''Doctors' Wives'' is a 1971 American

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

film directed by George Schaefer and starring

Dyan Cannon Dyan Cannon (born Samille Diane Friesen; January 4, 1937) is an American actress, director, screenwriter, producer, and editor. Her accolades include a Saturn Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Academy Award nominations, and a star on the Holly ...

Richard Crenna Richard Donald Crenna (November 30, 1926 – January 17, 2003) was an American film, television and radio actor. Crenna starred in such motion pictures as ''The Sand Pebbles'', ''Wait Until Dark'', ''Un Flic'', ''Body Heat'', the first three ' ...

, Gene Hackman,

Carroll O'Connor John Carroll O'Connor (August 2, 1924 – June 21, 2001) was an American actor, producer, and director whose television career spanned over four decades. He became a lifelong member of the Actors Studio in 1971. O'Connor found widespread fame a ...

, Rachel Roberts,

Janice Rule Mary Janice Rule (August 15, 1931 – October 17, 2003) was an American actress and psychotherapist, earning her PhD while still acting, then acting occasionally while working in her new profession. Early life Rule was born in Norwood, Ohio, to ...

Diana Sands Diana Patricia Sands (August 22, 1934September 21, 1973) was an American actress, perhaps most known for her portrayal of Beneatha Younger, the sister of Sidney Poitier's character, Walter, in the original stage and film versions of Lorraine Han ...

and Cara Williams. It was based on a novel by Frank G. Slaughter. The theme song, "The Costume Ball", was sung by

Mama Cass Elliot Ellen Naomi Cohen (September 19, 1941 – July 29, 1974), known professionally as Mama Cass and later on as Cass Elliot, was an American singer and voice actress. She was a member of the singing group the Mamas & the Papas. After the group brok ...

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 Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomina ...

, 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 Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

as soon as the operation is done.

Cast

as Lorrie Dellman *

as Dr. Peter Brennan * Gene Hackman as Dr. Dave Randolph *

as Dr. Joe Gray * Rachel Roberts as Della Randolph *

as Amy Brennan *

as Helen Struaghn * Cara Williams as Maggie Gray *

Richard Anderson Richard Norman Anderson (August 8, 1926 – August 31, 2017) was an American film and television actor. Among his best-known roles was his portrayal of Oscar Goldman, the boss of Steve Austin ( Lee Majors) and Jaime Sommers ( Lindsay Wagner) i ...

as Dist. Atty. Douglas *

Ralph Bellamy Ralph Rexford Bellamy (June 17, 1904 – November 29, 1991) was an American actor whose career spanned 65 years on stage, film, and television. During his career, he played leading roles as well as supporting roles, garnering acclaim and ...

as Jake Porter *

George Gaynes George Gaynes (born George Jongejans; May 16, 1917 – February 15, 2016) was a Finnish-born American singer, actor, and voice artist. Born to Dutch and Russian-Finnish parents in the Grand Duchy of Finland of the Russian Empire, he served in the ...

as Paul McGill *

John Colicos John Colicos (December 10, 1928 – March 6, 2000) was a Canadian actor. He performed on stage and television in the United States and Canada. Career Colicos was born in Toronto, Ontario, to a Greek father and a Canadian mother. In 1957 he app ...

as Dr. Mort Dellman *

Marian McCargo Marian McCargo Bell (March 18, 1932 – April 7, 2004) was an American actress and champion tennis player who later found success in film and television roles. She was sometimes credited as Marian Moses. Early life and education McCargo gradua ...

as Elaine McGill *

Scott Brady Scott Brady (born Gerard Kenneth Tierney; September 13, 1924 – April 16, 1985) was an American film and television actor best known for his roles in Western films and as a ubiquitous television presence. He played the title role in the televi ...

as Sgt. Malloy *

Kristina Holland Kristina Holland (born February 25, 1944) is an American actress who has performed in more than 22 television series, two films, and voiceover talent for at least two video games. She is now a professional psychotherapist. She is perhaps best kn ...

as Sybil Carter * Anthony Costello as Mike Traynor * Mark Jenkins as Lew Saunders * Vincent Van Lynn as Barney Harris *

Ernie Barnes Ernest Eugene Barnes Jr. (July 15, 1938 – April 27, 2009) was an American artist, well known for his unique style of elongated characters and movement. He was also a professional football player, actor and author. Early life Childhood E ...

as Dr. Perfield * Paul Marin as Dr. Deemster *

William Bramley William Bramley (April 18, 1928 – October 28, 1985) was an American actor. Biography Born in New York, New York, Bramley graduated from Bucknell University in 1953. While there, he was involved with the Cap and Dagger Club theatrical organiza ...

as Dr. Hagstrom * Jon Lormer as Elderly Doctor

Reception

References

External links

* * * 1971 films 1971 drama films Adultery in films American drama films Columbia Pictures films 1970s English-language films Films scored by Elmer Bernstein Films based on American novels Films directed by George Schaefer Films set in California Alcohol abuse in fiction Female bisexuality in film 1970s American films {{1970s-drama-film-stub

Plot

Cast

Reception

See also

References

External links