The last movie directed by Stanley Kubrick, Eyes Wide Shut, which starred Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise was actually based upon a prose entitled 'Traumnovelle' by Austria's literary figure Arthur Schnitzler.

The initial reaction of people upon seeing the film was shock, some were offended while others with a more open mind took it as it is. The film is not as different with the plays by Schintzler. He is known for writing scandalous materials in Vienna. Most of his themes dwell on lax moral behaviors beneath conservative surface. His plays are characterized for being subtle and yet amoral , even being accused of being unsentimental. In addition, his dramatic conflicts revolve around love and sexual faithfulness.

Schnitzler was highly influenced by Sigmund Freud particularly by the concept of psychoanalysis and the role of the subconsciuos. Being a doctor himself, he was intrigued by the human psychology as well as social disintegration which he tried to expose in his works. Given the influence of Freud and by the concept of repressed consciousness, his works major theme dealt with individual happiness.

His most famous plays were Reigen and Liebelei, both known to have instigated scandal in Vienna. For  both plays the characters were based on types naming them as wife, young man, husband etc. The sexual controversies roused from his plays gave him a reputation of being a pornographer. In addition, his works also reflect his antisemitism , well played in his Professoer Bernhadi and Der Weg ins Frieri.                                                                                                                                                                                                     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spite of all of these, he was still considered as a very brilliant playwright and truly one of the proponents of independent theater.

Among his plays include the following:

Anatol (1893), a series of seven acts revolving around a bourgeoisie playboy and his immature relationships.
Flirtation (Liebelei - 1895), also known as The Reckoning, which was made into a film by Max Ophüls and adapted as Dalliance by British playwright Tom Stoppard.
Fair Game (Freiwild - 1896)
Hands Around (Reigen - 1900), also called La Ronde, is still frequently presented. Max Ophüls directed the first movie adaptation of the play in 1950, and Roger Vadim directed a second version in 1964.
Paracelsus (1899)
The Green Cockatoo (Der grüne Kakadu - 1899)