After much dithering, dathering and streamifying the other night, Ms. Muse and I sat down to watch The Stepford Wives. Turns out it's one of many iconic movies that slipped by my radar and emerged 66 years later still unwatched.
All this cinematic ignorance has bewildered Ms. Muse. Particularly since I've made a career in the low art of pop references and the commercialization of its many tropes.
Mind you, I have always had a general acknowledgement of the term, Stepford Wives, but never actually watched the movie made in 1975. Had I known there were bare breasts and aural soft porn in the movie, I might have hightailed my 17 year old butt to the theater.
Was it a great movie? No, but it was intriguing. Especially since I recently saw a later incarnation of its theme in a very well made movie called Get Out. Editorial aside: three weeks ago while in the Men's Locker Room at the Culver City Plunge (where I swim) I saw Daniel Kaluuya. He had swum in the session before me.
The movie does have some stickiness. It remained on my mind. And still does. Perhaps because of its message about groupthink, which exists today. And the willingness of those in power to subjugate those without power, yeah, I'm looking at you, Red Hats.
Another indicator of stickiness? Signature dialogue.
In our vast catalogue of inside jokes, Ms. Muse and I have now added the line, "Would you like some coffee? I thought we were friends?"
If you don't recall the scene, I have generously fished it out from the internet ether for your enjoyment. See if you don't find yourself repeating line ad infinitum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5DSJUhH-SY
Finally, on the viability of a movie, there is the obligatory post movie conversation.
Some movies, though classics, merit minor or no discussion. We watched Bad Santa, starring Billy Bob Thornton and the legendary John Ritter. It's one of my favorites, mostly because it pulls no punches and has very little in the way of any socially redeeming qualities, like our notorious ex president (soon to be convicted ex-president, fingers crossed.) But, perhaps expectedly, it was met with, "Meh" from Ms. Muse, an unabashed Christmas lover.
On the other hand, Stepford Wives led to a natural discussion about Women's Lib (you kids can look that up.) As well as the implications about life in 2024 and the relentless Republican attack on our Better Halve's.
Like many of our discussions, this one, regarding the role of women in modern life, led to another gem from the collective past we share in the world of advertising. And the still astonishing encyclopedic ability of Ms. Muse to summon up show openings, song lyrics and jingles, word for every specific word.
I'll leave you with this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_kzJ-f5C9U
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