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Wives and Lovers

  • 19631963
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
263
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Janet Leigh, Ray Walston, Shelley Winters, Van Johnson, Martha Hyer, and Jeremy Slate in Wives and Lovers (1963)
  • Comedy
  • Romance
A struggling author and his wife suddenly become wealthy and move to the suburbs. Divorced neighbor and "companion" aid marital misconstrual which almost culminates in a divorce.A struggling author and his wife suddenly become wealthy and move to the suburbs. Divorced neighbor and "companion" aid marital misconstrual which almost culminates in a divorce.A struggling author and his wife suddenly become wealthy and move to the suburbs. Divorced neighbor and "companion" aid marital misconstrual which almost culminates in a divorce.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
263
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Rich
  • Writers
    • Edward Anhalt(screenplay)
    • Jay Presson Allen(play "The First Wife")
  • Stars
    • Janet Leigh
    • Van Johnson
    • Shelley Winters
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Rich
  • Writers
    • Edward Anhalt(screenplay)
    • Jay Presson Allen(play "The First Wife")
  • Stars
    • Janet Leigh
    • Van Johnson
    • Shelley Winters
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos10

    V. Johnson, J. Leigh, Ray Walston, S. Winters, J. Slate, M. Hyer. Wives And Lovers (1963) 0057688 Paramount
    Ray Walston Wives and Lovers (1963) Paramount
    Ray Walston Wives and Lovers (1963) Paramount
    Martha Hyer and Jeremy Slate in Wives and Lovers (1963)
    Martha Hyer in Wives and Lovers (1963)
    Janet Leigh, Van Johnson, and Claire Wilcox in Wives and Lovers (1963)
    Janet Leigh, Ray Walston, Shelley Winters, Van Johnson, Martha Hyer, and Jeremy Slate in Wives and Lovers (1963)
    Janet Leigh and Van Johnson in Wives and Lovers (1963)
    Van Johnson and Claire Wilcox in Wives and Lovers (1963)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Janet Leigh
    Janet Leigh
    • Bertie Austinas Bertie Austin
    Van Johnson
    Van Johnson
    • Bill Austinas Bill Austin
    Shelley Winters
    Shelley Winters
    • Fran Cabrellas Fran Cabrell
    Martha Hyer
    Martha Hyer
    • Lucinda Fordas Lucinda Ford
    Ray Walston
    Ray Walston
    • Wylie Dribergas Wylie Driberg
    Jeremy Slate
    Jeremy Slate
    • Gar Aldrichas Gar Aldrich
    Claire Wilcox
    Claire Wilcox
    • Julie Austinas Julie Austin
    Lee Patrick
    Lee Patrick
    • Mrs. Swansonas Mrs. Swanson
    Dick Wessel
    Dick Wessel
    • Mr. Libertias Mr. Liberti
    Dave Willock
    Dave Willock
    • Dr. Leon Partridge DDSas Dr. Leon Partridge DDS
    Don Anderson
    Don Anderson
    • Bar Patronas Bar Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Eleanor Audley
    Eleanor Audley
    • Fan at Sardi'sas Fan at Sardi's
    • (uncredited)
    Danny Borzage
    • Passerbyas Passerby
    • (uncredited)
    George Bruggeman
    George Bruggeman
    • Undetermined Secondary Roleas Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Carr
    • Cab Driveras Cab Driver
    • (uncredited)
    Steve Carruthers
    Steve Carruthers
    • Restaurant Patronas Restaurant Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Carson
    Robert Carson
    • Samas Sam
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Cristo
    • Party Guestas Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Rich
    • Writers
      • Edward Anhalt(screenplay)
      • Jay Presson Allen(play "The First Wife")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Bill Austin (Van Johnson) is a struggling author, working and living in a "slum flat" on W. 87th St. in NY with his wife and daughter, Bertie and Julie. Bertie (Janet Leigh) works as a dental assistant, until Bill's novel can get published and Julie (Claire Wilcox) is seven and 3/4 and does not like any of her food to touch. They are very happy (even though Bill does not realize it.) All of a sudden, Bill's agent, Lucinda Ford (Martha Hyers) takes Bill's novel viral: there a prestigious publishing house, a Broadway play and a Hollywood studio interested in Bill's novel. Success goes straight to Bill's head; Bertie is the same level-headed, unpretentious gal she always was. They move to a lovely house in So. Connecticut where their neighbours are the lively ex-wife of a Hollywood star, Fran Cabrell (Shelley Winters) and her "companion," the occupant of her guest house, Wylie Driberg (Ray Walston). They try to show Bertie the ropes of being on the fringes of a "hit" personality and they genuinely like her and Julie. Bill spends a lot of his time with his glamorous agent. When film star, Gar Aldrich (Jeremy Slate), who stars in Bill's play, wants to spend a lot of his time with Birdie, life becomes very complicated. —LA-Lawyer
    • 1960s
    • connecticut
    • new england
    • northeastern united states
    • rags to riches
    • 54 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • You Can't Tell Them Apart Without a Scorecard!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although the title inspired Burt Bacharach and Hal David's same-named hit song for Jack Jones the same year, the tune is never heard in the movie either as a vocal or instrumental.
    • Connections
      Featured in Censura: Alguns Cortes (1999)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Van Johnson at his most unlikable.
    During Van Johnson's career, he played a lot of really nice guys. I have no idea what the real Johnson was like...but the image for years was of a nice, unassuming guy. However, in a major change of pace, in "Wives and Lovers" he plays a complete jerk...a guy more interested in his own success than his wife (Janet Leigh) or young daughter. I think the film is supposed to be a comedy...but I found Johnson's character so unlikable that it was hard to summon up a laugh.

    When the story starts, Bill (Johnson) is a husband who stays home to earn money as a writer. His wife, Bertie (Leigh), works outside the home in order to let Bill follow this dream. As a result, they are rather poor...but happy.

    One day, Bill's agent (Martha Hyer) arrives at their small apartment to make an announcement....she sold Bill's book. Not only that, she got a fortune for it...as well as the movie rights...and stage rights. Now, Bill is the toast of New York...and in the process he completely neglects his family. For him, it's all-important that he follow his dream and he makes various promises to his family to spend time with them...though over time you realize his promises mean nothing. What's next? See the film...but rest assured, after a while, Bertie tires of waiting at home for him to return.

    In so many ways, this film is a product of the 1960s...with newer mores than you would expect in earlier Leigh and Johnson films. So, there's more innuendo as well as cursing. It also shows marital problems...which you didn't see very often in previous decades.

    In many ways, the film reminds me of the recent film "Marriage Story". Neither are funny and it's sad (at least to me) seeing these people tearing each other apart. Not a fun movie to watch...but brave in its material.

    By the way, if you prefer to remember Van Johnson positively, you might want to skip this one. He is such a jerk in the film.
    helpful•1
    1
    • planktonrules
    • Aug 6, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 4, 1963 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • First Wife
    • Filming locations
      • 3755 Longridge Ave, Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Hal Wallis Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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