MovieChat Forums > The Star Chamber (1983) Discussion > Sharon Gless (The Wife) Has Absolutely N...

Sharon Gless (The Wife) Has Absolutely NOTHING To Do In This Movie


In fact why even bother writing in the role of a wife. They could have made Michael Douglas character single, and movie wouldn't have changed at all.

That is how insignificant the role is.

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[deleted]

Sad to say, Gless role was typical of the time. Women in movies mostly to be decorations for men and/or for sex/make out scenes. I'm so happy she got the chance to go on to more interesting roles like Debbie Novotny in Queer as Folk.




No two persons ever watch the same movie.

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I think the purpose of the wife was simply to show that he has a wife and children. This allows shots for the upset judge to ponder the legal system's unfairness while his wife watches on helplessly, and shots of him looking at his children playing, reminding us that he has kids and hey how would he feel if they were murdered by a monster?

As the previous poster says, this was unfortunately typical of the time. Definitely a film that does not pass the Bechdel Test.

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Ironic that you bring up Alison Bechdel...she looks like Michael Douglas' character in Falling Down.

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