SOME LIGHT HYSTORICAL STIMULATION
Hysteria is a movie about the invention of the vibrator. It’s loosely based on the inventor of the electric vibrator, Joseph Mortimer Granville. (One of the first vibrators was actually a steam-power device invented by an American physician.)
Dr. Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy) is hired by Dr. Dalrymple (Jonathan Pryce), who runs a practice treating women with hysteria. Mortimer is extremely successful at his job and the practices acquires many more clients. Unfortunately, Mortimer begins to suffer from severe hand cramps. Mortimer’s friend and inventor, Lord Edmund St. John-Smythe (Rupert Everett), has developed an electrical feathered fan and it gives Mortimer the idea to modify it for the practice.
At the same time, the reserved Mortimer takes an immediate liking to Emily Dalrymple (Felicity Jones) but slowly becomes attracted to the passionate older sister, Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a premodern feminist.
