Shock Treatment

Shock Treatment

Year: 1964

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Denis Sanders

DramaThrillerMystery

You Won’t Be The Same When You Come Out Of Shock Treatment A private investigator endures the rigors of an insane asylum in order to locate $1 million in stolen loot.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Shock Treatment (1964)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Shock Treatment (1964). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Mental Institution, Townsend Estate

The story largely unfolds inside a psychiatric hospital where therapy rooms, hypnosis, and electroconvulsive sessions shape the action. The institution's recreational grounds and a nerve-wracking sanity hearing anchor the drama. The Townsend Estate also features as the setting for key confrontations and the buried-money mystery, adding opulence and danger to the psychological tension.

🏥 Psychiatric hospital 🏰 Estate grounds 🔎 Psychological thriller setting

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:41

Main Characters – Shock Treatment (1964)

Meet the key characters of Shock Treatment (1964), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Dale Nelson / Arthur (Stuart Whitman)

An actor hired to impersonate madness and infiltrate the hospital. He uses botanical knowledge to win over patients, earns Cynthia's trust, and maneuvers through the system while concealing his true objective. His intelligence and willingness to bend morality drive the plot's suspense as he works toward the money and his own survival.

🎭 Impersonator 🧠 Strategist 🗝️ Opportunist

Dr. Edwina Beighley (Lauren Bacall)

A psychiatrist who is desperate for money to fund her research and will go to extreme lengths, including hypnosis and cruel electroshock, to uncover hidden assets. She embodies control and calculation, exploiting patients and bending ethics for personal gain. Her arc curves toward downfall as sanity and power clash.

🧬 Scientist 💰 Greedy 🧭 Ruthless

Martin Ashley

A mentally ill gardener with a fierce attachment to his rose and a volatile temper. He becomes both a victim and a perpetrator within the hospital world, and his actions drive the central mystery of money and deception. He embodies the fragility and danger of unchecked obsession.

🌹 Gardener 🧠 Obsessive 🗡️ Violent

Cynthia Lee Albright

A patient who distrusts men but gradually opens up to Nelson, forming a budding connection. She provides moral clarity and courage in the midst of manipulation, and her trust becomes a key link in Nelson's plan to expose Beighley.

💬 Survivor 💘 Compassionate 🕊️ Loyal

Harley Manning

The executor who hires Dale to imitate madness and locate the money, driven by a desire for wealth and control. His schemes propel the narrative forward and eventually collide with the truth as the plan unravels.

💼 Executor 🧩 Planner 🕵️‍♂️ Opportunist

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:41

Major Themes – Shock Treatment (1964)

Explore the central themes of Shock Treatment (1964), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Impersonation

Dale Nelson ingrains himself into the institution by feigning madness, using deception as a tool to get close to Ashley and uncover the truth about the hidden money. The plot turns on a performance of insanity that blurs lines between healer and patient. The motif explores how disguise and manipulation can reveal corruption and motive.

💰 Greed

Money is the central motive driving the plan: a million dollars supposedly buried by Ashley, the money becomes a weapon that corrupts relationships and ethical boundaries. Beighley's willingness to risk others for financial gain highlights the dark side of ambition. The burning of the money and the pursuit of wealth propel the plot forward.

🧪 Power and Control

The institution becomes a stage for control, with Beighley using hypnosis and electroshock as instruments of dominance. Nelson's undercover mission exposes how those in authority can manipulate vulnerable patients and pursue personal ends. The story culminates in a struggle to reclaim autonomy and expose abuse.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:41

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Unlock the Full Story of Shock Treatment

Don't stop at just watching — explore Shock Treatment in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Shock Treatment is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Shock Treatment Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Shock Treatment, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Shock Treatment Summary

Shock Treatment Timeline

Track the full timeline of Shock Treatment with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Shock Treatment Timeline

More About Shock Treatment

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Shock Treatment (1964) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Shock Treatment (1964) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Shock Treatment (1964) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow