Freud

US (1962): Drama

Filmed in Germany by American director John Huston, this film is a sincerely felt but overly simplistic biopic of the pioneering psychotherapist. The brooding, introspective Montgomery Clift was a curious choice for the role of Sigmund Freud; at times he looks more off the beam than some of his patients (his comic-opera Viennese accent doesn't add to the credibility). The screenplay takes the shape of a detective mystery, attempting to link various crises in Freud's private and professional life with his theoretical conclusions, most often doing so within well-staged dream sequences. Less successful are the scenes with the poor unfortunates who come to Freud for help, notably an embarrassing sequence with a young man suffering from an Oedipus complex. Freud was at one point supposed to have been scripted by existentialist playwright Jean-Paul Sartre, who gave up after he realized that the subject would require a four- or five-hour film at the very least. Cast also features Susannah York, Larry Parks, Susan Kohner and David McCallum. (Universal-International) (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)

 View the first 10 minutes of this film (with Spanish subtitles) on YouTube.com.

2 nominations