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The Five of Me
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Wikipedia article
'The Five of Me' is a 1981 made-for-television film about a man who is plagued with multiple personalities. It was directed by Paul Wendkos and produced by Jack Farren. It stars David Birney, Dee Wallace, Mitchell Ryan, John McLiam, James Whitmore Jr., Ben Piazza, Judith Chapman, Robert L. Gibson and Herb Armstrong.
Story
The story is about Henry Hawksworth (played by David Birney) who is in a struggle with four other personalities within him.Letterboxd - [https://letterboxd.com/film/the-five-of-me/ The Five of Me 1981 Directed by Paul Wendkos]Turner Classic Movies - [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/414970/Five-Of-Me-The/ Five Of Me, The (1981), Brief Synopsis] Henry is shown as a child being threatened by his unbalanced father. The father (played by John McLiam is threatening to castrate his son. Later Henry returns from South Korea and is a hero for saving a buddy. While he was there, Henry was imprisoned and had developed another personality to cope with things. This personality was Dana.'New York Times', Archives, 1981 - [https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/12/arts/tv-five-of-me-multiple-personalities.html 'TV: 'FIVE OF ME,' MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES' By JOHN J. O'CONNOR] Dana who is a family man with conservative values. It is this personality that falls in love with a woman called Ann (played by Dee Wallace). Another personality is the violent and sociopathic Johnny. Then there is creative and childish Peter. There is also the protective and unemotional Phil. The Johnny personality commits a crime and goes to court where the multiple personalities of Henry come to light.Letterboxd - [https://letterboxd.com/film/the-five-of-me/ The Five of Me 1981 Directed by Paul Wendkos]
Background
The film is based on a real case of someone who suffered from multiple personality disorder.Movie Fone - [https://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-five-of-me/1012128/main/ The Five of Me (1981)] The book on which the film is inspired by, 'The Five of Me' was written by Henry Hawksworth with Ted Schwartz.'A Spiritual Hypothesis: An Inquiry into Abnormal and Paranormal Behavior', By Daniel Punzak - [https://books.google.com/books?id=BvMnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT226&dq=%22Ted+Schwarz%22The+Five+of+Me%22Film&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjYs4P2pOzcAhUI2LwKHYcwCf8Q6AEILDAB#v=onepage&q=%22Ted%20Schwarz%22The%20Five%20of%20Me%22Film&f=false Chapter 6 Dissociative Identity Disorder]'TV Guide', Triangle Publications, 1981 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=9VUxAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22Ted+Schwarz%22The+Five+of+Me%22Film&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=%22Ted+Schwarz%22 Page A-12]
During the filming of this production an accident occurred on February 21, 1981. Camera assistant Jack Tandberg was killed on the set when he struck by a driverless car.'Yahoo Entertainment', April 09, 2014 - [https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/news/safety-set-camera-crew-outnumber-stunt-personnel-4-165559917.html Safety On Set: Camera Crew Outnumber Stunt Personnel 4-To-1 In On-Set Deaths - David Robb] This is also mentioned in 'Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story' by Mollie Gregory where it suggests a lack of industry standards may have led to the deaths of three camera assistants between from 1980 to 1981. In addition to Tandberg's death on 'The Five of Me', the other two deaths mentioned occurred on 'The Dukes of Hazzard' and 'Magnum P.I.'.'Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story' by Mollie Gregory - [https://books.google.com/books?id=_dCqCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA142&dq=Jack+Tandberg+The+Five+of+me&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwia4KaqquzcAhVHNbwKHQTLBDYQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=Jack%20Tandberg%20The%20Five%20of%20me&f=false Page 142]
Cast
*David Birney as Henry Hawksworth
*Dee Wallace as Ann
*Mitchell Ryan as Dr. Ralph B. Allison
*John McLiam as Henry's Father
*James Whitmore Jr. as Harry
*Ben Piazza as Neurologist
*Judith Chapman as Sally
*Robert L. Gibson as Fred
*Herb Armstrong as Bowling Alley Manager
References
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