My God - to think that I was disappointed that I hadn't gotten to see the remake of the Stepford Wives in theaters, that I had to wait til its DVD release. In the meantime, the original was on sale for $10.00 - "oh, okay - this one will do for now - at least get me familiar with the story". Buying that disc was the very best thing that ever happened to me - or at least in the top 10. Upon initial viewing, it seems to move rather slowly, then it picks up with our introduction to Bobbi Markowe (played by the brilliant Paula Prentiss) who pops up looking for Joanna Eberhart (the sublime Katharine Ross) because she read about her in the community newsletter. Their friendship is a very warm, affectionate and touching one, especially when you consider what will happen to these ladies. Bobbi and Joanna grouse about the Men's Association and decide to form a women's group in response. None of the women they approach will hear of such a thing, blissfully busy with ironing and gardening, and BAKING, which they discover when their women's group (seems to) finally get off the ground. The two recruit another suburban housewife, Charmaine Wimperis (portrayed in a pleasantly surprising performance by Tina Louise), who complains about her husband wanting her to dress in rubber suits, and who also admits the Men's Association is "unfair and sexist, but FRANKLY - ANYTHING that gets him out of the house at night is fine with me".
Now, when I say the group SEEMS TO get off the ground, it really doesn't, but it starts off nicely enough. Joanna and Charmaine express their frustration in their marriage, while THE WIVES stare blankly, but one of them does open up. Kit Sundersen expresses sadness that....she didn't have time to BAKE yesterday because scrubbing the floors took too much time. Another WIFE, Marie Axhelm, suggests she try Easy-On spray starch. Now, what in God's name does spray starch have to do with scrubbing floors? See, Marie is addicted to ironing, so spray starch is her whole life. Now, how often have any of you out there tried to "get something off the ground" only to end up with egg on your face? This scene is particularly riotous in that this happens to us all.
That's one point of appeal for this film - we can all identify with the situations these women go through. I don't mean that we're all going to be murdered and replaced by look-alike robots, but there are situations in real life in which individuals threaten to break our spirit, cannot tolerate our individuality, and take a plan of action, due to which, they don't have to put up with us anymore.
This film is a spot-on satire of what men want from women and the lengths they'll go through to get it. It is also a unique way of spotlighting peer pressure and conformity. Along with Ross, Prentiss and Louise, the film boasts a supporting cast of Peter ("Exorcism is a Catholic embarrassment...") Masterson - Franklin ("The Jeffersons' Honky Willis) Cover - Nanette Newman and Patrick O'Neal as Dale Coba, the main man responsible for this whole thing.
Now, when I say the group SEEMS TO get off the ground, it really doesn't, but it starts off nicely enough. Joanna and Charmaine express their frustration in their marriage, while THE WIVES stare blankly, but one of them does open up. Kit Sundersen expresses sadness that....she didn't have time to BAKE yesterday because scrubbing the floors took too much time. Another WIFE, Marie Axhelm, suggests she try Easy-On spray starch. Now, what in God's name does spray starch have to do with scrubbing floors? See, Marie is addicted to ironing, so spray starch is her whole life. Now, how often have any of you out there tried to "get something off the ground" only to end up with egg on your face? This scene is particularly riotous in that this happens to us all.
That's one point of appeal for this film - we can all identify with the situations these women go through. I don't mean that we're all going to be murdered and replaced by look-alike robots, but there are situations in real life in which individuals threaten to break our spirit, cannot tolerate our individuality, and take a plan of action, due to which, they don't have to put up with us anymore.
This film is a spot-on satire of what men want from women and the lengths they'll go through to get it. It is also a unique way of spotlighting peer pressure and conformity. Along with Ross, Prentiss and Louise, the film boasts a supporting cast of Peter ("Exorcism is a Catholic embarrassment...") Masterson - Franklin ("The Jeffersons' Honky Willis) Cover - Nanette Newman and Patrick O'Neal as Dale Coba, the main man responsible for this whole thing.
