during the 1940s and there be several film about mental illness and most that i have see be psychological mumbo jumbo fill with nonsense and portray insanity in the most ridiculous way . one of the most famous and seriously flaw of these film be spellbind . despite be direct by hitchcock and have a good reputation and most of what occur in the film have nothing to do with mental illness and the way the therapist ( ingrid bergman ) behave in the film be not only unethical but downright stupid . thank goodness for film like possess that prove that hollywood be capable of produce a reasonably good psychological drama . unlike possessed and this film seem like they actually consult with real therapist and the way the story be write be a bit hard to believe but actually plausible . when therapist talk about the mental illness ms. crawford character have and they really be reasonable in their diagnosis and the terminology they use be correct for that day . hat off for this aspect of the film . now the plot of this story be in many way pure soap opera with more twist and turn than you would see in any other genre . the combination of the four main character and their many problem sure give the audience of entertainment for the cost of admission . now the father ( raymond massey ) and his daughter ( geraldine brook ) be relatively normal in the film . however and van heflin play a somewhat sociopathic creep a guy with little depth but a lot of charm . he unwilling to commit to a serious relationship with joan at the beginning of the film and but later he sweep a much young lady ( joan step daughter ) off her foot and when confront admit that much of her appeal be her money . joan crawford character and however and be the main focus of the film and wow do she have a lot go on psychologically . in the beginning and she seem normal enough but when reject by heflin and she show that there be a strong streak of obsession and delusion about her and she come off sound like a crazed stalker . this be only the beginning and however and a throughout the course of the film and it apparent that her problem run much deep a she paint an amazingly accurate portrait of a woman sink into the depth of schizophrenia ( with paranoid and catatonic feature ) . while some portrayal of this illness have be well in recent year and ms. crawford and the director and the writer do an amazing job for the time an image that would still hold true today . no mumbo jumbo here just an accurate picture of what it would be like to slip into madness and eventually into catatonia . the only obviously wrong aspect of this be the amazing result they get use drug to break through her unresponsive state this just isn not possible . however and consider how this set up the film and be necessary for the narrative and this can easily be overlook . okay and so if youre not a psychotherapist or psychology teacher and be the film worth see . absolutely . apart from the psychological truth in the film and there be some dandy romance and lot of unexpected twist and turn and darn fine act throughout . apparently this plum role be first offer to bette davis ( who also apparently foolishly turn down the lead in mildred pierce ) but ms. davis be about to go on maternity leave . frankly and though i adore ms. davis a an actress and crawford be so good here that i do not mind at all she have a great knack for play play character on the edge of sanity . see this film . about the only reason it do not score it a 9 be that towards the end van heflin reaction to crawford do not make much sense . it be obvious crawford be dangerous and unbalanced yet he foolishly taunt her . everyone know you dont dare a crazy person to shoot you they usually do . duh .