Hypnosis in Film and the Meejah…
There is much misinformation, (and downright rubbish), portrayed in the media about hypnosis, which in turn has coloured public perception. George du Maurier’s book Trilby (1894) has been the most significant prototype for hypnosis as portrayed in the film genre. In the book the unscrupulous Svengali seduces Trilby and endows her with an unearthly, and beautiful singing voice.
To the best of my knowledge there have been around eight film versions derived from the book, however the focus power shift is apparent as they have generally been titled “Svengali” or had that name featured prominently in the film title.
The most significant movie featured John Barry as the evil Svengali, made way back in 1931. However, even when hypnosis is depicted as having beneficial effects, it is still portrayed as terrifyingly powerful and so many false stereotypes are perpetuated. This has given a black-eye to the therapeutic benefits for many years. I personally find it annoying to think of how many people have gone through life with troubles that may have been so easily resolved…
Probably the best filmic representation of hypnotherapy is in the Sidney Lumet film “Equus”. Some out of the ordinary niceties are used for visual appeal, for instance, there is an quite unusual hypnotic induction using a steadily tapping pen and the young male patient is asked to act out memories using age-regression. The ever excellent Richard Burton portrays the part of psychiatrist, Martin Dysart, who investigates the violent blinding of six horses with a metal spike in a stable in Hampshire. However, the initial explanation of hypnosis and his patient’s subsequent experience of it are remarkably realistic. They throw light on the steps leading up to Alan Strang’s formation of delusions about the all-seeing horse-god, “Equus” to explain his blinding a stable full of horses in the middle of the night.
Regrettably, the portrayal of hypnosis and it’s practitioners has led many to believe that hypnosis removes all free will and increases the client’s vulnerability to that of automata or mindless slave…
The most frustrating thing about this occasionally still evident public opinion is that there must have been many people that could have excised their problems with but little investment in time, instead of having to carry them around for years and years, endless and unforgiving…
Steve Lauder