Doctors' Wives (1971 film)
Doctors' Wives is a 1971 American drama film directed by George Schaefer[1] and starring Dyan Cannon, Gene Hackman, Carroll O'Connor, Richard Crenna, Janice Rule, John Colicos, and Rachel Roberts. It was based on a novel by Frank G. Slaughter.[2]
Doctors' Wives | |
---|---|
Directed by | George Schaefer |
Produced by | M.J. Frankovich Frankovich Productions |
Written by | Frank Slaughter Daniel Taradash |
Starring | Dyan Cannon Gene Hackman Carroll O'Connor Richard Crenna Rachel Roberts |
Music by | Elmer Bernstein |
Cinematography | Charles Lang |
Edited by | Carl Kress |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 101 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The theme song, "The Costume Ball", was sung by Mama Cass Elliot.
Plot
While playing cards with her girlfriends, all of whom suspect their doctor husbands of having affairs, Lorrie Dellman volunteers to seduce each of them to find out more.
The plan backfires when Lorrie is caught in bed with Paul McGill by her husband, brain surgeon Dr. Mort Dellman, who shoots them both.
Dr. Pete Brennan is able to save McGill's life, but Lorrie is dead. Brennan is fed up with wife Amy and her migraines. He is having an affair with Helen, a nurse.
Dr. Dave Randolph is a psychiatrist. His wife, Della, is frigid. Randolph discovers that she's had a lesbian relationship with the late Lorrie.
Maggie, an alcoholic, is found face-down in her swimming pool by Dr. Joe Gray, her husband.
With all of their lives in turmoil, they attend Lorrie's funeral, where Helen reveals that her young son needs a brain operation. The doctors agree that Dr. Dellman is the man best suited to do the surgery, but Dellman is in jail for having shot his wife.
The district attorney, Douglas, agrees to release the surgeon for a few hours to perform the surgery, under a police guard. He is unaware that Dellman has made a deal with Lorrie's wealthy father, Jake Porter, to help him flee to Mexico as soon as the operation is done.
Cast
- Dyan Cannon as Lorrie Dellman
- Gene Hackman as Dr. Randolph
- Richard Crenna as Dr. Brennan
- Carroll O'Connor as Dr. Gray
- Rachel Roberts as Della Randolph
- Janice Rule as Amy Brennan
- Cara Williams as Maggie Gray
- Diana Sands as Helen Straughn
- Richard Anderson as D.A. Douglas
- George Gaynes as Paul McGill
- Ralph Bellamy as Jake Porter
- John Colicos as Dr. Dellman
- John S. Ragin as Minister (uncredited)
Reception
Doctors' Wives has a 4.3 out of 10 on IMDb.[3]
See also
References
- "Doctor's Wives". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- Greenspun, Roger (1971-02-04). "Schaefer's 'Doctors' Wives':Dyan Cannon Portrays Unfaithful Spouse 4 Other Features Bow in Local Showings". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- Doctors' Wives, retrieved 2020-08-19