THE PERFECT WIFE
US, 2001, 90 minutes, Colour.
Perry King, Shannon Sturges, Lesley- Ann Down, William R. Moses, Max Gale.
Directed by Don E. Faunt Leroy.
The Perfect Wife is standard television movie fare. It presents a woman who is completely malicious, destroying all those who she felt responsible or connected with the death of her brother in a motor accident. She is played by Shannon Sturges, a television actress, who appears like any glamorous blonde in an afternoon soap opera. Her husband, her main victim, an upright doctor is played by Perry King, veteran of film and television for many decades. Lesley- Ann Down, the British actress, plays his wife. William R. Moses portrays his brother.
The film begins with the accident, the upset for the sister at her brother’s death and the doctor’s seeming preference to help the driver (alcoholic) of the offending vehicle to save her life. She marries the doctor and then proceeds to wreak havoc on everyone. The stars are very glamorous, both Shannon Sturges and, after many decades, Lesley- Ann Down.
The film is standard material – though a popular level exploration of malice and its destructive evil.
1.Interesting and entertaining telemovie? For the home audience? Characters, conflicts, issues?
2.The affluent setting, California, homes, surgeries, hospitals? Musical score?
3.The characterisation, at soap opera level? Deeper themes – but symbolic and surface characters?
4.The opening accident, the death of the young man, the saving of the driver? Hospital, Leah and her grief for her brother? Her attack on the survivor, turning off the machines, caught, the irony of the survivor living? Later coming and blackmailing her? Her blaming the doctor?
5.Robert Steward, an old-fashioned and upright moral man? Medical skills? His support of his brother and his marriage break-up, drugs? His marrying Leah but her calling herself Liza? The honeymoon, the return home? Seeming happiness? His being a victim of Liza, his secretary being killed, Liza taking her place, the false prescription for the teacher? His death? Her giving drugs to Brad, her forging signatures? Her antagonism towards Helen, seeming friendship? Her attack on Greta, accusing her of stealing, firing her? Her intention to destroy Robert’s life? Her reporting him to the board anonymously, Brad’s funeral, the arrival of Felicia and the blackmail? Her finally trying to kill Robert, the drugs, telling him everything, the car? His escaping, Helen’s arrival, the confrontation? Her later return, her not being killed? The irony of the doctor saving her life? A portrait of malice?
6.Robert, his inability to live with Helen, the divorce, devoted love to Liza, hopes for the baby? His disappointment in his brother, confronting him? The lawyer and the discussions about the prosecution? The funeral? His surviving? The possible reconciliation with Helen?
7.Brad, his practice, his wife leaving him, his going to pieces, not doing well with the patients, the false prescription, the death, his upset, Liza inviting him to stay with them, her poisoning him, his falling down the stairs?
8.Helen, her nerviness, her publishing her book, the therapy? Her confrontation with Liza, suspicions, Greta and her friendship, not believing the accusations? Her trying to get in touch with Robert, to warn him? The planned outing with Brad, seeing him fall down the stairs? Her investigations, finding out about Leah? Coming to Robert’s rescue? The end and the fight with Liza? Ted, the family lawyer, his wanting to save the brothers? His lesser code of integrity?
9.Greta, the maid, twelve years of service, the antagonism towards Liza, her being fired, confiding in Helen?
10.The background of the hospital? Legal action? Police investigations?
