Sybil
Televised June 7, 2008 (CBS)
Starring Jessica Lange (as Dr. Cornelia Wilbur), Tammy Blanchard, Jobeth Williams
Directed by Joseph Sargent
See complete credits at Internet Movie Database
In 1973, Flora Rheta Schreiber published the sensational best-selling book "Sybil" about a young woman with 16 distinct personalities. A few years later, the book was adapted for a 4-hour television mini-series starring Sally Field. Both the book and the mini-series elicited fascination and controversy and brought issues of child abuse, psychology and the phenomena of multiple personality disorder to the forefront.
A remake seemed like an odd choice considering that the original was highly acclaimed and earned Sally Field an Emmy. Added to that is the fact that experts have questioned Cornelia Wilbur (Sybil's psychiatrist) and author Schreiber's account of Sybil's case history. In fact, a book was published in 2012 ("Sybil Exposed") that claims to prove that Sybil's case was largely fabricated.
The remake has a lot of material to cram into 2 hours and unfortunately it shows. Both Blanchard and Lange give credible performances but it is hard to shake memories of the original production.
Critical Sampling:
"Lange's Wilbur is unflinching and unflappable, with equal parts compassion and ambition, empathy and bitterness, while Blanchard is a marvel of physical and vocal elasticity, changing into 16 people, often several in the same conversation." - Los Angeles Times
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Televised June 7, 2008 (CBS)
Starring Jessica Lange (as Dr. Cornelia Wilbur), Tammy Blanchard, Jobeth Williams
Directed by Joseph Sargent
See complete credits at Internet Movie Database
In 1973, Flora Rheta Schreiber published the sensational best-selling book "Sybil" about a young woman with 16 distinct personalities. A few years later, the book was adapted for a 4-hour television mini-series starring Sally Field. Both the book and the mini-series elicited fascination and controversy and brought issues of child abuse, psychology and the phenomena of multiple personality disorder to the forefront.
A remake seemed like an odd choice considering that the original was highly acclaimed and earned Sally Field an Emmy. Added to that is the fact that experts have questioned Cornelia Wilbur (Sybil's psychiatrist) and author Schreiber's account of Sybil's case history. In fact, a book was published in 2012 ("Sybil Exposed") that claims to prove that Sybil's case was largely fabricated.
The remake has a lot of material to cram into 2 hours and unfortunately it shows. Both Blanchard and Lange give credible performances but it is hard to shake memories of the original production.
Critical Sampling:
"Lange's Wilbur is unflinching and unflappable, with equal parts compassion and ambition, empathy and bitterness, while Blanchard is a marvel of physical and vocal elasticity, changing into 16 people, often several in the same conversation." - Los Angeles Times
Back to Film & Television