The seventies were a time for great artistic flourishment in cinema, as Hollywood was fully out from under the thumb of the repressive Hays Code, which was meant to bring decency to the silver screen at a time when audiences craved something a bit more daring. It was during this decade that mainstream audiences could see movies that featured previously forbidden depictions of sexuality and other adult actions more frequently on the big screen. This was also at a point in history when women’s liberation became one of the defining topics of the era – for good reason. It is at this natural intersection of art and culture that brought us a story such as 1970’s Diary of a Mad Housewife from director Frank Perry (Mommie Dearest), based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Sue Kaufman. The film is mostly known for its Academy Award nominated performance from Carrie Snodgress in the lead role, but it has long been a difficult picture to find outside of VHS and bootleg DVDs. Thanks to Kino Classics, we can finally revisit this film that pushed the conversation of what was expected out of a woman in the home.
The opening sequence of Diary of a Mad Housewife is one of the most telling beginnings of a film that I have seen in some time. Rising quickly out of bed to get started with his day is Jonathan Balser (Richard Benjamin, Westworld), a smarmy, controlling, casually cruel jerk of a husband who has an unquenchable desire to keep up with the Joneses. The first thing Jonathan does upon getting out of bed is tearing down his poor wife Tina (Carrie Snodgress), an educated woman who appears to have been crushed under the weight of her identity as a wife and mother. Jonathan pointedly informs her that she needs to do something with her plain-looking hair in between criticizing her parenting skills and commanding her to do a multitude of tasks that he is “too busy” to do. In short, Tina’s life seems like a living hell as she lives every day with a man who does not respect her and only shows a bit of gentleness when he thinks she might carry out what he would surely say is her “wifely duties.” She is emotionally broken and beaten down, and she can only hope something will come along and shake her out of this life.
An unexpected change comes in the form of a chance meeting with writer George Prager (Frank Langella, Trial of the Chicago 7), a prickly gentleman who oscillates between lust and contempt for the broken Tina. The two begin a sexually fulfilling yet emotionally combative affair that stokes a new fire within Tina while not completely giving her the well-rounded connection she truly needs. The story is one that feels familiar in the sense that women have generally been screwed over by uncaring men, even to this very day in many respects. It is the transcendent performances that make this one really hit a nerve. As previously mentioned, Snodgress was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards for this performance, and it is entirely deserved. Her performance is far from one note, as you get to see her run the gamut of dead-eyed zombie to sparkling sexpot in this briskly paced narrative. The two men in her life are equally dynamic in completely different ways. Frank Langella has an aloof sexiness (something I never thought I would say about Frank Langella) which makes you understand why Tina is so drawn to him despite begging her to stay away from him as another toxic figure in her life. Richard Benjamin is the perfect weasel who you want to see get punished in some satisfying way.
One of the most interesting parts of Diary of a Mad Housewife is the way in which it realistically tackles how women are treated in society. Oftentimes women have their identities stifled by the patriarchy in an effort to put them in neat little boxes that can be easily understood and hidden away. It is as if men do not think they can handle a three dimensional woman who has thoughts and opinions with which they might actually have to reckon. Rather than be allowed to honestly express themselves, women are often used to reflect back the problems that men have in their own lives. While I will not be spoiling the film, it ends on the perfect note that exemplifies this tendency to strip away the identity of a woman. As Tina tells her story to a support group, opinions start flying around, both positive and negative, from the various men and women in the group who bring with them their own baggage. The pitch-perfect anchor shot of Tina’s face during this chaos rivals that of the ending sequence of Call Me By Your Name. Tina’s story can be a rough watch, as even her children are complete monsters that contribute to her deterioration as much as anyone, but it is really fascinating and a powerful watch for anyone who appreciates an engrossing domestic drama.
Video Quality
Diary of a Mad Housewife comes to Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer that appears to be derived from an older restored master. The presentation is very solid throughout most of the runtime, although there are elements that may have been cleaned up or stabilized with a fresh master. This release thankfully does not seem to be plagued by digital tinkering, which allows this transfer to maintain the natural film grain of the presentation. The picture occasionally runs slightly on the soft side, most likely due to limitations of the original source material. Colors are well saturated in a lovely way, and instances of print damage have been cleaned up immensely with only minor fluctuations in density popping up as the most obvious issue. Overall clarity and detail is very nice, and skin tones are natural and consistent with subtle facial features easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels hold up well with crush not serving as an overwhelming issue. This film maintains its intended theatrical look with a lovely, grainy presentation that showcases a vibrancy that only film can capture.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that captures the artistic intention of the film. The memorable music that pops up from the likes of Alice Cooper and Mars Bonfire sounds great when coursing through the room. There is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. Environmental sounds such as the idle chatter of a dinner party are rendered well alongside everything else. There does not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. Kino Classics has given this film the impeccably preserved audio presentation it deserves.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Screenwriter Larry Karaszewski with Film Historians Howard S. Berger and Steve Mitchell give a very impassioned and entertaining commentary track that includes loads of rich detail about the history and creation of the film. Topics of conversation include the impact of The Graduate on the film, the casting of the film, the TV version of the film and more. The trio thoughtfully analyze various aspects of the film that give one a deeper appreciation for what Perry was able to accomplish.
- Trailers: The three-minute theatrical trailer for Diary of a Mad Housewife is included here. There are also trailers included for Ladybug Ladybug, Doc and Hello Again.
Final Thoughts
Diary of a Mad Housewife is an unflinching look at how overlooked and uncared for women were and often continue to be in society. The powerhouse performances from our trio of actors all offer up something truly special that keeps you glued to the screen even when you want to strangle some of them. The direction from Frank Perry keeps things lively and flowing well from one scene to another. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray with a pleasing A/V presentation and a couple of special features that are worth checking out. If you are looking for a commanding seventies domestic drama, this one will be a great addition to your collection. Recommended
Diary of a Mad Housewife is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
