the crux of the story, you would have thought it strange for him to be cast as this type of character. But he comes across as strong and reassured that I could believe the notion thoroughly.

This is a good film that verges on greatness. If the story had been reworked a little tighter and the Neal and Bannen characters had been better cast, well, who knows? As it stands though, I would gladly recommend the film to all lovers of mysteries, thrillers, and dramas alike. This is a nice way to spend a wet Sunday afternoon. Along with with your beloved, a warm fire, and a tipple of one kind or another.

"Psyche '59" opened at an art theatre in New York City in 1964. Receiving lukewarm reviews, it closed quickly, and was then used as a co-feature in neighborhood theatres. I consider it a near-masterpiece. Starring Patricia Neal, Curt Jurgens, and Samantha Eggar, it is a spellbinding study of a woman suffering from hysterical blindness, her sex addict husband, and her younger sister, who it seems was sexually imposed-upon at a young age, and who is both cruelly nymphomaniacal and masochistic as a result. This film was clearly ahead of its time.

The screenplay by Julian Zimet, from a novel by Francoise des Ligneris, is a finely-nuanced piece of work.

Alexander Singer might be considered a great director of films about women's issues, as well as a great director of actresses. Consider his direction of Lola Albright in "A Cold Wind in August" three years before, and his direction of Lana Turner in "Love Has Many Faces" the year following. The fact that all three of these films were failures is clearly the reason why Singer is not widely known ("Love Has" having failed simply because its critics and audiences could not appreciate its deliberately melodramatic style).

The cinematography in "Psyche '59" is outstanding. One shot, in which the camera manages to look upward towards Samantha Eggar, while she is lying on the sand, took my breath away. Within the context of the scene, this use of strange camera angle was intensely effective, and not at all pretentious. Whether it was Singer's idea, or that of cinematographer Walter Lassally, I guess I'll never know.

The only flaw in "Psyche '59" is that the actress in the role of the grandmother seems too young for the part.