The Stepford Wives
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Movie Reviews of The Stepford Wives
Movie Review: "That's what I'm talking about--surviving."
Summary: 5 Stars
I had heard phrases like "Stepford wife," "Stepford wife-ish," and so forth over the years. After seeing this movie, I can see what people were talking about. This 1975 chiller features Katherine Ross as Joanna Eberhart, a New York City wife, mother, and budding photographer who moves with her husband and kids to Stepford, a beautiful, seemingly perfect suburb. I say "seemingly perfect" because while Stepford IS beautiful, there's something peculiar going on, particularly with the women. They are beautiful, polite, soft-spoken, and seem to live only for being Betty Crockers. It doesn't take long for Joanna and her new friend, spirited, lively Bobbi Markowe (Paula Prentiss), to notice that something is a little off about these women. As it turns out, something IS a little off--they're not human, they're robots. That is, robots who live only to cook, clean, and please their husbands 24/7. Were they always like this? No. Once upon a time, they were actually human beings, with minds, personalities, opinions, feelings, and talents all their own. So what happened? It seems that they've been turned into robots by husbands who decided that they needed quiet, smiling, and submissive wives who would do whatever--and I do mean WHATEVER, including have sex--they were told to do. Joanna and Bobbi--and a third woman named Charmaine (Tina Louise)--are the only women who still have a sense of themselves. But not for long, for soon thereafter, Charmaine becomes one of them, and eventually, even Bobbi, and sadly, Joanna, become Stepford wives, too.
Some of the reviewers have said that the ending--where the wives are seen strolling through supermarket aisles in their dresses and hats--was shocking. I didn't see it that way. To me, the ending was more sad than shocking--sad in that Joanna and the other wives were no longer themselves, no longer possessed the qualities that made them who they were. During the movie, Joanna talks to her husband about surviving--that is, surviving to stay true to herself even when the other women around her have literally become clones. When Joanna is turned into one of them, she has been killed--in more ways than one. That's what happened to the Stepford wives--in the end, none of them survived.
Movie Review: Excellent Film
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a remarkable film. Some say it is dated. Maybe so, but there is nothing wrong with being dated if you are making a valid point in a fresh, eye-opening style, about the time and place in history, as this film director and screenwriter do with The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin.
The early 1970s were the height of the Women's Movement. Like other movements before it, there was a strong current of ideological militance on the part of some at the time, (and incidentally began to include men as well as women) enough so that a film of this artistic power and validity appearing in the movement's aftermath would by definition be incredibly frightening.
Unusually enough, Ira Levin's brilliance includes his uncanny ability to write from the point-of-view of his heroines. Director Bryan Forbes and the screenwriter who adapted the work, rose to this task as well when they created this excellent movie.
Additionally, the casting of Katharine Ross as the heroine was an excellent choice--Ross was the epitomy of the 70s female with the combination of her strength of character, down-to-earth feminity and warmth, as well as her subtle, natural beauty. It is genuinely horrifying because women of the 70s identified so much with Ross and her character Joanna, as well as her feisty, wise-cracking friend Bobbi. What happens to these women happens to us all as we watch the film.
Those who did not live through the heydey of feminist consciousness-raising will also identify with this film, because of Joanna's human qualities that are universal, and because malevolence and abuse of power can be based anywhere, at any point in history where there are human beings who no longer feel connected to humanity, as happened when the men of Stepford betrayed their own wives and children in this finely crafted and horrifying movie.
Anyone who wants to see a fascinating and horrific tale that is short on blood-and-guts but long on genuine, horrifying intrigue that includes entertaining the impossible, would absolutely love this film.
Movie Review: Newshawk DVDs
Summary: 5 Stars
I remembered that the original "Stepford Wives" movie had been a great and fairly scary picture, so I bought the newer version on DVD a few years ago -- and was very disappointed. The newer version just didn't capture the mood or tone of the original. That DVD went went into a cardboard box filled with other of my "lesser" DVDs.
A few weeks ago, I was going through that box to determine which DVDs I would keep and which ones I would give or trade away.
When I came across my copy of the newer "Stepford Wives." I put into my discard box. Then, for some reason, I decided to keep it -- and order a DVD of my beloved original "The Stepford Wives" and some other DVDs.
When my order was delivered I watched the original for the first time in many years. It was just as I remembered, It was still the great movie even if it didn't seem as scary as I remembered. The acting, lighting and mood was wonderful, especially since it was in black and white It was thrilling -- and without the gore every few minutes that seem to be required by
so many modern movies to create thrills and chills.
A few days later I decided to watch the newer "Stepford Wives." As I watched the DVD I realized I was watching the same movie and, while the mood was so different from the original, it was a delightful movie. The colors added the tone of the movie and I realized I was watching an almost-satire of the original. It was an inspired version of the original without a fault, especially with the casting. The light touch was perfect.
Now, instead of loving just one movie, I have two versions of the same and two favorite movies to watch to my heart's content.
Movie Review: Still a Disturbing social commentary.
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this film on TV when I was very young and I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere. Most of the social elements went way over my head. So suffice to say, when I rewatched it, it revealed a whole new level of creepiness.
A lot of the early feminist rhetoric was scary in it's anger and it shows thru Joanna and Bobbi. The movie also reveals that Stepford was once a big NOW town but has since become housefrau heaven. Joanna and Bobbi set out to find out why and are doomed.
The disturbing aspect, that noone ever mentions, in this film is that the Stepford men don't want new wives they want their old wives. I could never understand why Walter needed to change his beautiful wife. But now with a few years under my belt, I can see that the Eberhardt's marriage is on the rocks. Joanna is on the verge of becoming a professional photographer and it is a real, unspoken threat that she will take the kids, blow out of Stepford back to the big city. In fact, I would bet that 90% of the Stepford men were in marriages heading into divorce. The men's club program was a last ditch effort to keep broken marriages intact, to freeze their pretty wives at the height of their beauty and to never be bothered with feminine independence again. The end of the film is still spooky.
Stay away from the remake. It just focused on the campy aspects of the original and got it all wrong. Also, this is 70's film. Don't expect a lot of action but do expect a lot of great acting. One very good reason to see this is for Paula Prentiss' great character Bobbi, she never stops being funny.
Movie Review: Invasion Of The Wife Swappers...
Summary: 5 Stars
Katherine Ross and Paula Prentiss are great as Joanna and Bobbie, two women who can't figure out why the rest of the females in Stepford are so subservient and docile. Of course, the husbands are all thrilled with their blank, utterly domesticated spouses. Joanna and Bobbie attempt to put together a women's consciousness-raising meeting, only to find the other wives discussing their homelife, chores, etc. Any effort by our heroines to actually discuss anything with substance is squelched by more "brownie recipe"-type blather. Joanna and Bobbie are joined by Charmaine (Tina Louise) who shares their suspicions and disgust for all things Stepford. Unfortunately, just when this trio gets going, Charmaine is somehow assimilated into the mindless suburban collective! She even lets her husband bulldoze her beloved tennis court to put in a swimming pool he desires. Things really start getting weird! Bobbie goes on a weekend getaway with her hubby. When she returns, she too is a member of the frilly apron society! Joanna confronts the "new" Bobbie in her kitchen. In the freakiest scene of the movie, Joanna stabs Bobbie with a steak-knife, causing her to short-circuit and repeat the same words and actions over and over! Joanna is now alone in a nightmare world of idiot bliss. Determined to get to the bottom of it all, she meets face to face with the true horror behind Stepford and it's Men's Club. The final scene is a classic moment of sheer terror! Highly recommended...