The Stepford Wives: Silver Anniversary Edition

Anchor Bay | minutes | | | Standard DVD reviewed by: Fusion3600

Joanna Ebhart (Katharine Ross) and her family have just moved to Stepford, Connecticut, which seems to be a terrific place, if you ask the folks who live there. Joanna is unsure of her new town however, but she continues to do her usual work, housework and her side project, photography. She loves to take photos of all kinds and wants to take some memorable ones, so that her art will live on forever. It seems like things are smooth for a while, but when her husband Walter (Peter Masterson) starts to make all the decisions, some speedbumps begin to rise. Joanna likes to be involved in that process, but Walter insists on leaving her out, much like his friends do with their wives. But the other woman don't seem to mind much, they just do their usual routines of cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the homes. In fact, the other wives seem to be a little unnatural in some ways, which leads Joanna and fellow Stepford resident Bobbie (Paula Prentiss) to investigate why the other ladies seem so disinterested in things unrelated to their husbands.

As time has passed, Anchor Bay has gone back and redone many titles and now, The Stepford Wives has joined that pantheon. I have been most pleased with the re-releases and while this one isn't as impressive as some, it offers a better overall disc, to be sure. A new anamorphic widescreen transfer and a couple new supplements, which more than justifies and upgrade, if you ask me. As for the movie itself, I think The Stepford Wives is a fantastic picture, although since the ending is well known, that could spoil the movie for some. But even so, The Stepford Wives packs a lot of suspense and very eerie moments, which makes the ride worth taking, even if you know the final destination already. I suppose the first time around is the best, but I've enjoyed the film many times, never tiring of the presentation. The premise is a great one, the direction is tight, the performances are superb, and of course, the ending delivers the goods and then some. I highly recommend this wonderful horror/thriller to those interested, especially in this new package from Anchor Bay, who have given the film the treatment it deserves...almost.

I like many of the performances in The Stepford Wives, but the most memorable one comes from Katharine Ross, who has the film's true lead. She is given most of the burden to shoulder here, but she remains strong and never falters, which is impressive. Ross is able to convey her character's inner conflicts very well, often via simple fashion, like facial expressions or the look in her eyes. This is just what was needed for this role and Ross nails it each time, which is one of the main reasons The Stepford Wives turned out so well. You can also see Ross in such films as The Final Countdown, Hellfighters, The Graduate, Shenandoah, and The Shadow Riders. The cast also includes Paula Prentiss (Catch-22, Born to Win), Nanette Newman (The Whisperers, Of Human Bondage), and Peter Masterson (The Exorcist, The Red Baron).

The Stepford Wives is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. As expected, this new treatment is a nice improvement over the previous disc, but some problems still surface, due to the source materials. The main issue is the grain present, as all scenes have some present, sometimes heavier than others. I never found it to be too extreme, but it is there and as such, some folks might be a tad distracted. The colors and contrast remain stable, but of course, the grain does lessen their impact, to an extent. I still think this is a welcome revisit and since the movie looks better than other home video editions, I think fans will be quite pleased.

The included mono track is nothing to shout about, but it is more immersive than expected, all things considered. I especially love the music found in The Stepford Wives and it sounds very good here, if a little confined at times. I do think a full surround option would enhance the music even more, as well as add to the eerie atmosphere, but this mono track is decent enough. The sound effects are well presented and while more tension would be welcome via a surround track, I can't complain too much here. No issues on the dialogue front, as vocals seem clean and always at a proper volume, as intended.

This re-release has some added bonus features, but I would have liked some additional ones, perhaps even a commentary track. The main extras is a seventeen minute collection of interviews with various folks, such as director Bryan Forbes, producer Edgar J. Scherick, stars Katharine Ross, Paula Prentiss, and even more participants. This is a welcome inclusion, but I have to wonder why Forbes didn't record a commentary session, or maybe some of the stars could have, either would have been a terrific touch, I think. This disc also includes a talent bio on Forbes, two radio spots, and the film's theatrical trailer.