She-Devil (1989)

A surprisingly resourceful housewife vows revenge on her husband when he begins an affair with a wealthy romance novelist.

Director:

Susan Seidelman

Writers:

Fay Weldon (novel), Barry Strugatz (screenplay)

Stars:

Meryl Streep, Roseanne Barr, Ed Begley Jr.

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meryl Streep	...	Mary Fisher
Roseanne Barr	...	Ruth Patchett
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Bob
Linda Hunt	...	Hooper
Sylvia Miles	...	Mrs. Fisher
Elisebeth Peters	...	Nicolette Patchett
Bryan Larkin	...	Andy Patchett
A Martinez	...	Garcia
Maria Pitillo	...	Olivia Honey
Mary Louise Wilson	...	Mrs. Trumper
Susan Willis	...	Ute
Jack Gilpin	...	Larry
Robin Leach	...	Himself
Nitchie Barrett	...	Bob's Secretary
June Gable	...	Realtor

Storyline

Ruth is a wife and mother who tries to please her husband (Bob) but finds him pulling away and spending more time at the office than at home. When he begins an affair with a famous romance novelist (Mary) and leaves Ruth to raise their kids, she decides she's had enough of playing nice docile housewife. Ruth endeavors to show Bob and Mary the truth about themselves and each other, while creating a new successful life of her own.

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Plot Keywords:

revenge | infidelity | extramarital affair | dysfunctional marriage | battle of the sexes | 

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Taglines:

Revenge Is Sweet... And Low.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

8 December 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

La diabla

Filming Locations:

Belle Terre, Suffolk, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$15,351,421

Company Credits

Production Co:

Orion Pictures, A Seidelman/Brett Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is dedicated to Dean E. Maitland. The film's dedication at the end of the closing credits states "In loving memory of Dean Maitland 1970-1989". Maitland worked as a sound recordist on the movie.

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Goofs

When Bob is taking a shower and sees Ruth through the shower door, he screams. He steps out of the shower, and Ruth tells him that she is in there to weigh herself. Bob walks out of the bathroom, and Ruth steps on the scales. The scales are not visible, but you hear the scales moving as if it is a rotating dial scale. However, when the camera shows the scale to reveal to the audience what she weighs, it is a digital scale.

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Quotes

Ruth: [to Mary] Oh, I'm so sorry.

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Connections

Version of The Life and Loves of a She-Devil (1986)

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Soundtracks

That's What I Call Love
Written by Ashley Cadell and Kate Ceberano
Performed by Kate Ceberano
Provided Courtesy of London Records

User Reviews

The devil in disguise

Underrated, well-performed comedy from Fay Weldon's book (previously filmed as a British mini-series for television) about a common housewife who connives to get even with the self-absorbed romance novelist who stole her husband. Some of the jokes have a mean-spirited tone, but it was an interesting idea to have Roseanne Barr play her role (as the put-upon wife-turned-she devil) in a relatively low-key and allow Meryl Streep (as the colorful villainess) to ham it up. Sylvia Miles and Linda Hunt are lively in supporting roles, though both simply evaporate from the film's narrative after the midway point, this due to the film's episodic structure. Ed Begley Jr. isn't quite right as Roseanne's cheating husband--he looks like Streep's brother, not her lover--yet the film is funny and entertaining, if not always right on track. **1/2 from ****