SECRETS OF THREE HUNGRY WIVES
US, 1978, 97 minutes, Colour.
James Franciscus, Jessica Walter, Gretchen Corbett, Eve Plumb.
Directed by Gordon Hessler.
Secrets of Three Hungry Wives is a novelettish title for a novelettish plot. However, as with so many telemovies, the triteness of the material is given glossy soap opera treatment which makes it quite enjoyable television viewing.
The film focuses on James Franciscus as a malevolent playboy. While he has everything, he wants to control people and destroy them. He has a theory about destroying bored housewives, the hungry wives. He ruins the lives of three women (good performances especially from Jessica Walter). He is murdered and in the flashbacks we see that each of the wives could have been the murderer. The film, in its soap opera way. offers a picture and a critique of Affluent American society. Direction is by Gordon Hessler who has specialised in film and telemovie thrillers (The Oblong Box, Embassy, Scream Pretty Peggy and, made in Australia, Puzzle).
1. An enjoyable soap opera murder mystery? The entertainment appeal of this kind of material? The title with its trite sound? The conventional material? The glossy treatment and acceptability for television entertainment?
2. Affluent American society? The gloss of the colour photography and locations? The musical score for atmosphere?
3. The flashback after the murder? Audience curiosity about the suspects? The possibilities of the three women having done the murder? The inevitability of the daughter being the murderess? The effectiveness of the interweaving of the three stories and the flashback? The conventions - how well used? Entertainingly?
4. How plausible was the plot? The focus on Mark Powers (irony of his surname!) and his wealth, insinuating himself into society, attracting women, interfering in their lives, ruining their lives - for the seeming enjoyment of it? The credibility of someone killing him? The credibility of the wives letting their lives be ruined? Of the daughter killing him? Sufficient credibility for this kind of mystery?
5. James Franciscus credible as Mark Powers? His self-assurance? The murder and audience curiosity? Any sympathy? His interactions with Chris and the renting of the house? Karen and Bill and their marriage? Lyn and Larry and the gambling? Vicki and the relationship? His finding the weak point of each woman and destroying her through it?
6. Vicki as the mad and jealous daughter? Her relationship with her mother? Jealousy? Her father's phone calls? Her anger at her father and his excuses for not seeing her? The relationship with Mark? Jealousy of her mother? Misunderstanding her mother's motivation? Her madness at the end? Melodramatic character?
7. Chris as a competent woman? Her estrangement from her husband? Her asking him not to see Vicki? Her work as an estate agent? Showing mark the house? Her aloofness at the various dinners e.g. at the club? Gradually becoming involved? Her knowing how he was interfering with the lives of the other women? Her support of the other women? Her decision to get the incriminating evidence from him? Audiences suspecting her of the murder? The confrontation of Vicki? Karen and Bill and their marriage? Entanglement with Mark? Being flattered at his attentions while he was actually mocking them? The financial entanglements? The melodrama and the temptation -to violence? Lyn and Larry and their pleasantness, Mark's despising them, insinuating into their lives, contracts, loans? The gambling at the fair? At the casino? His hold over Lyn? The desperation of the two women?
9. The build-up to their lives being destroyed? Wondering what to do? Chris' decisions to save them?
10. The popular ingredients of murder mysteries? Popular entertainment? Evil heroes? Competent women victimised?
