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Richard Benjamin, Frank Langella, Carrie Snodgress, Lorraine Cullen, Frannie Michel ... see more see more... , Peter Dohanos , Katherine Meskill , Leonard Elliott , Valma , Hilda Haynes , Donald Symington , Mills Allison , Alice Cooper , The Alice Cooper Band , Lee Addams , Jeanette Du Bois , Lester Rawlins , Peter Boyle , Beverly Ballard , Jason Holt

Superstardom was predicted for Carrie Snodgress on the basis of her spectacular film debut in Diary of a Mad Housewife. Snodgress plays the long-suffering wife of pushy, insensitive attorney Richard B... read more read more...enjamin. Unable to withstand being treated as a trophy (and a tarnished one at that), Snodgress has a brief affair with sexy Frank Langella. Alas, Langella, like virtually every other male character in the film, is just as selfish and self-involved as Benjamin. Even when she enters group therapy, Snodgress is disenchanted by the obtuseness and chauvinism of her male psychiatrist. Nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Diary of a Mad Housewife, Carrie Snodgress dropped out of films shortly afterward to move in with rock star Neil Young - with whom she raised a child. She returned to cinema with a pivotal role in Brian de Palma's bloody thriller The Fury. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

76% liked it

690 ratings

Critics

77% liked it

13 critics

R, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Frank Perry

Release Date: August 10, 1970

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Stats: 40 reviews

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Diary of a Mad Housewife Carrie Snodgress in The Diary of a Mad Housewife Diary of a Mad Housewife Diary of a Mad Housewife Richard Benjamin & Carrie Snodgress in Diary of a Mad Housewife Diary of a Mad Housewife Carrie Snodgress in The Diary of a Mad Housewife
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Flixster Reviews (40)

  • ajv2688
    December 13, 2010
    ajv2688
    The story of an average housewife who is married to the most annoying man in the world, you can't blame her for cheating on him! You sympathize with her. This is a fantastic drama, very psychological and intense. Plus, there's a scene with an early Alice Cooper band playing at... read more a party! Check it out, it's cool.
  • fb1142797643
    December 26, 2011
    fb1142797643
    "Diary of a Mad Housewife" is impeccably acted and characterized, though more "play-like" than I prefer. There is little action beyond small-room dialogue, and no notable directing choices beyond a couple of sharp time-lapse montages. I always heard Carrie Snodgrass's Oscar-nomin... read moreated performance was amazing, but I was actually more impressed with Richard Benjamin. Without relying on any of the usual vices (physical abuse, addiction, womanizing), Benjamin's social-climbing lawyer manages to be one of the most repellent husbands you've ever seen in a film. Self-involved, needy, callous, childish, grasping, anal-retentive...he has it all. Every time he playfully suggests "a roll in dee ha-ay" to his wife, you hope she'll brain him with a baseball bat.

    Frank Langella is also good as a self-involved cad who (initially) seems like a refreshing escape for Snodgrass. Music fans will enjoy an unexpected live performance by Alice Cooper and band, and there's also an oh-so-brief cameo by the young Peter Boyle.

    Hard to guess why this film was never released on DVD.
  • jam233
    August 2, 2009
    jam233
    Carrie Snodgress' exceptional Oscar nominated performance is the highlight of this very stylishly directed film. Frank Perry did a great job directing. Well written, good cast. Richard Benjamin is ideal in his role.
  • sleepykiss
    March 27, 2007
    sleepykiss
    RBenjamin is an abusive husband that torments his wife CSnodgrass who in turn decides to have an affair. A bit feminist, dated, but unusually intense for a 70s flick.

View All Diary of a Mad Housewife Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
October 30, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

An engrossing story of the disintegration of a modern loveless marriage. Full Review

Roger Greenspun
May 9, 2005
Roger Greenspun, New York Times

Among the performers, Carrie Snodgress will surely receive the critical praise she deeply deserves. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

What makes the movie work, however, is that it's played entirely from the housewife's point of view, and that the housewife is played brilliantly by Carrie Snodgress. Full Review

October 30, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The three leads are excellent. Full Review

Geoff Andrew
January 26, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

It's an entertaining satire that disappoints only in the stereotypically limited choices it offers to the woman. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 17, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Frank Perry's screen version lacks the satirical bite of the novel but benefits from the powerful performance of Carrie Snodgress who deservedly received an Oscar nomination. Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

A nice little oddity. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 9, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

No review available.

Jules Brenner
July 29, 2005
Jules Brenner, Cinema Signals

No review available.

Philip Martin
April 28, 2005
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

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