As much as I love the actresses who appeared in this movie, this was one remake that could have stood never to be remade.
I liked Michele Lee as Rita Phipps, I have to say. It had to have been hard to try and update that whole storyline from "Radio Is Going to Kill Culture" to "TV IS Killing Culture," not to mention trying to give snappy, witty dialogue to Rita and George. I mean, how can you outdo Kirk Douglas and Ann Sothern? Can't be done--just can't!!! I also liked Doris Roberts as the wise-cracking maid, and Stephanie Zimbalist was in top form here as Deborah.
But the whole effect taken together looked like a very clumsy attempt at trying to recapture an era that cannot be recaptured, because times have changed. Women do not attempt to be wily and sexy in order to win the boss as a husband these days and still come off as respectable. Only back in the 40s, when it was considered a woman's HIGHEST aspiration to marry a rich husband, would that be acceptable. Now it just looks trashy, and is an insult to women.
I can't forget the crumb they threw to Ann Sothern, the only surviving female cast member from the original 1948 flick. She walked away with the original as Rita. Here, she was sadly underused.
My advice for producers who (for whatever reason) want to remake these old classics: make it a period piece! Don't try to give a '40s movie a '40s feel in the '80s (or beyond).
I WON'T hold my breath for a remake of "The Women." I don't want to see Gwyneth Paltrow (or whoever the "Waif of the Week" is) spraying perfume in a department store and trying to be clever. Can't be done--just can't!!
I liked Michele Lee as Rita Phipps, I have to say. It had to have been hard to try and update that whole storyline from "Radio Is Going to Kill Culture" to "TV IS Killing Culture," not to mention trying to give snappy, witty dialogue to Rita and George. I mean, how can you outdo Kirk Douglas and Ann Sothern? Can't be done--just can't!!! I also liked Doris Roberts as the wise-cracking maid, and Stephanie Zimbalist was in top form here as Deborah.
But the whole effect taken together looked like a very clumsy attempt at trying to recapture an era that cannot be recaptured, because times have changed. Women do not attempt to be wily and sexy in order to win the boss as a husband these days and still come off as respectable. Only back in the 40s, when it was considered a woman's HIGHEST aspiration to marry a rich husband, would that be acceptable. Now it just looks trashy, and is an insult to women.
I can't forget the crumb they threw to Ann Sothern, the only surviving female cast member from the original 1948 flick. She walked away with the original as Rita. Here, she was sadly underused.
My advice for producers who (for whatever reason) want to remake these old classics: make it a period piece! Don't try to give a '40s movie a '40s feel in the '80s (or beyond).
I WON'T hold my breath for a remake of "The Women." I don't want to see Gwyneth Paltrow (or whoever the "Waif of the Week" is) spraying perfume in a department store and trying to be clever. Can't be done--just can't!!
