Die Frauen von Stepford

The image of beautiful, not necessarily sexy, women parading through the aisles of a grocery story in picturesque, almost Victorian summer dresses and wide white broad brimmed hats is one of the most lasting of this effective thriller based on the work by Ira Levin. Katherine Ross engagingly plays a women being moved with family in tow from the hustle and bustle of New York City to the serene suburbs of old Connetticut. Ross soon discovers that life for the gentle sex is anything but normal. All the women of Stepford seem to be concerned with is housecleaning and pleasing their husbands. This is a good, high energy film that shocks more from looks and what you do not see rather than what you do see. Helping greatly is a solid acting cast working with a pliable script. Though shot with an almost static effect at times, The Stepford Wives packs a few good punches. The scene in the grocery store and the scene with the empty eyes are just two of the highlights for me. Patrick O' Neal, lovely Tina Louise, and the ever loquacious Paula Prentiss costar. At the heart of the film is human identity and the worth it has/should have. There are aspects of social commentary abounding: the relationship of men and women in marriage, the effects of Suburban living, and the dangers of technology.

A normal couple move out of the stressful big city to live in a tranquil upper middle class semi- rural community, seeking peace and quiet. The town holds a sinister secret though- why do the wives of Stepford all seem to mindlessly content ? That is the start of this slow paced , surreal , and in some ways silly horror story. Gradually, clues begin the mount and the viewer becomes aware that soothing is very terribly wrong with these women. The last third of the film is better, more intense than the prior segments; the ending makes it all worth the while. Several themes are explored in this movie- an intensification of the 'war' between the sexes, crude stereotypes about that women think men want, the conflict between being independent , an individual, being free, plus Mans desire to 'create.' Some feminists objected to this movie but it should be obvious that , if anything, the movie is anti men, and not anti women at all.

I'm sure 'The Stepford Wives' spoke more to the audiences of 1975 than it does to the audiences of today, but this holds its own as decent, satisfying thriller. Really little more than a variation on 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers,' 'Stepford' follows that film's structure of slowly unspooling clues and suspicions and saving its bigger 'gotcha!' moments for the end. Katherine Ross was no doubt the star of this film, but Paula Prentiss really stood out for me. Gawky and enjoyable, she oddly predicted Geena Davis by a full generation. At one point in the film, my girlfriend commented of her wardrobe, 'Wow, can you imagine a grown woman today wearing a hot pant jumper?' The '70s… yikes!

I had the misfortune of both seeing the remake of 'The Stepford Wives' before seeing the original and *actually seeing* the remake of 'The Stepford Wives.' If the original serves any purpose, it is to expose the remake for the gutless, toothless, anemic waste of everyone's time that it is. God, what a terrible movie

I watched this film without knowing too much about it beforehand, which is the best way to get hit by its surprise revelations - so, as another reviewer suggested, don't read any reviews before seeing it, they'll probably spoil it one way or the other. It is fueled by the same fear that pervaded the "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" films - the loss of one's individuality. The director's careful, methodical pacing and his attention to detail may make the film seem slow to impatient viewers, but they pay off in some really chilling moments. Katharine Ross is extremely engaging in the lead....and (not to give anything away but) I'll never forget the image of the woman with no eyes. (***)

Classy adaptation from Ira Levin's best seller with script by prestigious William Goldman and stars beauty Katharina Ross . This very thrilling and suspense story from the author of Rosemary's Baby deals with the charming Joanna (Katharine Ross) along with her hubby Walker (Peter Masterson) and children tired of the rat race move from bustling Manhattan towards the quaint little town of Stepford (Conneticut) , a really modern and upper class location . She doesn't like the bizarre neighborhood with attractive and perfect but unintelligent housewives . She gets suspects and is concerned when many wives spend their lives in domestic slavery , as they seem to delight in moronic conversation and are strangely content and subservient to their hubbies . Joanna early befriends a pair good friends (Paula Prentiss , Tina Louise) . Meanwhile , her husband joins the mysterious Stepford Men's club (run by a powerful Patrick O'Neal and married another too perfect wife ) which takes place in an old Manor house . Joanna soon discovers there lies a dark truth about the strange and servitude behavior in the all female residents and the sinister secrets hidden in the Stepford town . As the truth about the wives is more terrifying and shocking that their lives . ¨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¨.

This enjoyable film is a sci-fi/thriller with a twsted plot , intriguing and suspenseful elements and a little bit of drama . Being almost a classic film , faithfully based on an Ira Levin novel , retelling several creepy and eerie events when a newcomer woman arriving in Stepford decides to investigate the rare happenings occurring in the rare , sleepy little town . A nice and original idea given light touch with a neat twist at the final . Although , it's a shame that first hour or so of this film is so slow , resulting to be in some moments briefly dull . The casting is frankly well as the fine trio of protagonists : Katharine Ross , Peter Masterson and Paula Prentiss , all of them giving terrific performances . As well as an excellent support cast , such as : Nanette Newman , Patrick O'Neal , William Prince , Carol Rossen, George Coe , Dee Wallace Stone , Michael Higgins , Josef Sommer and seven-year-old Mary Stuart Masterson, who is daughter of the starring , in her first film role . Special mention for atmospheric and evocative cinematography by Owen Roitzman who photographed The Exorcist . As well as moving and thrilling musical score by Michael Small . This is the classic rendition , this is the old version well directed by expert filmmaker Brian Forbes resulting in a splendid chiller and considered to be very superior to remake ¨The Stepford wives¨ 2004 that was preferably an amiable comedy regularly directed by Frank Oz with Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick , Bette Midler and John Lovitz ; this latter being heavily re-edited and re-written following test screenings , with new scenes shot and others deleted . This¨Stepford wives¨ 1975 was followed three inferior sequels : ¨Revenge Stepford wives ¨, ¨Stepford children¨, ¨Stepford husbands¨ . The picture will appeal to thriller fans . Rating : Notable 7/10 . Better than average.