How does this compare to 'She Devil' with Rosanne?

Lol it's totally different...the first part is similar before Bob leaves Ruth. Then it changes a bit, but by the end it's a completely different story, and I don't mean that lightly...by the end, Ruth is in a completely different body (hint).

I love anime. =]

4/17/15 4:46a The Life and Loves of A She-Devil 1986
DeMichael: Here in the USA I viewed the original
Black Comedy film and Julie T. Wallace was extraordinary.
The 1989 version with Meryl Streep/Roseanne Barr
was a total disappointment, it was turned into a
unfunny Comedy and was not very good. Meryl Streep
should of played both parts and kept the original tone,
the original became a fierce story of revenge
to destroy Mary Fisher. Roseanne Barr was not an actress
it was filmed Before her own sitcom, she had no acting
experience. I want the DVD.

ellisisle

I'm only here to second and third that. It was, I assume, financially useful to the author that this (film version) was made - but it was a complete waste of time, energy and talent (not referring to Barr).

I agree with all these posts. This version of The Life and Loves of a She-Devil was fantastic and brilliantly acted, especially by Julie T Wallace. I read the book and it stays very faithful to it.

The movie version is the most shocking piece of film I had seen (I only watched it once when it first came out and that was enough!). All the important messages from the book are lost. Also the Hollywood film is supposed to be a comedy and (from memory) it wasn't that funny.

This version is a shocking re-telling of how a rather large, ugly woman is walked all over by an idiot of a husband (who leaves her for a sly, slippery slapper) the wife snaps and takes revenge in the most intricate and fascinating of ways.

There ia s alot of Black Comedy in it (especially Tom Baker and Liz Smith) and many people assume that Fay Weldon had written a completely feminist novel, but actually it sends out a lot of mixed messages. Mary is a product of the fruits gained by the feminist movement, whilst Ruth is the product of a society that ignores and mistreats unattractive people. Everything gets turned on its head and by the end of the story you don't quite know whether the ending is empowering or ultimately a downer. It's all very clever.

The Hollywood version just spins out of control before mid-way and loses any of the messages the book offers - which are brought to life in the wonderful mini series.

Actually I don't agree - I even thought Meryl Streep was pushing her luck with this one! All the other posts are right, 'She-Devil' is a really dreadful remake of solid book. However, I don't think Fay Weldon or anyone else cared as the BBC version had only been made a couple of years before and pre-eclipsed this picture.

I read the book years ago and what the BBC version does (which all BBC adaptations used to be fantastic for) is absolutely bring the words of the book to life page by page. The only thing they alter in the TV series is Mary Fisher's conclusion in the story, but I felt this was more to do with pacing than anything else.

I watched the TV series again on YouTube the other day and strangely enough I found some of the themes/characters had dated a little. I think more so because Mary Fisher is such a dated type of women you question why Ruth would be so bothered about her. However, in its day Mary Fisher was more of a relevent type - using all the cliches of pre feminist woman to make money but enjoying all the trappings of the post feminist woman. The only example of this type of women we have left in our society is Anthea Turner! Today we are subjected to a slew of young girls who aspire to being thin and going on reality TV shows that any type of feminism is just dead in the water!

Fay Weldon is a very interesting author and this is why the movie was so dire (as they just lost all her major points). She gets labelled a 'feminist' but many of her messages are anti feminist. Her feminist label only comes from her ability to write strong female characters. 'The Life and Loves of a She-Devil' (I felt) was really showing how women can can have it all - but are in reality only competing against each other and seeking approval of not only men but other women. It's an extreme mixed message. After Bobbo, we see how Ruth is desired by man, incredibly smart at business, independent and able to generate how own wealth. She has more than Mary Fisher does by the time she decides to leave the Vista Rose agency. However, Ruth is so consumed with hatred for Mary Fisher she then proceeds to destroy everything about herself. The final line "I am a woman of 6.2 - a comic turn - turned serious" sums up everything.

It's a shame the movie didn't even try to use these themes!