The Stepford Wives (1975)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Bryan Forbes

Writers:

Ira Levin (novel)
William Goldman (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 February 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Something strange is happening in the town of Stepford.

Plot:

Joanna Eberhart has come to the quaint little town of Stepford, Connecticut with her family, but soon discovers there lies a sinister truth in the all too perfect behavior of the female residents.

Plot Keywords:

Robot | Cleaning | Housework | Photographer | Secret

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Katharine Ross	...	Joanna Eberhart
Paula Prentiss	...	Bobbie Markowe
Peter Masterson	...	Walter Eberhart
Nanette Newman	...	Carol Van Sant
Tina Louise	...	Charmaine Wimpiris
Carol Eve Rossen	...	Dr. Fancher (as Carol Rossen)
William Prince	...	Ike Mazzard
Carole Mallory	...	Kit Sunderson
Toni Reid	...	Marie Axhelm
Judith Baldwin	...	Patricia Cornell
Barbara Rucker	...	Mary Ann Stravros
George Coe	...	Claude Axhelm
Franklin Cover	...	Ed Wimpiris
Robert Fields	...	Raymond Chandler
Michael Higgins	...	Mr. Cornell
Josef Sommer	...	Ted Van Sant (as Josef Somer)
Paula Trueman	...	Welcome Wagon Lady
Martha Greenhouse	...	Mrs. Kirgassa
Simon Deckard	...	Dave Markowe
Remak Ramsay	...	Mr. Atkinson
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Kim Eberhart
Ronny Sullivan	...	Amy Eberhart
John Aprea	...	Young Cop
Matt Russo	...	Moving Man 1
Anthony Crupi	...	Moving Man 2
Kenneth McMillan	...	Market Manager
Dee Wallace	...	Nettie
Tom Spratley	...	Charlie the Doorman
Patrick O'Neal	...	Dale Coba
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Emma Forbes	...	Alison Van Sant (uncredited)
Dennis Kear	...	Young Grocery Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Bryan Forbes

Writing credits
Ira Levin		(novel)
William Goldman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Gustave M. Berne	....	executive producer
Roger M. Rothstein	....	associate producer
Edgar J. Scherick	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Small

Cinematography by
Enrique Bravo
Owen Roizman

Film Editing by
Timothy Gee

Casting by
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Gene Callahan

Set Decoration by
Robert Drumheller

Costume Design by
Anna Hill Johnstone

Makeup Department
Andy Ciannella	....	makeup artist
Romaine Greene	....	hair stylist
Dick Smith	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Neil A. Machlis	....	unit manager (as Neil Machlis)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Haley	....	second assistant director (as Mike Haley)
Peter R. Scoppa	....	first assistant director (as Peter Scoppa)

Art Department
Don Bachardy	....	draughtsman
Stanley Cappiello	....	scenic artist
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	property master

Sound Department
Janet Davidson	....	sound editor
Jack Fitzstephens	....	sound editor
James Sabat	....	sound mixer
Dick Vorisek	....	sound re-recording mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Enrique Bravo	....	camera operator
Muky	....	still photographer
Gary Muller	....	second assistant camera
Tom Priestley Jr.	....	first assistant camera
Dusty Wallace	....	gaffer
Robert Ward	....	key grip (as Bob Ward)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Peggy Farrell	....	wardrobe
George Newman	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Patrick McMahon	....	assistant editor
Irving Rathner	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Suzanne Ciani	....	musician: electronic music
Michael Small	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Raymond Hartwick	....	transportation

Other crew
B.J. Bjorkman	....	script supervisor
Martin Fribush	....	executive: Fadsin Cinema Associates
Shari Leibowitz	....	production secretary
Gaetano Lisi	....	production assistant (as Tom Lisi)
Kay Summersby	....	fashion consultant
Robert Ellis	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Fadsin Cinema Associates
• Palomar Pictures

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• VideoFilmes (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Lloyd Zeiderman & Assoc.  location auditing
• Trans / Audio  sound re-recording

Runtime:

115 min | UK:100 min (2004 DVD release) | UK:110 min (2001 DVD release)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Darien, Connecticut, USA

Company:

Fadsin Cinema Associates

Trivia:

The original draft of the screenplay called for the women to wear miniskirts.

Goofs:

Continuity: As the Eberharts enter Stepford for the first time riding in their station wagon, Joanna's head scarf disappears and reappears several times as the scenes change.

Quotes:

Bobbie Markowe: If I were to apologize for every time I got smashed, I'd spend my life wandering around saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sorry."

Movie Connections:

Version of The Stepford Wives (2004)

"Archiac" is not on the word list

This movie holds up surprisingly well, nearly twenty five years after its first release. The premise could still intrigue today - there are still men who would like nothing better than to have the women in their lives be less human. I guess now women want the same things and this is known as progress.

Anywho, the movie is great and if it were up to me, Katherine Ross' birthday would be a national holiday. She is terrific and beautiful and is matched by best buddy Paula Prentiss. Tina Louise and Nanette ("I'll die if I don't get this recipe") Newman are also memorable. The final shots of Ross are chilling, and top off a memorable movie.