This pair of black and white 1951 educational documentary films directed by Stanley Jackson produced by Robert Anderson for the National Film Board of Canada seek to demonstrate the symptoms of schizophrenia to students of psychology, psychiatry, and medical professions, featuring an interviews between Henz Lehmann, M.D. and his patients (TRT: 23:26).
Opening titles: “Mental Symptoms No. 1, Schizophrenia: Simple-Type Deteriorated. This series of films is not meant to illustrate techniques of mental examination… Case presented by Heinz Lehmann, M.D.” (0:08). A radio-style announcer in a suit reads from a script, introducing the film with a list of symptoms common to the schizophrenic: apathy, gawking, inappropriate emotional reactions, auditory hallucinations, paranoia (0:38). Interview begins. Heinz Lehmann questions a woman who lives in an institution, who is known for antisocial behavior. The interviewee explains that she has been in this location for 14 months (2:17). The interviewer/host asks a question about reading. The subject prefers listening to music. She explains that her head is never free of anybody talking, though it is quiet now (3:20). “Can you tell me what they’re saying?” The subject looks directly into the camera lens and shifts uncomfortably (4:27). Closeup of Heinz Lehmann (4:58). Discussion of visitors and mail (5:30). She doesn’t like reading or following newspapers, magazines. The patient’s gaze turns downward/inward (6:06).
She mentions that she likes to play the piano. If given a great deal of money, she suggests that she would give it to the hospital (7:00). She is sleeping and thinking better. She was lonesome, but now she smiles (8:00). Lunch is used as an excuse to end the interview, despite lunch having just been served (9:00). Lehman, reading in a medium shot, highlights the symptoms of apathy, and concludes (9:30).
Opening titles: “Mental Symptoms No. 3, Schizophrenia: Hebephrenic Type” (10:57). Heinz Lehman reads a statement about the extreme deterioration common to the hebephrenic type of schizophrenia. Strange speech patterns, disregard for appearance, poverty of ideas, hallucinations. A patient is described as having been first admitted 13 years ago with a catatonic breakdown (11:23). Interview begins. Lehmann presents the patient with a photo of himself in a catatonic state with raised arms and blank stare. The response comes murmured between puffs on a cigarette, with changes of subject, and focus (12:46). Interview continues in closeup. The man describes having trouble hearing. He is sick, “sometimes.” Fragmented phrases and waving hand gestures (15:11). The patient struggles to answer with his age and the age of the face in the photograph (16:45). Joe accepts an offer of a glass bottle of Coca-Cola (17:45). Title card: “Next interview occurred three weeks later” (18:00). Joe appears unhappy. He is questioned about his heart. He talks about streetcars, mounted police, and getting around on his “four feet,” all while clutching his head (18:05). Joe claims to be a policeman and gets confused about dentists (19:30). Joe talks about his clothing (22:00). Lehmann recaps his diagnosis (22:31).
Heinz Lehmann was a German-born psychiatrist who worked in Canada, and was known for his use of chlorpromazine for schizophrenia treatment. He was considered the “father of modern psychopharmacology,” and was also known for supporting the research of psilocybin, the decriminalization of marijuana, and the exclusion of homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1973. The Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology was established in his honor, following his passing in 1999.
