This film from 1967 tells the true story of Doug; an alcoholic father and husband, who underwent extensive treatment for his alcoholism using shock therapy and conditioning exercises. This black-and-white film is presented by the Pennsylvania State University and the Department of Mental Health at the University of Adelaide. It is directed by John Morley and produced in Sydney Australia.
An alcoholic named Doug is sitting on a couch with his three children (00:16). He plays piano with his daughter (00:26). He plays with his children in a yard (00:58). He drives from his house (01:09) and through town (01:22). He parks by a medical building (01:37) and enters (02:03). Credentials (02:10). “A man With a Problem” title banner (02:18). Doug is having a meeting with a psychologist inside the medical building and is diagnosed with Dropsy, more commonly known as ‘edema’ and a rare congenital cardiac anomaly knows as Berry-syndrome (02:26). He was previously also diagnosed with cirrhosis, acute gastritis, cardiomyopathy, megaloblastic anemia, and peripheral neuritis (02:51). He is having an extensive full-body medical examination by a psychiatrist (02:56). The psychologist is having a meeting with the psychiatrist (05:22). Doug is receiving a full psychological examination by the psychiatrist through questionaries and mental exercises (05:43). Books about psychiatry and psychology (06:49). A moth flying around a lightbulb (07:11). A cockroach hiding under a dark sheet (07:19). The psychiatrist examines Doug’s knee-jerk reflex (07:41). A woman is breastfeeding her baby (07:51). A toddler playing in a yard while the mother observes (08:20). He plays with his siblings (08:53). A projector screen showing a slideshow titled “Alcoholism” (09:18). Doug receives electric shock therapy using a galvanometer and an electrical stimulator to relieve the symptoms of mental health problems and alcoholism (09:24). Doug looks at the projector screen with a thought-provoking slideshow about alcoholism (09:52). He receives relaxation and aversion therapy by his psychiatrist to treat anxiety, through various movements and breathing exercises (10:54). The electric shock therapy continues, and Doug is linked up to the galvanometer and the electrical stimulator again (13:00). The psychiatrist aligns glasses with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in front of Doug (13:09). Doug is shocked with electricity when drinking from a glass with alcohol and is instructed to spit it out again (14:02). Tracings of Doug’s level of anxiety through electrodes placed on his palms (15:49). The conditioning exercise against alcohol continues (16:07). Paintings hung on a wall (16:20). Doug participates in a painting class to avoid social isolation during his treatment period (16:24) and has dinner with other patients immitted to his hospital ward (16:29). He becomes friends with fellow patients and takes part in various activities to help the ward’s nurses, including making the beds (16:45). A meeting between the psychiatrist and the psychologist (17:31). Doug is released from the hospital, and he arrives at his house (18:08). He is welcomed home by his family (18:24). Credentials (18:55). “The End” written on screen (19:16).
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
