Sybil (1976 film)
| Sybil | |
|---|---|
DVD cover of Sybil
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| Genre | Mystery drama |
| Based on | Sybil by Flora Rheta Schreiber |
| Written by | Stewart Stern (teleplay) |
| Directed by | Daniel Petrie |
| Starring |
Sally Field Joanne Woodward |
| Theme music composer | Leonard Rosenman |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Philip Capice Peter Dunne |
| Producer(s) | Jacqueline Babbin |
| Location(s) |
New York City Stage 17, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California |
| Cinematography | Mario Tosi |
| Editor(s) |
Michael S. McLean Rita Roland |
| Running time | 198 min (original television) 133 min (theatrical) 187 min (DVD) |
| Production company(s) | Lorimar Productions |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | November 14 – November 15, 1976 |
Sybil is a 1976 two-part, 3¼-hour American television miniseries starring Sally Field and Joanne Woodward. It is based on the book of the same name and was broadcast on NBC on November 14–15, 1976.
After suffering a small breakdown in front of her students, Sybil Dorsett is given a neurological examination by Dr. Cornelia Wilbur, a psychiatrist. She admits to having blackouts and fears they are getting worse. Dr. Wilbur theorizes that the incidents are a kind of hysteria, all related to a deeper problem. She asks Sybil to return at a later date for more counseling.
Later that evening, Dr. Wilbur receives a late night call from someone who identifies herself as Vickie and says Sybil is about to jump out a hotel window. Dr. Wilbur rescues Sybil, who denies knowing Vickie. Suddenly Sybil becomes hysterical and begins speaking like a little girl. This little girl introduces herself as Peggy, and Wilbur realizes that Sybil is suffering from dissociative identity disorder.
Vickie introduces herself to Wilbur at the next session. Vickie, who knows everything about the other personalities, tells Wilbur about some of them, including Marcia, who is suicidal and wants to kill Sybil, and Vanessa, who plays the piano although Sybil has not played in years and swears she forgot how to play piano.
Over the weeks, each of the personalities introduce themselves to Wilbur. At the same time, the personality Vanessa falls in love with a charming neighbor named Richard.
Wilbur finally explains to Sybil about the other personalities. As proof, Wilbur plays the session's tape to allow Sybil to hear their voices, but when a voice that sounds like Sybil's mother Hattie speaks, an infant personality named Ruthie emerges. Wilbur is unable to communicate with the pre-verbal child and must wait until Sybil returns.
Life becomes more chaotic for Sybil as the other personalities grow stronger. The personalities make Dr. Wilbur a Christmas card, but Sybil made everything purple, a color that frightens Peggy. Dr. Wilbur hypnotizes Vickie and asks about the purple. Vickie relates a memory of a time Sybil's mother locked young Sybil in the wheat bin in the barn. Thinking she was smothering, Sybil used her purple crayon to scratch on the inside of the bin so someone would know she had been there.
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