The Unholy Wife
| The Unholy Wife | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Farrow |
| Screenplay by | Jonathan Latimer |
| Produced by | John Farrow |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Lucien Ballard |
| Edited by | Eda Warren |
| Music by | Daniele Amfitheatrof |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Universal-International |
Release date |
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Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Unholy Wife is an American 1957 color film noir drama film produced and directed by John Farrow at RKO Radio Pictures, but released by Universal-International as RKO was in the process of ceasing its film activities. The film features Diana Dors, Rod Steiger, Tom Tryon and Beulah Bondi.[1][2] The screenplay was written by William Durkee and Jonathan Latimer
The film is about a femme fatale named Phyllis (Diana Dors) who tells her sordid story from her prison cell in flashback.
Plot
The film begins with Phyllis (Diana Dors) telling her story in flashbacks. It begins how she meets rich vintner Paul Hochen (Rod Steiger) from Napa Valley in a bar and marries him soon after.
Not long after the marriage, Phyllis begins having an affair with a local rodeo rider, San Sanford (Tom Tryon), seeing him every time her husband is away, which is frequently. One night, her elderly mother-in-law (Beulah Bondi) thinks a burglar is breaking into the house, so she calls the police. Phyllis sees this as an opportunity to kill her husband and blame the burglar for the crime. The plan backfires a day later when she instead kills her husband's best friend. Not wanting to go to jail, she convinces her husband to confess to the killing and they concoct a story that would set him free after the trial.
Unfortunately for her husband, Phyllis lies at the trial and he is put away for murder. The "unholy" wife finally gets the punishment she deserves when her mother-in-law dies of poisoning and the blame goes to Phyllis, who is sent to prison—for a crime she had nothing to do with. Later, she faces her execution in the gas chamber. The film ends with Paul showing their son Michael (Gary Hunley) the vineyard that will someday be his.
Cast
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Reception
Critical response
The New York Times film critic, Bosley Crowther, panned the film when it was released, writing, "Indeed, this might be an excellent time for the actress to take inventory or choose a comedy (her real forte). For the new R. K. O. production and Universal-International release, teaming her with Rod Steiger, is a dull, unholy mess, and an absolute waste of anyone's time. Including, we might add, that of the two principals. Pretentiously tinted in garish color, and staged with coronation pomp by director-producer John Farrow, the picture is a hollow, tawdry little drama of frustration, violence and a loveless marriage in California's Napa Valley."[3]
See also
References
- ^ Harrison's Reports review; August 31, 1957, page 138.
- ^ Variety film review, September 4, 1957, page 6.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley. The New York Times, film review, March 7, 1958. Accessed: August 5, 2013.
External links
