George Cukor's classic version of The Women has won adoring fans for almost 70 years now - and who come blame them! With an all-star cast including Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russel and Mary Boland along with Cukor's direction, the movie is sure to be a hit. Or is it.
Though a number of big-name stars and a famed director of our time, Diane English (writer, producer and director of hit sitcom Murphy Brown) pepper the remake of The Women, set for release September 12th, many fans say this version will never hold a candle to the original. But what is it missing? Meg Ryan, Jada Pinkett Smith, Annette Benning, Debra Messing, Candace Bergen, Bette Midler and Eva Mendes are all part of this new cast - where does the problem seem to lie?
What's the Problem Here?
Well according to numerous blogs and message boards, the problem seems to be in the setting: 2008. It is the opinion of many diehards that this story is, frankly, not timeless and should be left set in the 30s. What happened to old-fashioned values and modesty in dress and even a cast whose characters' names are listed as "Mrs.Stephen Haines" ("Mary Haines") and "Mrs. Howard Fowler" ("Sylvia Fowler"). But can an audience truly consider a movie to be classic if they cannot also call the heart of the story timeless? Shouldn't a truly great story transcend updated dates and wardrobes?
The Plot
The story follows a handful of "society" women who get all the latest gossip from their beauty salon. All of this makes for a content and satisfying life for these women, that is, until the gossip is about one of them! Sylvia Fowler overhears gossip that Mary Haines' husband is having an affair - and of course, she has to tell everyone she knows, except Mary. So Mary's other friends set up an encounter with the same beauty technician who started the rumor so she can hear it for herself. What follows is a peak into the inside circles of women's society circles, and both the pain and humor that comes from any impossible situation in life.
It seems like a plot that could fit any time, yet still the faithful disagree. Will Diane English and her cast of twenty-first century stars do Cukor and Russell's story justice? Just how will this movie be met and will the controversy surrounding it hurt the movie at the box office, or just bump sales even higher because of sheer curiosity? It seems we'll all know come September 12th. But if you happen to miss it, just look around your office and ask "the women."
Though a number of big-name stars and a famed director of our time, Diane English (writer, producer and director of hit sitcom Murphy Brown) pepper the remake of The Women, set for release September 12th, many fans say this version will never hold a candle to the original. But what is it missing? Meg Ryan, Jada Pinkett Smith, Annette Benning, Debra Messing, Candace Bergen, Bette Midler and Eva Mendes are all part of this new cast - where does the problem seem to lie?
What's the Problem Here?
Well according to numerous blogs and message boards, the problem seems to be in the setting: 2008. It is the opinion of many diehards that this story is, frankly, not timeless and should be left set in the 30s. What happened to old-fashioned values and modesty in dress and even a cast whose characters' names are listed as "Mrs.Stephen Haines" ("Mary Haines") and "Mrs. Howard Fowler" ("Sylvia Fowler"). But can an audience truly consider a movie to be classic if they cannot also call the heart of the story timeless? Shouldn't a truly great story transcend updated dates and wardrobes?
The Plot
The story follows a handful of "society" women who get all the latest gossip from their beauty salon. All of this makes for a content and satisfying life for these women, that is, until the gossip is about one of them! Sylvia Fowler overhears gossip that Mary Haines' husband is having an affair - and of course, she has to tell everyone she knows, except Mary. So Mary's other friends set up an encounter with the same beauty technician who started the rumor so she can hear it for herself. What follows is a peak into the inside circles of women's society circles, and both the pain and humor that comes from any impossible situation in life.
It seems like a plot that could fit any time, yet still the faithful disagree. Will Diane English and her cast of twenty-first century stars do Cukor and Russell's story justice? Just how will this movie be met and will the controversy surrounding it hurt the movie at the box office, or just bump sales even higher because of sheer curiosity? It seems we'll all know come September 12th. But if you happen to miss it, just look around your office and ask "the women."
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