''Mesmerized'' (also known as ''Shocked'' and ''My Letter to George'') is a 1985

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Michael Laughlin Michael Stoddard Laughlin (November 28, 1938 – October 20, 2021) was an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Biography Laughlin was raised in Minonk, Illinois, where his father Donald M. Laughlin had extensive farms. He played ...

and starring

Jodie Foster Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster (born November 19, 1962) is an American actress and filmmaker. Foster started her career as a child actor before establishing herself as leading actress in film. She has received List of awards and nominations re ...

John Lithgow John Arthur Lithgow ( ; born , 1945) is an American actor. He studied at Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before becoming known for his John Lithgow filmography, diverse work on stage and screen. He has rece ...

and Michael Murphy.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970–1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p107 Loosely based upon the Pimlico mystery, the film was a co-production between Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States with

RKO Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, is an American film production and distribution company, historically one of the major film studios, "Big Five" film studios of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood's Clas ...

. The film was titled ''Mesmerized'' during production and upon release in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. It was released in the US in 1986 as ''My Letter to George'', and elsewhere as ''Shocked''.

Plot

An orphaned 18-year-old New Zealand girl marries a much older wealthy businessman. Strains soon develop between them, at great emotional and physical toll on them and those around them, from family and servants, to business and trade associates and clientele. She proceeds to cultivate a game with him in which she reads to him and also hypnotizes him. While he is under hypnosis she feeds him chloroform, thus gradually poisoning him. He finally dies and she is arrested and accused of poisoning him. Although chloroform is found in his stomach, there is no proof that she was involved, so she is acquitted. She then leaves New Zealand with his brother George, whom she loves. The film ends by stating that her story was "based on a real character, crime and trial" and that it was assumed that they had emigrated to America to begin a new life. She was 19 years old.

Cast

– Victoria Thompson *

– Oliver Thompson * Michael Murphy – Reverend Wilson *

Dan Shor Daniel Shor (born November 16, 1956) is an American actor, director, writer, and acting teacher with a career spanning over 40 years. His most recognized roles include Enoch Emery in John Huston's '' Wise Blood'' (1979), Pete Brady in '' Strang ...

– George Thompson *

Harry Andrews Henry Stewart Fleetwood Andrews, CBE (10 November 1911 – 6 March 1989) was a British actor often known for his film portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Regimental Sergeant Major Wilson in '' The Hill'' (1965) earned And ...

– Old Thompson * Philip Holder – Dr. Finch *

Beryl Te Wiata Beryl Margaret Te Wiata (née McMillan; 15 April 1925 – 4 May 2017) was a New Zealand actor, author, and scriptwriter. Early life and family Born in Christchurch on 15 April 1925, Te Wiata was the daughter of Ethel Laura McMillan (née Hamilt ...

– Mrs. Simmons *

Reg Evans Reginald Evans (27 March 1928 – 7 February 2009) was a British-born actor active in Australian radio, theatre, television and cinema from the 1960s, after having started his career in his native England. Early life Evans started drama while ...

– Mr. Simmons *

Jonathan Hardy Jonathan Hardy (20 September 1940 – 30 July 2012) was a New Zealand-Australian film and television actor, writer and director. Early career Hardy was born in Wellington and began his training at the New Zealand Players' Drama School. He tr ...

– Burley * Don Selwyn – Joseph * Derek Hardwick – Longwood * George Spoors – Lawyer * Bob Gould – Judge * Jonathan Elsom – Public Prosecutor * Norman Fairley – Bailiff *

Kate Hood Kate Hood (born ) is an Australian actress, born in Sydney. She studied drama in New Zealand and joined The Mercury Theatre. She is best known to international audiences for her role in the cult television drama ''Prisoner (TV series), Prisone ...

– Midwife

References

External links

* * 1980s Australian films 1980s British films 1980s English-language films 1985 drama films 1985 films Australian drama films British drama films Films directed by Michael Laughlin Films scored by Georges Delerue Films with screenplays by Michael Laughlin New Zealand drama films {{NewZealand-film-stub