My first taste
of Ira Levin’s 1972 book The Stepford Wives was the 2004 remake
starring Nicole Kidman and Matthew Broderick. That version always made me feel
like it danced to the same tune as the cult classic original. But that’s not
the case—the 1975 film is more of a thriller (though it’s often labeled a
thriller/horror, there’s nothing particularly horrific about it).
The movie strikes a somber tone as it unfolds, taking a very different
direction than the comedic 2004 remake. For what it’s worth, it’s a fine film,
it is a better watch than the remake and while the remake tries to work towards
a happy ending, this movie just focuses on the thrill.
The story
follows Joanna Eberhart (Katharine Ross), a young wife and photographer who
moves with her husband, Walter (Peter Masterson), and their two children from
New York City to the Connecticut suburb of Stepford.
Joanna quickly feels isolated, unable to understand why the women in town seem
so disconnected and unrelatable.
Her
disappointment grows when Walter decides to join an all-male club. She’s
confused by his emotional reaction after his first visit—he comes home tearful,
repeatedly declaring his love for her.
Joanna
eventually befriends Bobbie, another free-spirited woman who also finds the
behavior of Stepford’s women strange. Together, they decide to form an
all-women’s club, inviting the town’s women to gossip and socialize. However,
only one woman, Charmaine, shows genuine interest. The others join but only
discuss housework and chores.
Charmaine opens
up about her husband’s lack of affection and shares plans for an upcoming trip.
But when she returns from the trip, she’s changed. She becomes a devoted wife,
firing her maid, cleaning her house obsessively, and even destroying her beloved
tennis court.
Joanna and Bobbie grow suspicious, fearing something in the environment is
causing the women’s odd behavior. They can’t understand why Charmaine, once
loud, happy, and carefree, has become as submissive and bland as the other
wives.
Their
investigation doesn’t get them far, other than uncovering that the women of
Stepford were once high-achieving, independent individuals.
Something is
clearly wrong with the town, and Joanna and Bobbie feel an urgent need to get
their families out.
The Stepford
Wives (1975) is very different from the 2004 remake and is worth watching.
While many sequels and the remake were made after this film, they’ve all
received poor ratings in comparison.
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