The 35th anniversary release of "Hurry Tomorrow," about abuse within locked psychiatric wards

From Richard Cohen films:

The film was shot over six weeks on a locked psychiatric ward in a state hospital in Los Angeles (for those who have not seen it or read my promotions). It shows very clearly the kind of intimidation and coercion that went on in the locked ward, and it shows moments of courage and tenderness between inmates. Within weeks of the film's first public screening there were calls by hospital staff members for the state to take legal action to ban the film. Then California Governor Jerry Brown's administration refused: They investigated the hospitals instead.

Hurry Tomorrow received many terrific reviews from film critics in newspapers around the United States and the world. The handful of harsh reviews that carried strong words like "muckraking" only seemed to inspire critics to write in defense of the film.

"As frightening and affecting a documentary as you may ever see... I recommend it highly" -- Willamette Valley Observer (12.75)

"It is shocking, important and apt to make us feel angry at both Hollywood and ourselves for wasting so much time on cinematic entertainment." -- Joe Kornfeld, Boston Herald (12.5.75)

Looking back at the numerous reviews and articles written about Hurry Tomorrow it strikes me that the film screenings generated a unique public awareness of the issues of involuntary treatment and human rights through the film reviews. Many more people read newspapers than were able to attend the limited theatrical screenings. Still, there was another value to the screenings: several of them were followed by discussions led by ex-inmates or ex- patients (as they described themselves back then). New organizations were formed. People who had been locked up in psychiatric facilities found their voices together through these groups.

The Los Angeles Times review and the Variety review were published within a week of each other when we showed the film at the Royal Theater in Los Angeles. I think that these two reviews were the foundation for the controversial events that would unfold over the two years following the film's release.

While hospital staff members and their union made headlines by asking for Hurry Tomorrow to be outlawed, Larry Lane, a Los Angeles Times Staff Reporter wrote: “Reviewers have classified the movie as a hard hitting indictment of ward conditions, and one reviewer suggests that on the basis of the film, an investigation should be launched into conditions at the Metropolitan facility and elsewhere in the state.” (LA Times, December 11, 1975)

"A disturbing indictment of the assaults on human dignity racticed in many of this country's mental hospitals." -- Mack., Variety (11.28.75)

"A crucifying indictment of ward conditions, drug companies and the violations of present laws." Linda Gross, Los Angeles Times (12.5.75)

See the film and read more AT THE WEBSITE: http://www.richardcohenfilms.com/HurryTomorrow35thAnniversaryDVD.html

Included on the same 35th anniversary DVD: 2 BONUS DOCUMENTARY FILMS:
41 DAYS a powerful unfinished documentary about the unparalleled voter passed ban on electroshock treatment in Berkeley, California in 1982.