A Letter to Three Wives (1985) (TV)

Réalisateur:

Larry Elikann

Writers:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz (screenplay)
Sally Robinson (writer)

Release Date:

16 décembre 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drame

Plot:

Three women are going on a trip that leaves incommunicado with the rest of the world and before they...

Plot Keywords:

Extramarital Affair | Color Remake Of B&W Film | Remake | Marriage | Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Avis des utilisateurs:

Yes, This Was Quite Sucky...

Ensemble

Loni Anderson	...	Lora Mae Holloway
Michele Lee	...	Rita Phipps
Stephanie Zimbalist	...	Debra Bishop
Charles Frank	...	Brad Bishop
Michael Gross	...	George Phipps
Ben Gazzara	...	Porter Holloway
Doris Roberts	...	Sadie Finney
Ann Sothern	...	Ma Finney
David Garrison	...	Ted
Whitney Kershaw	...	Babe
James Staley	...	Frank
Stephen Shellen	...	Nicky
Nancy Warren	...	Jenny
Hagan Beggs	...	Freddy
Karen Austin	...	Kate

Autre(s) titre(s) :

Chaînes conjugales (France) [fr]

Durée:

100 min

Pays:

USA

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Couleur

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Son:

Mono

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Connexions De Film:

Remake of A Letter to Three Wives (1949)

Yes, This Was Quite Sucky...

As much as I love the actresses who appeared in this movie, this was one remake that could have stood never to be remade.

I liked Michele Lee as Rita Phipps, I have to say. It had to have been hard to try and update that whole storyline from "Radio Is Going to Kill Culture" to "TV IS Killing Culture," not to mention trying to give snappy, witty dialogue to Rita and George. I mean, how can you outdo Kirk Douglas and Ann Sothern? Can't be done--just can't!!! I also liked Doris Roberts as the wise-cracking maid, and Stephanie Zimbalist was in top form here as Deborah.

But the whole effect taken together looked like a very clumsy attempt at trying to recapture an era that cannot be recaptured, because times have changed. Women do not attempt to be wily and sexy in order to win the boss as a husband these days and still come off as respectable. Only back in the 40s, when it was considered a woman's HIGHEST aspiration to marry a rich husband, would that be acceptable. Now it just looks trashy, and is an insult to women.

I can't forget the crumb they threw to Ann Sothern, the only surviving female cast member from the original 1948 flick. She walked away with the original as Rita. Here, she was sadly underused.

My advice for producers who (for whatever reason) want to remake these old classics: make it a period piece! Don't try to give a '40s movie a '40s feel in the '80s (or beyond).

I WON'T hold my breath for a remake of "The Women." I don't want to see Gwyneth Paltrow (or whoever the "Waif of the Week" is) spraying perfume in a department store and trying to be clever. Can't be done--just can't!!