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[Bly]

I'm not sure if this has been posted before and wasn't quite sure
what thread to put this in, but I just came across it for the first
time. I thought that it was incredibly interesting on many levels,
from the subject matter (sadly not surprising concerning state run
state hospitals at the time) to how it the state of Massachusetts
successfully banned the movie from being released from when it was
made in 1967 to 1991 when it finally had permission to be released.

It makes me wonder what would've happen if the documentary had been
released, like it was originally intended to at the New York Film
Festival? Very similar in fashion to Nellie Bly's 10 Days in a
Madhouse, it exposes the maltreatment of patients (even though they
were criminals - no one should be treated in such a way). So if
seen by a mass audience do you think that the public would prompt
the state or federal government to improve the standards of
health care at Bridgewater and possibly re-examine other state run
mental facilities?

Below is a link that tells you a little bit about the movie and its
legal problems from Massachusetts shamefully not wanting this film to
get out, as well as the movie itself.

Part 1:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a97_1233076955

Part 2:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e5e_1233082303

Part 3:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9cc_1233086391

[ESHcemetery]

I have a copy of it somewhere on DVD that I got (of all places) from a state hospital employee. It definitely isn't easy to watch & I think the reason they had it shutdown was fear of the public seeing what actually goes in. Granted this was a state hospital for criminally insane as pointed out, but this was pretty much how most state hospitals were through the early 1960s before most patients were dumped into the streets as part of de-institutionalization then again in the early 1980s. The part I remember most is the guy talking to the doctor in the exercise yard basically asking to be sent back to prison instead of being there.

[Bly]

That scene where he's talking to the doctor out in the yard made me want to
slap that doctor who was basically laughing off everything the patient says
(as do the other doctors later on).

I think to me the other two parts of the documentary that stick with more
though is the part where they are showing down the man who messed up his
room and just keep asking him over and over and over again if he'll keep
it clean this time, which is obviously just setting him off more. That and
that brilliant yet sad editing move where they are force feeding a patient
and cross cut between that same patient being readied for burial followed
by the less than respectful hasty burial.

Just wondering, where did you friend work if you don't mind me asking?

[ESHcemetery]

The force feeding/burial preparation scene is sad yet memorable one indeed. Keep in mind the grave is probably unmarked to this day, his family is probably out there wondering what happened to him.

The employee that gave me the copy worked at several Indiana state hospitals over 30+ years and is now retired. She had visited most state hospitals on this half of the country over the years though.

[lostndarkness]

Saw the film a few years back

[Bly]

And what did you think about it? Anything that stuck out?

[fictionallie]

I've seen this movie many times, and I think it is a must-watch. It is one of those films that is difficult to watch, but gives an unprecedented insight into what life was like for many of the inmates/patients during the time period.

Bridgewater is only one town over from my hometown, and I've been by this place several times. It's still in use today. Perhaps someday it won't be, and will be a great place for all of us to explore, albeit I'm sure it would be quite a creepy venture by then.