The Stepford Wives

[romgitsean]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 4:25pm

So, I just purchased the book 'The Stepford Wives', after wondering how the book compared to the 2004 movie, (I have yet to see the 1975 film- I nearly forgot about the whole thing until under new releases on instant Netflix, the 2004 was available) and I have to say, as always, the book is truly phenominal.

However, ignoring the 2004 film completely, which is modernized- does the story lose its feminist integrity if it is not placed in the 70's? Is the story still relevant? Or, should it be viewed as something that was once scary, but now we can appreciate because of what it once represented and stood for.

And furthermore, was it really 'scary' to begin with? Or was it always intentionally purely satirical?

[SNAFU]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 4:27pm

The 2004 movie sucks. Plain and simple. Don't waste your time.

[romgitsean]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 4:39pm

Still doesn't answer my question:

IGNORING THE 2004 ADAPTATION: Is the story of The Stepford Wives still relevant in modern times?

[SNAFU]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 5:23pm

I do believe that the story is time specific. Almost a time capsule. Much like the paranoid films of the late 50's, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Invaders from Mars etc, they lose their punch if updated.
The original 1975 film was never really frightening, just a sharp social commentary. Is it relevant today? Yes, but maybe to a lesser degree. There is still a large portion of the population who want to return to those times (or have never really LEFT those times in regards to Feminism an a woman's role in society).

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 5:27pm

I think the scary factor is contingent on how much you know about it before you see/read it, and at this point pretty much everyone understands what "Stepford Wife" means.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 9:35pm

If you want scary, try Rosemary's Baby.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 11:02pm

i LOVE Rosemary's Baby! The final elevator scene in the Dakota always has me on the edge of my seat.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 11:27pm

Have you guys ever seen Veronica's Room? I love that play. I don't understand why it's not more widely done.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 7/31/10 at 5:34pm

I'd never heard of Veronica's Room.

I found the NY Times review from 1985, though. They don't seem fond of it:

"Where Mr. Levin has splashes of humor to relieve the tension between the chills and thrills in 'Deathtrap,' his 'Veronica's Room' lacks wit. It is an unrelentingly nasty play filled with incest, murder, necrophilia and stark insanity. There is nothing particularly clever about it, and its plot is so bizarre as to be unintentionally funny. It's as though Mr. Levin thought up evil deeds and stuck them into his play without regard to character motivation or plausibility."

Incest, murder, necrophilia AND stark insanity? Count me in!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 7/31/10 at 5:37pm

Those were my sentiments too when I read that review, Reginald!