TV series

Freud

Name: Freud
Released: 1984
Cast: David Suchet, David Swift, Helen Bourne

1984· 1 season· 60 min episodes★ 5.0Ended

On BBC Two

A portrait of the great psychoanalyst.

Create a free account to save & share

Create a free account to see where Freud is streaming, with prices and your services first.

Where to watch

Not available to stream in US

🔔 Notify me about new seasons

Synopsis

Freud, also known as Freud: The Life of a Dream, is a 1984 six-part BBC television serial dramatised by Carey Harrison, and starring David Suchet as Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. Each episode begins with Freud and his family in London, where they had fled from Vienna in 1938 following the Nazi Anschluss, leading up to Freud's death a little over a year later. The rest of the episodes are told mainly in flashbacks to key moments in Freud's life and career.

Themes

miniseries period drama historical drama 19th century carl jung 20th century based on real person biographical drama

Episodes

Create a free account to track the episodes you’ve watched.

E1 In the Name of the GodsNext upSep 14, 1984 · 60 min
Synopsis
Ailing 83-year-old Sigmund Freud, his wife Martha, and daughter Anna settle into a new home in London after being forced to flee Austria. Flashbacks recall Freud's early professional life, ambitions to do important work, and engagement to Martha, whose sister Minna is also engaged. Freud experiments with cocaine as a cure for morphine addiction and other uses, prompted especially by his relationship with Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow.
Guest stars: Suzanne Bertish (Minna Bernays), Alison Key (Anna Freud), Howard Goorney (Jacob Freud), Eliza Hunt (Amalie Freud), Frank Baker (Alexander Freud), Glyn Houston (Professor Meynert), Michael Kitchen (Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow), Teddy Kempner (Ignaz Schoenberg)
E2 The HypnotistSep 21, 1984 · 60 min
Synopsis
Paris, 1885: Freud goes to Paris to study under Jean-Marin Charcot, who has been experimenting with hypnosis to treat patients with 'hysterical' neuroses. Returning to Vienna, his advocacy of Charcot's techniques is largely rejected, especially by his superior, Theodor Meynert. With the aid of Josef Breuer, Freud begins to use hypnosis to treat patients, particularly the Baroness von Lieben. His work leads him to begin investigating the role of dreams and repression of memories.
Guest stars: Suzanne Bertish (Minna Bernays), Anton Lesser (Wilhelm Fliess), Howard Goorney (Jacob Freud), Eliza Hunt (Amalie Freud), Frank Baker (Alexander Freud), Glyn Houston (Professor Meynert), Miriam Margolyes (Baroness von Lieben), Dinsdale Landen (Jean-Marin Charcot)
E3 The Secret of DreamsSep 28, 1984 · 60 min
Synopsis
Vienna 1891: through his practice, self-examination, and friendships with Breuer and Wilhelm Fliess, Freud develops his concepts of the unconscious and the role of desire, beginning to posit sexuality as a source of psychic conflict and to develop his 'seduction theory'.
Guest stars: Anton Lesser (Wilhelm Fliess), Alison Key (Anna Freud), Michael Kitchen (Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow), Miriam Margolyes (Baroness von Lieben), Amber-Jane Raab (Mathilde Freud), Allan Corduner (Oscar Rie), Ian Thompson (Rosannes), Juliet Stevenson (Elizabeth von Rietberg)
E4 MadonnaOct 5, 1984 · 60 min
Synopsis
An intriguing new relationship develops when Minna Bernays, Freud's attractive sister-in-law, joins the family. Freud's recent theory has outraged Vienna, leaving him, professionally, more isolated than ever. With Martha consigned to maternal duties and the Fliess friendship deteriorating, increasingly, Minna alone shares Sigmund's private frustrations until the celebrated 'Oedipus' theory ensures his future.
Guest stars: Suzanne Bertish (Minna Bernays), Anton Lesser (Wilhelm Fliess), Alison Key (Anna Freud), Howard Goorney (Jacob Freud), Eliza Hunt (Amalie Freud), Frank Baker (Alexander Freud), Amber-Jane Raab (Mathilde Freud), Allan Corduner (Oscar Rie)
E5 MessiahOct 12, 1984 · 60 min
Synopsis
Vienna 1907: The movement of psychoanalysis is born. Freud's revolutionary theories appeal to a growing band of supporters—Adler, Stekel, Federn, Rank, Ferenczi—who passionately participate in the 'Wednesday Society'. Of the newfound disciples, Carl Jung is the master's favourite. In this distinguished Swiss gentile, Freud sees the key to promoting the group's image beyond that of a Jewish cabal and, more importantly, the personal relationship he constantly craves.
Guest stars: Suzanne Bertish (Minna Bernays), Anton Lesser (Wilhelm Fliess), Alison Key (Anna Freud), Michael Pennington (Carl Jung), Peter Birrel (Adler), David Hatton (Stekel), Peter Jeffrey (Federn), Kerry Shale (Otto Rank)
E6 The World As DreamOct 19, 1984 · 60 min
Synopsis
London, 1939: Psychoanalysis flourishes in America and Freud's works are sought worldwide: his international standing has far surpassed his father's simple plea that he make professor. But in the prophet's own land, it is a different matter. More cautious friends have persuaded the elderly Sigmund to take refuge in England and it is there that he completes the final, revealing session of self-analysis.
Guest stars: Suzanne Bertish (Minna Bernays), Anton Lesser (Wilhelm Fliess), Alison Key (Anna Freud), Howard Goorney (Jacob Freud), Eliza Hunt (Amalie Freud), Frank Baker (Alexander Freud), Glyn Houston (Professor Meynert), Michael Kitchen (Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow)