MovieChat Forums > Diary of a Mad Housewife (1971) Discussion > Similar movie: can someone help?

Similar movie: can someone help?


I remember watching a movie made in the 70's, quite similar to this, but a lot more sombre, nearly a documentary.

It's the story of a rich housewife who begings to have doubts about her marital bliss. She realizes her husband doesn't care about her sexual needs; I remember she said that her mother made her burn her sanitary napkins. In the movie there is a scene of (supposed) real self-eroticism.

Can anyone help?

reply

Not sure about that one specific plot detail, but might you be thinking of the TV series, "The Women's Room," based on the book?

It was with Patty Duke, and some other great actresses, including Lee Remick as the author character.

Your mention that it was a documentary like story would ring true--it's based on author Marilyn French's years as a housewife, and definitely qualifies as a form of exposé.

For some reason the story about the mother and the sanitary pads does ring bell in the vast memory bank, now that you mention it. But not sure it was this film.

It was one of the early feminist type of films/series, and Marilyn French was capitalizing (or vice versa) on the works coming out by Germaine Greer and Betty Friedan and the other women who were beginning to speak out about some women's existentially empty suburban lives.

reply

You may be thinking of a film called "Legacy" directed by Karen Arthur and starring a fine actress named Joan Hotchkis. I've not seen it but always wanted to...it has a good review in one of Leonard Maltin's movie review yearbooks. I think this film dates back to the mid 70s. ( And yes there is supposed to be a masturbation scene.)

reply