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Diary of a Mad Housewife

  • 19701970
  • PAPA
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Carrie Snodgress in Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
ComedyDrama

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

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Frank Perry
  • Writers
    • Eleanor Perry(screenplay by)
    • Sue Kaufman(from the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Richard Benjamin
    • Frank Langella
    • Carrie Snodgress
Top credits
  • Director
    • Frank Perry
  • Writers
    • Eleanor Perry(screenplay by)
    • Sue Kaufman(from the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Richard Benjamin
    • Frank Langella
    • Carrie Snodgress
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 29User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 6 wins & 9 nominations total

    Photos47

    Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
    Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
    Frank Langella in Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
    Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
    Frank Langella in Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
    Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
    Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
    Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
    Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
    Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
    Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
    Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Benjamin
    Richard Benjamin
    • Jonathan Balseras Jonathan Balser
    Frank Langella
    Frank Langella
    • George Prageras George Prager
    Carrie Snodgress
    Carrie Snodgress
    • Tina Balseras Tina Balser
    Lorraine Cullen
    • Sylvie Balseras Sylvie Balser
    Frannie Michel
    • Liz Balseras Liz Balser
    Lee Addoms
    • Mrs. Prinzas Mrs. Prinz
    Peter Dohanos
    • Samuel Keeferas Samuel Keefer
    Katherine Meskill
    Katherine Meskill
    • Charlotte Radyas Charlotte Rady
    Leonard Elliott
    • M. Henrias M. Henri
    Valma
    • Margoas Margo
    Hilda Haynes
    • Lottieas Lottie
    Donald Symington
    • Pediatricianas Pediatrician
    • (as Don Symington)
    Alley Mills
    Alley Mills
    • Women's lib girlas Women's lib girl
    • (as Allison Mills)
    Alice Cooper
    Alice Cooper
    • Alice Cooperas Alice Cooper
    • (as The Alice Cooper Band)
    Michael Bruce
    • Michael Bruceas Michael Bruce
    • (as The Alice Cooper Band)
    Glen Buxton
    • Glen Buxtonas Glen Buxton
    • (as The Alice Cooper Band)
    Ja'net DuBois
    Ja'net DuBois
    • Veraas Vera
    Dennis Dunaway
    • Dennis Dunawayas Dennis Dunaway
    • (as The Alice Cooper Band)
    • Director
      • Frank Perry
    • Writers
      • Eleanor Perry(screenplay by)
      • Sue Kaufman(from the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Tina Balser is a bored New York housewife-mother married to Jonathan, a pompous, social-climbing lawyer who ridicules her in front of their children, criticizing everything she does or wears. She begins an affair with George Prager, a dashing, successful and blatantly sadistic writer. Finally after George has tormented Tina in much the same manner Jonathan has, and has been unfaithful to boot, she goes back to her husband and begins group therapy. —alfiehitchie
    new york cityinfidelitysatireextramarital affairbased on novel38 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • I, Tina Balser, Housewife, Did Not Do My Chores Today. I Did...Something Else!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • PA
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Neil Young song "A Man Needs a Maid" was inspired by Carrie Snodgress' performance in the film. Interestingly, a few months later the pair met and eventually became lovers.
    • Quotes

      Jonathan Balser: How about a little roll in the hay?

    • Alternate versions
      Original version runs 104 minutes. Alternate TV version was prepared by director Frank Perry substituting different footage for many sequences; this version runs 95 minutes.
    • Connections
      Featured in Film Extra: Richard Benjamin (1973)
    • Soundtracks
      Ride With Me Baby
      (uncredited)

      Written by Mars Bonfire

    User reviews29

    Review
    Top review
    Insanity comes quietly to the structured mind
    Richard Benjamin would drive anyone crazy in 'Diary of a Mad Housewife'(1970).Benjamin and wife Carrie Snodgrass are an upper- middle class New York couple, he totally absorbed with social climbing and Ms. Snodgrass bored to death with her isolated life.Director Frank Perry(David and Lisa) does an excellent job directing this sometimes funny, sometimes sad film of a materialistic, yet emotionally empty lifestyle.Script by Eleanor Perry.
    helpful•12
    2
    • judge9090
    • Mar 30, 2003

    FAQ1

    • Carrie Snodgress---What Happened to Her After "Diary"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 15, 1971 (Denmark)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Journal intime d'une femme mariée
    • Filming locations
      • Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Frank Perry Films Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,782,256
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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