Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment (1966)

Director:

Karel Reisz

Writer:

David Mercer (writer)

Release Date:

20 October 1966 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Morgan, an aggressive and self-admitted dreamer, a fantasist who uses his flights of fancy as refuge from external reality...

Plot Keywords:

Falsely Committed | Satirical | Infatuation | Class Differences | Social Consciousness

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

David Warner	...	Morgan Delt
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Leonie Delt
Robert Stephens	...	Charles Napier
Irene Handl	...	Mrs. Delt
Bernard Bresslaw	...	Policeman
Arthur Mullard	...	Wally
Newton Blick	...	Mr. Henderson
Nan Munro	...	Mrs. Henderson
Peter Collingwood	...	Geoffrey
Graham Crowden	...	Counsel
John Garrie	...	Tipstatt
John Rae	...	Judge
Angus MacKay	...	Best Man
Marvis Edwards	...	Maid
Peter Cellier	...	Second Counsel

Also Known As:

Morgan! (USA)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | West Germany:16 (bw)

Filming Locations:

Hampstead, London, England, UK

Company:

British Lion Film Corporation

Trivia:

Vanessa Redgrave's Best Actress Oscar nomination for this movie coincided with sister Lynn Redgrave's similar nomination for Georgy Girl (1966). Such a coincidence had occurred only once before when sisters Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland respectively vied for the Best Actress Oscar for Suspicion (1941) and Hold Back the Dawn (1941).

Goofs:

Factual errors: After Morgan awakens after spending the night in his car, a radio announcer states the time as 6:30 am, even though the nearly non-existent shadows indicate it's clearly near noon.

Quotes:

Morgan Delt: You know, I believe my mental condition is extremely illegal.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Decade Under the Influence (2003)

An off-beat film for an off-beat actor

David Warner is, to my mind, one of the most gifted actors working in films today. He is able to take just about any role in just about any film and invest it with life and interest. In fact, he is the sole reason to ever want to see a great number of films. That said, "Morgan" is a treat because it's one of the few films where Warner gets to play the lead. He doesn't get the girl and he's stark raving mad throughout, but he's still the lead.

This film is very much of its time, but it's still quite enjoyable. Morgan's anarchist antics are always unpredictable and sweet in a psychotic kind of way. And considering the main character's obsession with gorillas, it's interesting to see the film now in light of Warner's appearance in Tim Burton's remake of "Planet of the Apes." Must have felt like deja vu to him.

Recommended for David Warner fans and people who like their comedies a little off-kilter.