The Bell Jar (1979)
Starring Marilyn Hassett as Esther Greenwood
Directed by Larry Peerce
Written by Majorie Kellogg (Sylvia Plath of course wrote the novel that the movie is based off of)
Released in October 2003 (US); November 2003 (UK)
Synopsis
Based on Sylvia Plath’s great novel, The Bell Jar follows young student, Esther Greenwood, in her struggles with depression and suicide; and then following her trying to break free from her inner demons.
Lawsuit
An article by the New York Times stated that a psychiatrist by the name of Dr. Jane V. Anderson filed a lawsuit against the film in 1984, stating that the character of Joan Gilling, was based on her. Now, Dr. Anderson stated that she was fine with the interpretation in the novel, but not in the film due to the scene where Joan makes homosexual advances.
Ted Hughes was among the defendants.
The suit ended with a judge ruling that the movie portrayal of Joan Gilling did defame the psychiatrist. She was award $150,000 (though she sued for $6,000,000).
Sources
http://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/30/movies/bell-jar-case-ends-in-accord.html
Last edited on July 28, 2012
Thank you for adventuring to 
The lawsuit produced an interesting deposition, in which Jane Anderson describes a meeting with Sylvia Plath shortly before she married Ted Hughes. There is some startling information, which I recount in my forthcoming biography: AMERICAN ISIS: THE LIFE AND ART OF SYLVIA PLATH (St. Martin’s Press, pub date: January 22, 2013)
I look forward to your biography, Carl! I would some light shed on the lawsuit and what Dr. Anderson knew.
If you are interested in doing a guest post, please feel free to contact me at sylviaplathorg@gmail.com