The 2 disc DVD of this remarkable film is long overdue. I was 14 when "Sybil" was first shown on NBC, and my mother allowed myself and my sister to watch it. I was probably too young then to comprehend what an amazing job the producers, actors, and writer did with this story. Sally Field was an unlikely choice by the acting standards of the time to take on the disturbed Sybil. She and Joanne Woodward and writer Stewart Stern recount all this in the fascinating extras on the DVD. Field was the last actor to audition for the part, and she won out over all the others. Field creates these separate and distinct personalities, taking us on a journey that leads to some horrifying childhood abuse. She is fascinating throughout, and you won't be able to take your eyes off her. Joanne Woodward as the kind and caring psychiatrist is excellent also. I could watch Woodward in any part, she always approaches her roles with intelligence and is very natural. Brad Davis plays a sort of love interest to Sybil, and he is charming and realizes something is amiss about her, but has no idea the depth to which she is disturbed. Sybil's mother (played by Martine Bartlett) is the portrait of evil, and she is a great actress, because you really believe she is a monster. Field won a well deserved Emmy for this, forever shattering her image as the cutesy "Gidget" type actress. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie - it is as good (and better in some cases) as anything released in the theaters.

The 30th anniversary DVD edition of Sybil was released in July. As Shirley Mason's (aka Sybil)long time friend, I was included in the documentary about the making of the movie. The documentary is a fascinating recap of how the movie was cast and how it came to be. However, I was disappointed that Shirley Mason is not mentioned anywhere in the documentary, and her name is not even shown on her paintings in the gallery. Shirley was a person to me, not a fictional character. I was told that her name couldn't be mentioned because of contractual agreements with the author of the book. Shirley Mason WAS Sybil and her life as an artist in Kentucky should not be minimized. Since Sybil is a story of abuse, but also one of recovery, I feel my friend was denied the recognition she deserves as a survivor of abuse, as a wonderful artist, as a warm, kind lady who lived a quiet life of dignity in Lexington. If and when my book, Life After Sybil... From the Words of Shirley Mason, gets published, I intend to correct that omission. Regards, Sybil's Friend ... Nancy Preston

I think this was Sally Field's best acting movie out there. Sybil is quite a story, Joanne Woodward as the psychiatrist and Brad Davis, the man that dated and cared about Sybil are really a good human story. I've met one person with multiple personalities, but this movie gives a good idea as to what the person goes through, and until I saw the picture of the "real" Sybil, didn't realize this was a true to life story.What that "monster" did to a child is beyond what anybody should do to somebody else, ESPECIALLY a child. After the doctor found out that she was actually cut "down there" with a knives and the scenes with the enema was horrible! These days she would be blamed and convicted with child abuse and never see her child again, Sybil actually grew up and actually became an adult despite what her mother did to her.Just the whole plot of where the psychiatrist gets the personalities to come out and of course, Sally Field playing that many personalities, she was wonderful. Richard Loomis her boyfriend, didn't know what was going on, but I'm glad he was there to help her. But once the psychiatrist does some investigating to see if this is all real (the crayon markings in the box), the story gets very deep as she goes through these experiences with Sybil and eventually gets all her personalities and her to make peace with one another, so that they can live as one. These days somebody like that would be institutionalized or sheltered, but I'm glad to see the real Sybil that she actually did go to college and have most part of a normal life.I give it 10 out of 10 stars, just the story of a woman that was abused so bad that I guess her body protected her and made multiple personalities. I recommend this movie to EVERYONE and realize what it is to live with mental illness. Mental illness is still treated in today's society as "crazy", "looney", etc. I have depression and it's amazing people that don't know about the disease, just think it's something you can turn on and off as you please.

I am so glad the film is being released later this month. I saw this film when I was much younger and have been trying to get a copy for ages. I actually taped the film when it was on TV but loaned it to a friend who never returned it....typical. The film is so moving and so well acted by all who took part. Can't wait to see it again and show my husband and daughters what I have always raved about. Sally Field plays the part of Sybil as if she were actually Sybil herself. Joanne Woodward is fantastic. I can't understand why so few people that I have spoken to don't know much about the film. Obviously, as I was only around 16 years old at the time, a lot of the film is missing in my mind but for it to stay in my head for 30 years proves what an impact it made at the time. I am sure, upon its new release, It will hit the headlines enormously. Making way for a re make. Can they find actors and actresses as good as played in the first film? We will have to wait and see !!!!!!!!!