The Stepford Wives (1975/2004)
THE STEPFORD WIVES (15)
D: Bryan Forbes
Fadsin/Palomar (Edgar J. Sherick)
US 1975
115 mins
Thriller/Science Fiction/Horror
W: William Goldman [based on the novel by Ira
Levin]
DP: Owen Roizman
Ed: Timothy Gee
Mus: Michael Small
PD: Gene Callahan
Katharine Ross (Joanna Eberhart), Paula Prentiss (Bobbie
Markowe), Nanette Newman (Carol van Sant), Peter Masterson (Walter Eberhart), Patrick O'Neal (Dale Coba)
In a small town outside New York, a new resident finds the
behaviour of other women in the community too good to be true, and makes a startling discovery.
Ira Levin's novel works best as a book, especially with
this adaptation to go by. It's unfortunate that the acting is so wooden that the twist in the tale becomes blindingly obvious. There's some good makeup effects and a little bit of style, but
overall very disappointing and far too slowly paced, with very little build up of tension. A remake in 2004 was even weaker, going down a sitcom route rather than staying rooted in the
novel's science fiction genre.
6/10
THE STEPFORD WIVES (15)
D: Frank Oz
Paramount/Dreamworks (Scott Rudin, Donald DeLine &
Edgar J. Scherick)
US 2004
93 mins
Comedy/Science Fiction
W: Paul Rudnick [based on the novel by Ira
Levin]
DP: Rob Hahn
Ed: Jay Rabinowitz
Mus: David Arnold
Nicole Kidman (Joanna Eberhart), Matthew Broderick (Walter
Kresby), Bette Midler (Bobbie Markowitz), Glenn Close (Claire Wellington), Christopher Walken (Mike Wellington)
*Spoiler*
Inferior remake of the above (which, in itself, wasn't a
spectacular film) filmed as though it were a television situation comedy rather than a mystery-thriller with a science fiction denouement.
The acting is way below standard, particularly from Nicole
Kidman, but everyone involved seems to be quite lethargic, as if they misunderstood the prose of Ira Levin's original source material.
It's recommended to read the novel instead of watching
either of the cinematic adaptations, personally I feel that it's a work which just doesn't translate to screen particularly well, working best when left to the reader's
imagination.
4/10
