# Why hasn't there been a Hollywood film about Typhoid Mary? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2016, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726 "2016-03-21T03:07:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HarryTheHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@HarryTheHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HarryTheHat)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/1 "2016-03-21T03:07:20Z")
Why hasn’t there been a Hollywood film about Mary Mallon a.k.a Typhoid Mary? I know there was a well-received dramatised doco about her in 1993, but to me the story cries out for a compelling, intelligent historical drama? I mean, plot-wise, it has the works, intersecting with class, gender, race, public health, you name it. I’m surprised no-one has had a full-on crack at it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/2 "2016-03-21T03:47:54Z")
A rather fictionalized version of her forms a minor subplot in the first season of HBO’s _The Knick_. I’m guessing a big-screen treatment isn’t likely because the real Mallon was kind of a bitch, undercutting any sympathy for her an audience might feel. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/3 "2016-03-21T03:58:20Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I’m guessing a big-screen treatment isn’t likely because the real Mallon was kind of a bitch, undercutting any sympathy for her an audience might feel. Yeah, and Hollywood has never, in their entire history, sanitized a historical character’s personality or actions. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/4 "2016-03-21T04:08:47Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I’m guessing a big-screen treatment isn’t likely because the real Mallon was kind of a bitch, undercutting any sympathy for her an audience might feel. She is the villain of the story. George Soper is the hero. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bruce\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/5 "2016-03-21T04:31:47Z")
There have been plenty of movies where the protagonist has been an awful person. ---
**Author:** ![Nicest\_of\_the\_Damned](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8baadc/32.png) [@Nicest\_of\_the\_Damned](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nicest_of_the_Damned)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/6 "2016-03-21T04:33:20Z")
She is in an episode of the short lived series Brimstone as one of the souls who escaped from Hell. They did try to make us feel a little sympathy for her for being locked up all alone. Not sure they could make her lovable but it seems like there could be a good story about her. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/7 "2016-03-21T04:33:27Z")
Hollywood hasn’t made a movie about Typhoid Mary because they haven’t figured out how to work car chases, martial arts, and explosions into the story. Yet. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/8 "2016-03-21T04:48:34Z")
> [@Bruce\_Wayne](#): > > There have been plenty of movies where the protagonist has been an awful person. And there are movies where the audience is allowed some empathy for the villain. My point, though, is that the story works better with Mary as antagonist. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/9 "2016-03-21T04:52:54Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > Hollywood hasn’t made a movie about Typhoid Mary because they haven’t figured out how to work car chases, martial arts, and explosions into the story. Yet. Or sex scenes. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/10 "2016-03-21T04:53:24Z")
Because most of the story is basically about people coming down with [typhoid](http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/typhoid-fever?page=2)? > [@](#): > > Symptoms include: > > Poor appetite > Headaches > Generalized aches and pains > Fever as high as 104 degrees Farenheit > Lethargy > Diarrhea > > Chest congestion develops in many people, and abdominal pain and discomfort are common. The fever becomes constant. Improvement occurs in the third and fourth week in those without complications. About 10% of people have recurrent symptoms after feeling better for one to two weeks. Miserable, scary **and** boring. Not particularly box-office. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/11 "2016-03-21T05:00:15Z")
> [@HarryTheHat](#): > > Why hasn’t there been a Hollywood film about Mary Mallon a.k.a Typhoid Mary? . . . . Well, according to wikipedia: > [@](#): > > Typhoid is spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. It goes on to say that she didn’t see why she should bother with hand-washing when she wasn’t sick. Not an appetizing sort of story. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/12 "2016-03-21T12:36:06Z")
I’m with Harry: this thing ought to write itself. It’s got mystery, tension, human drama, politics, sexuality – what more do you want? New York, 1906: families are dying, and the authorities are at a loss. In desperation, one family hires rogue typhoid specialist George Soper to track down the source of infection. With lives on the line, can he identify the elusive vector in time? Does the talented but mysterious Dr Sara Baker hold the key where the law is powerless? “Baker, meet your new partner” “I work alone, Chief, you know that!” “Not this time, Sara – this is big, and we’re running out of time.” “Soper’s a loose cannon!” “He’s the best chance we’ve got to find this woman – but we need you to bring her in.” ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/13 "2016-03-21T12:53:31Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Or sex scenes. 😛 If they used artistic licence to make her Syphilis Mary… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/14 "2016-03-21T12:57:25Z")
> [@HarryTheHat](#): > > Why hasn’t there been a Hollywood film about Mary Mallon a.k.a Typhoid Mary? I know there was a well-received dramatised doco about her in 1993, but to me the story cries out for a compelling, intelligent historical drama? I mean, plot-wise, it has the works, intersecting with class, gender, race, **public health** , you name it. I’m surprised no-one has had a full-on crack at it. Because no one has come out of a pitch meeting with a deal when they mention a movie is about public health. Unless it is about zombies. Since it is a period piece it would not be cheap. I don’t see it being compelling enough to make money. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/15 "2016-03-21T15:52:32Z")
I like to think of _Cat People_ as being loosely [based](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_People_(1982_film)) on the story of Typhoid Mary. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/16 "2016-03-21T16:33:23Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Because most of the story is basically about people coming down with [typhoid](http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/typhoid-fever?page=2)? > > Miserable, scary **and** boring. Not particularly box-office. I see this as kind of a reboot of _Outbreak_. Replace the infected monkey with, say, Rene Zelwegger, and you’re practically there. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/17 "2016-03-21T16:49:47Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Because no one has come out of a pitch meeting with a deal when they mention a movie is about public health. Unless it is about zombies. > > Since it is a period piece it would not be cheap. I don’t see it being compelling enough to make money. [Panic in the Streets.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_in_the_Streets_(film)) Dick Widmark, Jack Palance, Zero Mostel, Barbara Bel Geddes. Pretty good movie. Dick is the heroic health inspector. A generally similar type of movie could be made about Typhoid Mary: 2nd tier (at the time) stars and a limited budget. Nothing in the Typhoid Mary story requires any expensive special effects. Doing it as a period piece would require appropriate costumes and sets, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/18 "2016-03-21T16:52:17Z")
Typhoid Mary sounds like a PBS topic. \* American Experience\*? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/19 "2016-03-21T16:58:56Z")
Ibsen did it back in 1882. _[An Enemy of the People.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Enemy_of_the_People)_ Steve McQueen was in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726/20 "2016-03-21T17:02:15Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Typhoid Mary sounds like a PBS topic. \* American Experience\*? Not _American Experience_, [\*\*_Nova_](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/typhoid/). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-there-been-a-hollywood-film-about-typhoid-mary/749726.md?page=2)