THE UNHOLY WIFE.
US, 1957, 94 minutes, Colour.
Diana Dors, Rod Steiger, Arthur Franz, Beulah Bondi, Marie Windsor, Tom Tryon.
Directed by John Farrow.
This is one of the last films directed by John Farrow, making John Paul Jones at much the same time, some television before his untimely death in 1963.
Australian Farrow had made an impact with his biography of Father Damien of Molokai and other religious books, especially on the papacy. An Australian, he had followed the example of Errol Flynn and sailed adventurously around the world, eventually writing novels and screenplays in Hollywood and then moving into direction. (He also married Maureen O’ Sullivan, had many children including Mia Farrow.)
His dramas were generally studio bound but he made films with a great range of interest, often drawing on religious themes and the Catholicism to which he was a convert (Full Confession, Five Came Back, Alias Nick Beal. This melodrama is particularly Catholic, Arthur Franz appearing as the kind of priest one might expect in the film of the 1950s.
The film is striking with the pairing of Diana Dors and Rod Steiger, she something of a vamp and a schemer, he a serious landowner whom she frames. Key to the screenplay is her going to confession to her brother-in-law – and some possibilities of redemption.
There is an interesting supporting cast with Beulah Bondi, Marie Windsor and the young Tom Tryon
1. A 1950s melodrama? The perfect crime? Social issues? Religious issues? Conscience?
2. The cast, Diana Dors in an American film?
3. The locations, the colour photography, San Francisco and the Vineyards? The vistas of the countryside? The home, exteriors and interiors? The fair, the rodeo, the parties? Los Angeles, clubs, the beach? The musical score?
4. The framework of the drama: Phyllis, dark hair, in prison, photographed in close-up, the suggestion of the priest listening to her, her explanation, the perfect crime, the flashbacks, her comments, repentance and forgiveness? Stephen then listening to her, the confession, absolution? Her going to her death?
5. The situation, the Swiss family, migration, building at the Vineyard, the success, Paul and his knowledge, proud of his heritage, the San Francisco area? The pride for the family, the reputation, Paul with the Vineyard, Stevens the priest? Their bonds with their mother, the ageing?
6. The tone of the film, Phyllis and the mother, fear of the prowler, fears, sedation, the mother and her panicking, the response of her sons? Phyllis’s response and being harsh?
7. Phyllis, with her mother-in-law, dismissing her fears, meeting up with her lover, his being the prowler? The situation, out of love with her husband? Planning to leave? Her memories, her girlfriends, at the bar, goodtime girls, the story of being from England, the RAF, her son and devotion to him? Her dropping her purse, the drink with the girls, Paul and his partner? Going to the restaurant? Going to the beach, listening to the races, Paul playing with Michael, Michael seeing him kiss his mother, upset, Paul and his ability to make friends with Michael, the story of the shell, the embrace?
8. The rodeo and the fair, Paul expected to be there, the visitor wanting to buy, Paul’s thinking his partner was betraying him, the fight? Phyllis going home, urging them to make up? Phyllis and her plan, with the gun, to kill Paul on his arrival? The irony of the partner overtaking him and getting shot? Paul, arriving home, his partner dead, the issue of the gun and the shooting, the consequences, Paul and his decision to take the blame, Phyllis and her response, the police, the interrogation? Phyllis writing the note putting it into the victim’s pocket? The poker with the door and suggestion of breaking in? The issues of fingerprints? Whether Phyllis was asleep or not? The contradictions, Paul taking the blame?
9. The mother, her nerves, hearing the lover, hearing Phyllis explain what happened? Her collapse, the/, Stephen trying to ask questions, for her to raise her fingers? The pills, Phyllis giving one? The mother taking the others and causing suspicion on Phyllis?
10. Stephen, place in the family, the good image of the priest, kind, a listener, helping with the family, respect of the law, the plea?
11. The court sequence, all of the accusations, the evidence? Phyllis and her confession, troubled, letting things slip? And this all being planned? The perfect crime?
12. The Exodus text, the religious values and conscience, Phyllis being described as unholy? The text, punishment for guilt? The impact on Phyllis? Her confession?
13. Paul, freedom, not being able to have children, his love for Michael, and finally being able to hand on the heritage to his son?
