''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. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

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

and starring

Jodie Foster Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster (born November 19, 1962) is an American actress and filmmaker. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, three British Academy Film Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and the ho ...

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

and

Michael Murphy Michael, Mick, or Mike Murphy may refer to: Artists and entertainers * Michael Murphy (actor) (born 1938), American actor * Mike Murphy (musician) (1946–2006), American drummer for the Bee Gees and Chicago * Michael Bryan Murphy, lead singer ...

.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, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orphe ...

. 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 *

– 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), Ram in ''Tron'' (1982), a ...

– George Thompson *

Harry Andrews Harry Stewart Fleetwood Andrews, CBE (10 November 1911 – 6 March 1989) was an English actor known for his film portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Regimental Sergeant Major Wilson in '' The Hill'' (1965) alongside Sean ...

– 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. Biography 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, he worked also in Australia. Early career Hardy was born in New Zealand in Wellington and began his training ...

– Burley *

Don Selwyn Don Charles Selwyn (22 November 1935 – 13 April 2007) was a Māori actor and filmmaker from New Zealand. He was a founding member of the New Zealand Māori Theatre Trust and directed the 2002 film '' Te tangata whai rawa o Weneti (The Maori me ...

– Joseph * Derek Hardwick – Longwood * George Spoors – Lawyer * Bob Gould – Judge *

Jonathan Elsom Jonathan Elsom (born 22 September 1938) is a New Zealand-born television actor, writer, sculptor and artist. He appeared in many British and Australian television series and films, which include ''The Troubleshooters'', '' The Avengers'', ''The Sa ...

– Public Prosecutor * Norman Fairley – Bailiff * Kate Hood – Midwife

References

External links

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