Doctors' Wives (1971 film)

1971 film by George Schaefer

February 3, 1971 (1971-02-03)

Running time

102 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Doctors' Wives is a 1971 American drama film directed by George Schaefer^[1] and starring Dyan Cannon, Richard Crenna, Gene Hackman, Carroll O'Connor, Rachel Roberts, Janice Rule, Diana Sands and Cara Williams. It was based on a novel by Frank G. Slaughter.^[2]

The theme song, "The Costume Ball", was sung by Cass Elliot.

Plot

While playing cards with her girlfriends, all of whom suspect their doctor husbands of having affairs, Lorrie Dellman volunteers to seduce each of them to find out more.

The plan backfires when Lorrie is caught in bed with Paul McGill by her husband, brain surgeon Dr. Mort Dellman, who shoots them both.

Dr. Pete Brennan is able to save McGill's life, but Lorrie is dead. Brennan is fed up with wife Amy and her migraines. He is having an affair with Helen, a nurse.

Dr. Dave Randolph is a psychiatrist. His wife, Della, is frigid. Randolph discovers that she's had a lesbian relationship with the late Lorrie.

Maggie, an alcoholic] is found face-down in her swimming pool by Dr. Joe Gray, her husband.

With all of their lives in turmoil, they attend Lorrie's funeral, where Helen reveals that her young son needs a brain operation. The doctors agree that Dr. Dellman is the man best suited to do the surgery, but Dellman is in jail for having shot his wife.

The district attorney, Douglas, agrees to release the surgeon for a few hours to perform the surgery, under a police guard. He is unaware that Dellman has made a deal with Lorrie's wealthy father, Jake Porter, to help him flee to Mexico as soon as the operation is done.

Cast

Dyan Cannon as Lorrie Dellman
Richard Crenna as Dr. Peter Brennan
Gene Hackman as Dr. Dave Randolph
Carroll O'Connor as Dr. Joe Gray
Rachel Roberts as Della Randolph
Janice Rule as Amy Brennan
Diana Sands as Helen Struaghn
Cara Williams as Maggie Gray
Richard Anderson as Dist. Atty. Douglas
Ralph Bellamy as Jake Porter
George Gaynes as Paul McGill
John Colicos as Dr. Mort Dellman
Marian McCargo as Elaine McGill
Scott Brady as Sgt. Malloy
Kristina Holland as Sybil Carter
Anthony Costello as Mike Traynor
Mark Jenkins as Lew Saunders
Vincent Van Lynn as Barney Harris
Ernie Barnes as Dr. Perfield
Paul Marin as Dr. Deemster
William Bramley as Dr. Hagstrom
Jon Lormer as Elderly Doctor

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 20% of 5 critics' reviews are positive.^[3]

References

^ "Doctor's Wives". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
^ Greenspun, Roger (1971-02-04). "Schaefer's 'Doctors' Wives':Dyan Cannon Portrays Unfaithful Spouse 4 Other Features Bow in Local Showings". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
^ "Doctors' Wives". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media.