One of my favorite movies of all time is the Stepford Wives. Based on the Ira Levin novel and directed by Bryan Forbes from a screenplay by William Goldman, it's a clever mix of war-between-the-sexes social satire and downright creepy thriller, mixed with a dollop of mad 1970s fashion, impassioned Women's Lib-isms, and a gung-ho set of performances by Katharine Ross, Paula Prentiss, and Tina Louise. Not to mention one of the most psychologically horrifying endings of any movie, ever.
The 2004 remake, starring She Who's Forehead Never Moves, is utter crap.
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10 comments:
agree with you on all points. the first one was terrifying - i was young and it had a profound cautionary vibe to it. its a wonder i managed to get myself married i was so en guarde.....grrrrherhahaha
not only was the remake poorly cast (bette midler? and even worse - ferris bueller. are you kidding me? he always looks like a boy while the women look like, well, women)
weak. hollywood is very weak. tv is now better - note that actors see that too as we see a mass migration into tv with a level actors.
Well, I certainly won't have to see the second one as that trailer perfectly capsulated the movie for me. I will try to see the original. Maybe its time for netflix again. I've always had a crush on Katherine Ross. Still kind do. I googled her, on my computer I mean, shes SEVENTY 7-0.
Wow!
Great choice, the Stepford remake was a yawn. The original was terrifying.
Chickory: I had the same reaction to the original. Now look at me: I BAKE in my spare time! And my shower doors are awfully shiny :o)
Milk River: Katharine Ross was simply stunning. And she aged really well, too.
Fishy: I think I've seen it a bazillion times and each time I wish for a different outcome.
I read the book before I saw the original movie and remember thinking it was more scary to see the events rather than just read about it. Not a usual response, I typically thinking reading can be far more impacting. But you're right when you say the timing was right - women's rights were just becoming front burner issues. Paula Prentiss was amazing and even Tina Louise managed a good performance. Chickory made me laugh about Ferris Bueller. Who casts these movies?? Nicole Kidman? She already looked like a robot and they made the movie into a JOKE. Bah! Great pick. Happy MCW
oh shite theres an empty POD in your barn.
I dont think I've actually seen either version - a bit too close to home from my days of domesticity :)
geeky remake, indeed. WHO would dream of Broderick with Kidman--ah, not in a million years.
No movie wif' Middler and Broderick is serious.
But the original---shiver!!
Nobody better make no remake of Sweet Sweet Charlotte or Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.
I always liked this movie because I thought it was a documentary. Bwahahaha I'm actually surprised you liked it because it objectifies women. I also liked the original because of Kathrine Ross and Tina Louise (what boy growing up in the 60s didn't like Ginger?). I never saw the remake because I didn't want to ruin my Stepford Fantasy Dream - that I have often.
Happy MCW!
Boxer: Whatever happened to Paula Prentiss? I really liked her.
Chickory: And it came bearing Chanel!
Joanna: Please tell me you didn't wear those frilly aprons.
Aunty: I LOVE Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. Truly creepy film.
Buzz: I thought it was a terrific pohleetikal statement on the horrors of marriage and domesticity. It's a wonder any of us who saw it ever got married. Me, I did it twice. But I didn't cook and clean until the second one.
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