Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)

Director:

Frank Perry

Writers:

Sue Kaufman (novel)
Eleanor Perry (writer)

Release Date:

10 August 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

I, Tina Balser, Housewife, Did Not Do My Chores Today. I Did...Something Else!

Plot:

A housewife with an abusive husband has an affair with a writer.

Plot Keywords:

Love Triangle | Marriage | Writing | Husband Wife Relationship | Homemaker

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Richard Benjamin	...	Jonathan Balser
Frank Langella	...	George Prager
Carrie Snodgress	...	Tina Balser
Lorraine Cullen	...	Sylvie Balser
Frannie Michel	...	Liz Balser
Lee Addoms	...	Mrs. Prinz
Peter Dohanos	...	Samuel Keefer
Katherine Meskill	...	Charlotte Rady
Leonard Elliott	...	M. Henri
Valma	...	Margo
Hilda Haynes	...	Lottie
Donald Symington	...	Pediatrician (as Don Symington)
Alley Mills	...	Women's lib girl (as Allison Mills)
Alice Cooper	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Bruce	...	Himself... guitarist for the Alice Cooper band
Glen Buxton	...	Himself... guitarist for the Alice Cooper band
Jeanette Du Bois	...	Vera
Dennis Dunaway	...	Himself... bassist for the Alice Cooper band
Kurt Garfield	...	Carpenter
Jason Holt
William Kiehl	...	Elliot Asher
I.W. Klein	...	Stuttering man in group therapy
George Loros	...	Malcolm
Lester Rawlins	...	Dr. Linstrom
Renee Semes	...	College Girl in group therapy session
Neal Smith	...	Himself... drummer for the Alice Cooper band
Beverly Ballard	...	(uncredited)
Cash Baxter	...	(uncredited)
Peter Boyle	...	Man in Group Therapy Session (uncredited)
William Hansen	...	Worker in the Balser apartment (uncredited)
Elaine Kaufman	...	Owner of Elaine's restaurant, extra (uncredited)
Pamela Saunders	...	(uncredited)
John Tillinger	...	(uncredited)
Lydia Wilen	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Perry

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sue Kaufman		novel
Eleanor Perry		writer

Produced by
Frank Perry	....	producer

Cinematography by
Gerald Hirschfeld

Film Editing by
Sidney Katz

Casting by
Shirley Rich

Production Design by
Peter Dohanos

Set Decoration by
Robert Drumheller
Sam Robert

Costume Design by
Ruth Morley

Makeup Department
Colleen Callaghan	....	hair stylist
Josephine Cianelli	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Sam Bennerson	....	assistant production manager
Phillip M. Goldfarb	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Ashe	....	second assistant director
Charles Okun	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Stanley Cappiello	....	scenic artist
Dave Goodonoff	....	stand-by prop
John Michalak	....	chief carpenter
Thomas Wright	....	property master

Sound Department
Chuck Federmack	....	sound mixer
Bud Nolan	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Larry Barr	....	key grip
Enrique Bravo	....	camera operator
Marc Hirschfeld	....	second assistant camera
Jim Hovey	....	first assistant camera (as James Hovey)
Milton Moshlak	....	gaffer (as Milt Moshlak)
Muky	....	still photographer (as Muky Muncasi)
Bill Reinhart	....	dolly grip
Louis Tobin	....	best boy (as Lou Tobin)

Casting Department
Shirley Rich	....	casting: New York
Joe Scully	....	casting: Hollywood

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jim Hagerman	....	wardrobe: men
Flo Transfield	....	wardrobe: women

Editorial Department
Virginia Katz	....	assistant editor (as Ginny Katz)
Jerry Simunovich	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Mars Bonfire	....	composer: song "Ride With Me"

Transportation Department
Tom O'Brien	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Laura Bernay	....	secretary
Anne Mooney	....	assistant production secretary
Ralph S. Singleton	....	production assistant
Helene Spinner	....	production secretary
Julia Tucker	....	continuity
Lydia Wilen	....	assistant to producer

Production Companies

• Frank Perry Films Inc.

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1970) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1973) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Runtime:

95 min | 104 min (original version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | USA:R

Company:

Frank Perry Films Inc.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Empty Nest: Diary of a Mad Housewife (#6.6)" (1993)

A Lost Gem!

Carrie Snodgress (a very unattractive name for, at least in THIS film, an attractive woman) gives one of the great, edgy film performances of the early 70's. The early 70's seems to be when some of the best films in recent years were made. This story of a bored housewife in New York who has an affair with a young Frank Langella is rarely seen on TV but you should rent it as soon as possible and witness some great movie entertainment. Frank also gives one of his best performances in this. As a matter of fact, Frank, Carrie and Richard Benji haven't really made a film anywhere near as good as this since. Its been all downhill for the three of them since. Hopefully their careers will have good third acts, ya dig?