Weib ohne Gewissen

Diana Dors shows in "The Unholy Wife" that besides a smashing, busty figure she had serious acting chops as well (even when she is completely un-glamorous in the "present day"scenes). The plot of the film is not bad, and it has an ironic finish, but it's drearily directed. ** out of 4.

For some reason this film has a "B-movie" quality about it and I think it has something to do with the lead actress, Diana Dors. Although some have referred to her as, "the English Marilyn Monroe", she just doesn't seem to have the "on-screen presence" that Marilyn had. At least, I don't think so. Because of this, while she is certainly very pretty, I never quite got that intrigued with her performance in this picture. Her acting seemed kind of bland and "wooden". Be that as it may, in this film she plays "Phyllis Hochen" who is the conniving wife of a rich wine-maker ("Paul Hochen") played by Rod Steiger. But she doesn't love him. Instead she is having an affair with a local rodeo cowboy named "San Sanders" (Tom Tryon). Being terribly unhappy with Paul she schemes to get rid of him. Anyway, so much for the plot which is pretty basic and has been used any number of times. While I don't want to sound terribly negative, I will say that one thing I didn't care for was the technique used which had her telling her story from a jail cell in the past tense. Now, I realize that this is a typical film-noir technique but (when used) it often seems to take some of the mystery out of it. Anyway, add in an average script, weak directing (John Farrow) and mediocre acting all around and it pretty much rates a "5 out of 10". While it wasn't "great" I suppose it was an "okay" way to spend an hour and a half.

The comment by Melvelvit also on this site is fantastic...and I think he is right. I have only just discovered this - yes - lurid thriller - made in the final days of RKO, and it is as much fun in a demented way as it is genuinely interesting. Now that I have seen the film again with Melvelvit's believable comments under my, er, belt, well, it might just be Rod Steiger after all, and not poor Diana at all who is the genuine Unholy Wife. All that (later) Baby Jane and Charlotte campery can be seen it its seed form in this well produced, decorated stylish dark mansion melodrama...complete with trashy rodeo handsome hick and lusty barfly floozies for added tarty extras. Imagine running a cinema in the mid to late 50s and having RKO call you once a month offering double features of any of these mix'n'match titles: SON OF SINBAD / THE FRENCH LINE / SLIGHTLY SCARLET / INFERNO / THE UNHOLY WIFE/ THE GIRL MOST LIKELY etc. What a life there was for some excited cinema goer!

An important film that deserves attention for two reasons: 1. An unusual story, of an evil woman who actually shows respect for religion; 2 For an unusual low-key, yet convincing performance from Rod Steiger and an interesting one by the beautiful Diana Dors. Actor Tom Tryon is given third billing for a brief role, while the more important role of the priest and brother of the Rod Steiger character acted by Arthur Franz is given lower billing. The direction is just average fare. But the tale written by an unknown writer named William Durkee is interesting.

This movie is interesting -- which puts it light years ahead of most films.

It has some real problems, but the acting is believable. Advertised liked a B-movie, but with all the melodrama of a major Hollywood barnburner, Dors, Steiger, and Bondi play their roles with perfection. This one is worth viewing.