Private Worlds is a 1935 American drama film which tells the story of the staff and patients at a mental hospital and the chief of the hospital, who has problems dealing with a female psychiatrist. The film stars Claudette Colbert, Charles Boyer, Joel McCrea, Joan Bennett, and Helen Vinson.
The movie was written by Phyllis Bottome, Gregory La Cava, and Lynn Starling and was directed by La Cava. Cinematographer Leon Shamroy used early zoom lenses to create special effects for the film.
Claudette Colbert was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for the film.
The film is based on the 1934 novel of the same title by British writer Phyllis Bottome, who has had several of her works transferred to film, such as The Mortal Storm (MGM, 1940).
Plot
The film tells of problems in the lives of doctors and patients. A female doctor (Colbert) probes the twisted minds of her patients in a mental institution. The very caring psychiatrist and her colleague face discrimination by a conservative new supervisor.
Cast
Claudette Colbert as Dr. Jane Everest
Charles Boyer as Dr. Charles Monet
Joan Bennett as Sally MacGregor
Helen Vinson as Claire Monet
Joel McCrea as Dr. Alex MacGregor
Jean Rouverol as Carrie Flint
Esther Dale as Matron
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Jerry
Dora Clement as Bertha Hirst
Sam Godfrey as Tom Hirst
Samuel S. Hinds as Dr. Arnold
Theodore von Eltz as Dr. Harding
Stanley Andrews as Dr. Barnes
Reception
The film had a loss of $10,458.
