A Woman Under the Influence

1974
PG
2h 35m

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

27K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer3:00

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99+ Photos

Drama Romance

Although wife and mother Mabel is loved by her husband Nick, her mental illness places a strain on the marriage.Although wife and mother Mabel is loved by her husband Nick, her mental illness places a strain on the marriage.Although wife and mother Mabel is loved by her husband Nick, her mental illness places a strain on the marriage.

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IMDb RATING

8.1/10

27K

YOUR RATING

See more at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 9 wins & 7 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 3:00

Watch Official Trailer

Photos110

Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence (1974)

Peter Falk and Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence (1974)

John Cassavetes in Minnie and Moskowitz (1971)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
John Cassavetes could not find a distributor for the film after completion, and was at one point literally carrying the reels under his arm, from one theater to another, in hopes of getting one to play his movie. Finally, Martin Scorsese, who had recently become critically acclaimed following his film Mean Streets (1973) happened to be a huge fan of Cassavetes' work and threatened to pull his film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) from a major New York film festival unless they accepted this film.

Goofs
In the scene at the end of the film when Nick and Mabel are putting the children to bed, the boom mic is visible on the left side of the screen poking out from behind the door frame just after Nick exits the room and Mabel is about to turn off the light.

Quotes
Nick Longhetti: Mabel is not crazy, she's unusual. She's not crazy, so don't say she's crazy.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Cousins/The Mighty Quinn/True Believer/Tap (1989)

Soundtracks
La Boheme: 'Che facevi, che dicevi Act 3
Written by Giacomo Puccini
Performed by Mirella Freni, Nicolai Gedda and Thomas Schippers

User reviews137

Review

Featured review

9/10

Soul Destroying Cinema...

In a world where you must be what you are told, bring up the children, do the washing, be controlled, cook for all your husband's mates, when he's just cancelled last night's date, is it any wonder, that you'd cave in, crash and fold!!!

Gena Rowlands is absolutely spectacular as the put upon mother who has her mental health, that's already walking a fine line between breakdown, depression and dissatisfaction, absolutely trashed and destroyed by her unsympathetic, insensitive and cruel partner, exquisitely performed by Peter Falk. A far from uncommon story of yesteryear that plays forward today and inevitably tomorrow. Leaves you wondering how on earth did that lady not win an Oscar!

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