The Stepford Wives (1975)

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.

Director:

Bryan Forbes

Writers:

Ira Levin (novel), William Goldman (screenplay)

Stars:

Katharine Ross, Paula Prentiss, Peter Masterson

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The Stepford Wives is about a small suburb where the women happily go about their housework - cleaning, doing laundry, and cooking gourmet meals - to please their husbands. Unfortunately, Bobbie and Joanna discover that the village's wives have been replaced with robots, and Joanna's husband wants in on the action.

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Plot Keywords:

robot | replaced by a double | men versus women | duplicate | family relationships | 

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Taglines:

Something strange is happening in the town of Stepford. Where the men spend their nights doing something secret. And every woman acts like every man's dream of the "perfect" wife. Where a young woman watches the dream become a nightmare. And sees the nightmare engulf her best friend. And realizes that any moment, any second - her turn is coming.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 February 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Frauen von Stepford

Filming Locations:

325 West End Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Palomar Pictures (I), Fadsin Cinema Associates

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min 100 min (DVD) 110 min (2001 DVD release)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Producer Edgar Scherick offered Brian DePalma the opportunity to direct Stepford Wives after he saw his cult thriller hit "Sisters". When screenwriter Bill Goldman got wind of this he threatened to quit since he did not like DePalma's work. The producers acquiesced, and British director Bryan Forbes was hired (much to his own surprise).

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Goofs

When Joanna takes Fred out for a walk, Walter calls the members of the men's association to check out the layout of the master bedroom. Among those who come to the house are Ed Wimpiris and the Reverend. We cut to Joanna on her walk outside the men's association building where a local police officer warns her about walking around at night, and Joanna heads home. Moments after she departs the frame, a car pulls out of the driveway driven by Ed Wimpiris with the Reverend as a passenger. Ed is shown to be a stunned, sweaty mess and the Reverend suggests letting him drive the car instead as Ed is "In no fit shape", the implication being Ed had taken his wife Charmaine to be "changed" that evening. Unless Ed and the Reverend had Stepford doubles of their own running around or Joanna was in the habit of walking Fred for hours on end, this would indicate they were in two places at once that evening.

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Quotes

Joanna Eberhart: If I am wrong, I'm insane... but if I'm right, it's even worse than if I was wrong.

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Connections

Referenced in Safe (1995)

User Reviews

Mary Stuart Masterson hasn't changed a bit!

Katharine Ross gives her best performance in this modern day horror / science fiction masterpiece. For odd, but explainable reasons, the Stepford Wives looks a little like Suspiria and I Spit on Your Grave. Since it was shot in the 1970's, the movie is somewhat of a time machine that allows us to look back at a different time. The ending's climax makes the movie a true horror movie as the hallway's of the Men's Association looks a lot like the Girl's Dance Conservatory in Suspiria. The look of the movie seems low budget at times, but this simple use of direction and story telling adds to the setting of Stepford. Ross is perfect for the role. It is a giant slap in the face when Ross sees her robot-like self with bigger breasts that her. This adds to the idea of Men wanting to control their wives and wanting certain things from them. Even for the 1970's, this is a giant push back to the 1950's with human / women's rights. Scary and utterly horrific by the end, the Stepford Wives is a success as the movie makes its audience think.