I Love My Wife (1970)

Director:

Mel Stuart

Writer:

Robert Kaufman (writer)

Release Date:

7 April 1971 (France)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Behind every 'successful' man is an understanding woman... or two... or three!

Plot:

Young surgeon becomes bored with his wife and family, he has a very successful career, but even with having so much in life...

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Elliott Gould	...	Dr. Richard Burrows
Brenda Vaccaro	...	Jody Burrows
Angel Tompkins	...	Helene Donnelly
Dabney Coleman	...	Frank Donnelly
Leonard Stone	...	Dr. Neilson
Joan Tompkins	...	Grandma Dennison
Helen Westcott	...	Mrs. Burrows
Ivor Francis	...	Dr. Korngold
Al Checco	...	Dr. Meyerberg
JoAnna Cameron	...	Nurse Sharon
Veleka Gray	...	The Stewardess
Damian London	...	Leslie
Tom Toner	...	John Bosley
Gloria Manon	...	Prostitute
Frederic Downs	...	Minister

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16 | USA:R

Company:

Universal Pictures

Gross-humored revue sketches interspersed with sharp-fanged marital truths...some funny scenes

Average-looking and living medical student--newly married, horny, and happy with his choices--finds his marriage and sex-life suddenly going south after his wife delivers their first child. Realistic marital blahs and hang-ups in the suburbs has funny, acerbic observations to make, and yet much of the picture feels half-baked, unfinished. Director Mel Stuart's rude, pointed sense of satire surfaces on occasion (such as a wonderful scene depicting a difference of opinion in front of the ice-cream man), yet often Stuart doesn't quite connect with writer Robert Kaufman's more outlandish ideas. The general concept is jumbled and, with Elliott Gould faintly distracted in the lead, the picture keeps slipping back into first gear. Wife Brenda Vaccaro loses all interest in intimacy, tells her husband to go get a prostitute if he wants sex, and then calls out, "Where are you going?" as he walks out the door. It's amusing and familiar and likable. However, Kaufman's sketch-like approach plays out like a depressed cartoon. Moments of the movie make you laugh, but there's always a faintly bitter taste afterwards. ** from ****