THE WOMAN IN RED (1984)

Written & Directed By: Gene Wilder 
Based on the screenplay “Un Elephant ca Trompe Enormement” By: Yves Robert & Jean-loup Dababie 
Cinematography By: Fred Schuler 
Editor: Christopher Greenbury 


Cast: Gene Wilder, Kelly LeBrock, Charles Grodin, Gilda Radner, Judith Ivey, Joseph Balogna, Michael Zorek 


Teddy is a middle-aged man who has a good wife, kids, friends and a fine job. You could say that he has everything he wants; but he doesn't. One day he sees a gorgeous woman in a red dress, and goes crazy! He must have her...

Even though it was the decade in which I grew up in and saw some of my first movies on screen and cable the 80’s were a particular time of where movies seemed less authentic they seemed more to be products and high concepts more than anything. So corporate that it was hard to have a personal touch. Most seem more at status quo. It was also one of the last decades where films were seen more as a major event . Where whatever movies were at the top were the ones everyone was talking. About where the cinema seemed to influence pop culture more and be a phenomenon. It has it’s fair share of masterpieces but also embarrassments. Half the films that felt special and were authentic found an audience because they seemed more personal and relatable.

In other words if the 70’s was Mavericks the 80’s were corporate or more like fast food where as the 90’s the art students came into play. With a lack of depth even when trying to be deep seems a little stale or more of a glossy production and Trying to make characters relateable to the audience in More superficial wish fulfillment ways. Never showing their weaknesses too much unless a plot point though certain lack of Finesse, but more importance in a look says more about the character. It has to get emotional and distracting and not just feel the celluloid as it feels more like a product. Especially with what was being sold rather than anything truly fulfilling. It can be pop art where it’s modern. It looks good but certainly not about anything and leaves a cold look afterwards.

Which is why one can look back at a bunch of 80’a cinema more as trashy fun. Great concepts and plenty of entertainment but little actual lasting substance unless you want more cheese. It was when you still had misogyny all over the place and still Seemed to keep anyone who wasn’t a straight male at an arms distance and comfortable in stereotypes. It’s where the teen t and a film boon cake from thanks to cable. The films I fondly talk about that growing up now watching them would find them more embarrassingly bad but now survive on my nostalgia for them.

One of the shining examples of the 1980’s is actually a film I liked as a child THE WOMAN IN RED. Directed by gene wilder Maybe I respect gene wilder too much so that this film is kind of shock and maybe that was what he was going for something more contemporary and sexual. Where as he always seemed to be the wacky, charming nice guy. Here he is more a married cad. Though knowing his screen presence it is what keeps his character likeable for the audience and seeing him in this type Of role shows range but also makes the Audience laugh out of being uncomfortable and seeing him if all people playing this type of character.

The film just feels cruel particularly to it’s female characters. His wife in the film played by Judith Ivey is nothing but nice and accommodating and at the end where he is on the ledge after almost getting to bed his dream girl and passerby’s think he is trying to commit suicide and it ends up on the news and his wife see’s I never understood if she was generally scared for him as she didn’t know he was that u happy or if she knew this was probably he result of him trying to cheat. One believes it was probably the earlier explanation.

Though even when he jumps off the ledge he is still eyeing some pretty cows while swearing off other women. So while the film is punishing him it also shows he hasn’t learned his lesson. In fact the original French film in which this is based off of had a sequel. I haven’t seen either so I can’t say if he did or didn’t though it looks to point to the later.

Which also might be why this film is a strange bit. As was the trend in the 80’s and partially now. There was a time when foreign films that were big overseas were not particularly popular here or were worldwide successes would seem to get their rights bought and immediately remade American Hollywood style . As they had proved to have the hot potential originally. Sometimes they were American successes more than the original in their own country. Look at Richard Pryor’s THE TOY or when it comes to television ALL IN THE FAMILY. With this film it might have been the more mature and relaxed French nature plays better in Europe and makes a rather hard translation for American social rules.

Even kelly leBrock In one of her noteworthy roles, the other being WEIRD SCIENCE as the object of his affection. She never looked better than in her debut here, Becomes human only in the end where as before she is flirtatious at the end she is willing but reveals she is also married when her husband is in the way up and she is trying to get Wilder's character out or to hide. The only time she is funny after a scene where she is so ethereal. So it shows she has something to lose in even giving in to wilder. It is also the only time she gets to be funny. Though the plausibility of her falling for wilder is minimal as if anything she might fall for his charm and sense of humor. Even as the film tries to immortalize her as a sex symbol by having her wearing a glowing red dress and it getting caught in the wind so it rises and rises up like Marilyn Monroe in the SEVEN YEAR ITCH, only here the musical cue at that moment is more harsh and obvious it also becomes her theme song THE WOMAN IN RED . Also her dress is red and silk. Which seems to be the moment that not only def new the film but begins his character’s journey and downward spiral trying to chase a fantasy.

This movie seems a little indebted to that film while being able to go father then that film ever could but where as that film had a happy ending. This film has a frustrating ending though somewhat happy it seems. Though watching the film wilder and his friends constantly playing jokes on each other and other rivals is supposed to seem juvenile-ish but again exposes the films not only toxic masculinity but also a privilege. With characters and a protagonist we are supposed to be rooting for as he lies constantly to his family and treats them like crap while having a midlife crisis and trying to sleep with a model. While his friends who seem pretty liberal about their relationships and marriages are always advising him to do it and also cover big for hi and bringing him more into the stratosphere of the model. So they are enabled by him While also trying to live vicariously through him. While he does witness the perils of an affair when one of his friends who is a serial cheater played by Joseph bologna’s wife leaves him out of nowhere. Stripping the house practically.

Gene Wilder’s Character is kind of pathetic as his wife does nothing wrong nor denies him anything. Her only crime seems to be adding to his paranoia and unhappiness by getting a gun and now he is afraid of her and what she might do if he does anything wrong. He seems content to his fate in life until the end where the fantasy begins to come to life arranged by his buddies and her.

I don’t know if the film was trying to be subversive or being a racy sex comedy with very little sex or if it was just a cultural thing that looks bad now and in bad taste like Eddie Murphy’s delirious special and the use of the word “faggot” continuously and playing up stereotypes that while hilarious at the time comes off homophobic now.

Gilda Radner, Wilder’s real life wife at the time has a thankless role as a co-worker who believes he wants to have an affair with her. Her role is silent and she is hilarious. She looks so drab and lifeless. This might be intentional as her character is more the nebbish wallflower or it might be because this was at the beginning of her being diagnosed with cancer, but strangely it seems like she deserved better. Especially how his character seems cruel to her. This was the second of the three films they co-starred together in and actually the film they got married after making.

It’s not all bad the move did open my eyes to gay relationships taken more seriously and not streotypical for once at the time and the gay man in Question played by Charles Grodin was new to me and helped open my acceptance. Maybe as I get older I understand things differently.

The movie has a great cast of recognizable character actors and comedians all over the place This is a Sex farce that is surprisingly PG-13 though when the rating first came out and the rules not exactly defined. As the film does contain brief full frontal nudity.

It’s nuances and wacky very reminiscent of the early 80’s and is a remake of a French film so that might be why the material is less romantic and more mature looking at relationships.

Now while I speak harshly about the film. I can still say it’s Something worth watching as it still has it’s Charms as most gene wilder films do he wrote and directed this film which with THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES SMARTER BROTHER are overlooked films that have something going for them deeper. So while this film might be despicable it’s relatable and truthful to a degree.

The film has a Great soundtrack by Stevie wonder which actually won the best song Oscar of that year for I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU. Back when commercial films still had more of a chance at an Oscar due to their soundtracks usually being either hits or a palette for composers or singer songwriters to help shape the film but also take more artistic risks and could still help an artist or new band make a comeback or bring them new found success.

Making a kind of anti-heroic character only not in an action film. What is strange is that usually anti-heroes have attitude from the beginning and maintain a gruff and grumpy mood. Though here the character is more amicable and open never exhibits those characteristics though his behavior tries to 

Grade: B-