How to Murder Your Wife [Blu-ray]

Director: Richard Quine Richard Quine

Overview

George Axelrod's script for How to Murder Your Wife isn't politically correct in the least, but you're likely to get a charge out of it -- provided you are of the male persuasion, that is. Jack Lemmon stars as Stanley Ford, a successful cartoonist and a confirmed bachelor who shares a lavish apartment with his misogynistic manservant, Charles (Terry-Thomas). While attending a friend's bachelor party, Stanley falls head over heels in love with the gorgeous bikini-clad girl (Virna Lisi) who pops out of a cake. He impulsively marries her, but thinks better of it the next day. Alas, Stanleycan't get a divorce because his bride is an Italian Catholic (this is 1966). Dicier still, she is a "domestic goddess," lovingly plying her hubby with rich Italian food until Stanley's once-athletic physique is as bloated as the dirigible Hindenberg. Stanley's descent into husbandhood is reflected in his work: his popular adventure comic strip "Bash Brannigan" metamorphoses into a Blondie-like "idiot husband" daily. As a catharsis, Stanley vicariously "kills" his lovely wife by having Bash Brannigan murder his missus. Stanley's wife sees the finished strip on his desk and runs tearfully out of his life (at least temporarily). The publication of the strip, coupled with his wife's disappearance, results in Lemmon being put on trial for murder. We won't tell you how things turn out; suffice it to say that most feminists will be outraged, while most husbands will laugh immoderately. Eddie Mayehoff and Claire Trevor provide sparkling support as Lemmon's bombastic editor and his dragon-like wife.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/17/2015
UPC:	0887090091404
Original Release:	1965
Rating:	NR
Source:	Olive
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound]
Language:	English
Time:	1:58:00
Sales rank:	12,333

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jack Lemmon	Stanley Ford
Virna Lisi	Mrs. Ford
Terry-Thomas	Charles
Claire Trevor	Edna
Eddie Mayehoff	Harold Lampson
Sidney Blackmer	Judge Blackstone
Max Showalter	Tobey Rawlins
Jack Albertson	Dr. Bentley
Alan Hewitt	District Attorney
Mary Wickes	Harold's Secretary
Barry Kelley	Actor
William Bryant	Actor
Charles Bateman	Actor
Edward Faulkner	Actor
Lauren Gilbert	Actor
Howard Wendell	Actor
Khigh Dhiegh	Actor

Technical Credits

George Axelrod

Richard Quine	Director
George Axelrod	Screenwriter,Producer
Gordon Carroll	Producer
Geza Gaspar	Special Effects
Lucky Kargo	Stunts
Lyle Figland	Sound Effects

Editorial Reviews

If a viewer can look at How to Murder Your Wife as something from a time capsule, a piece that captures a certain societal attitude circa 1965, he or she will likely have an easier time enjoying it. The basic premise will still likely offend some, but if they can get past that and enjoy the skill that has gone into making Murder, they may start laughing in spite of themselves. In a way, it's too bad the filmmakers didn't go further, making a film that was really darkly comic and edgy in an over-the-top manner. But by making this a "tired businessman" comedy, they dilute the impact while elevating the potential to pointlessly offend. Still, George Axelrod's script has some pithy moments, and Richard Quine directs with precision, although both lose track of things toward the end, when Murder just gets to be a little too much. Fortunately, Jack Lemmon is on hand and is in top farceur mode, making zircon-level humor shine and glisten like diamonds, and providing enough personal charm to keep the entire enterprise aloft all by his lonesome. That he doesn't have to do so, thanks to an excellent supporting cast, is a bonus. Virna Lisi is a sexy delight, Terry-Thomas makes disapproval into a comic art form, and Eddie Mayehoff and Claire Trevor are a perfect duo. Add in Richard Sylbert's period bachelor accoutrements, Harry Stradling's glossy photography, and Neal Hefti's groovy score, and the result is a movie that manages to be enjoyable in spite of itself.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler