Archive of films Woman Under the Influence / A Woman Under the Influence

USA
1974, 155 min

Section: Tribute to The Film Foundation Section includes annotation
Year: 2021

Cassavetes’ most storied film tells the tale of an oddball, volatile romance between a high-tempered construction worker and his fragile, mentally unstable wife. A Woman Under the Influence is Cassavetes at his most emotionally naked. A brave, challenging picture of two unique souls failing to meet the oppressive demands of their class.

Synopsis

Is there anything left unsaid about Cassavetes’ most storied film? The kinetic, uncompromising direction; the unsettlingly intense, unsparing turns by Peter Falk and Gena Rowlands in one of the greatest performances of American cinema; and the confrontational stance against the skewed sexual politics of the time. All these strands are woven into an oddball, volatile romance between a high-tempered construction worker and his fragile, mentally unstable wife who gets admitted to an institution as the husband desperately strives to save their marriage. A Woman Under the Influence is Cassavetes at his most emotionally naked. A brave, challenging picture of two unique souls failing to meet the oppressive demands of their class.

Joseph Fahim

35mm restored print courtesy of the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Restoration funding provided by The Film Foundation and GUCCI.

About the director

John Cassavetes (1929, New York City – 1989, Los Angeles). Selected filmography: Shadows (1959), Too Late Blues (1961), A Child Is Waiting (1963), Faces (1968), Husbands (1970), Minnie and Moskowitz (1971), A Woman Under the Influence (1974), Opening Night (1977), Gloria (1980), Love Streams (1984).

Contacts

Faces Distribution Corporation
5 Erin Place, NJ 07730, Hazlet
United States of America
Tel: +1 732 264 5639
Fax: +1 732 264 5635
E-mail: [email protected]

UCLA Film & Television Archive
1015 North Cahuenga Blvd., CA 90038-2616, Hollywood
United States of America
Tel: +1 323 462 4921
Fax: +1 323 469 9055
E-mail: [email protected]

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About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	Tribute to The Film Foundation

Director:	John Cassavetes
Screenplay:	John Cassavetes
Dir. of Photography:	Mitch Breit, Al Ruban
Music:	Bo Harwood
Editor:	David Armstrong, Sheila Viseltear, Beth Bergeron
Art Director:	Phedon Papamichael
Producer:	Sam Shaw
Production:	Faces International Films
Cast:	Gena Rowlands, Peter Falk
Sales:	Faces Distribution Corporation
Contact:	UCLA Film & Television Archive