From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| A Word to the Wives | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Norman Lloyd |
| Written by | Jerome Brondfield |
| Produced by | Edmund M. Tate |
| Starring | Marsha Hunt Darren McGavin |
| Cinematography | William Steiner |
| Distributed by | Telamerica Inc. |
|
Release date |
1955 (US) |
|
Running time |
12 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
A Word to the Wives is a 1955 sponsored comedy film directed by Norman Lloyd and starring Marsha Hunt and Darren McGavin.
The film, now in the public domain, was sponsored by the American Gas Association, the National Association of Home Builders, and Woman’s Home Companion magazine, and features products by Caloric, Whirlpool Corporation, Formica Corporation, Republic Steel Kitchens, and Ruud.
Plot[edit]
Housewife Jane Peters is envious of her friend Alice’s new ranch house. At Alice’s suggestion, she decides to trick her husband, George, into buying a new kitchen. Jane leaves her husband and son alone while she visits her mother in Cleveland.
George is completely incompetent when trying to cook for himself and his son in their aging kitchen. After Jane returns, the Peters visit Alice and her husband and find out more about the modern conveniences in their new home. George then decides that his entire home needs replacing, and he arranges to buy a new home, complete with his wife’s dream kitchen.
Cast[edit]
- Marsha Hunt as Alice, Jane’s friend
- Darren McGavin as George Peters
- Janet Riley as Jane Peters
- Scott McKay
See also[edit]
- List of American films of 1955
- List of films in the public domain in the United States
External links[edit]
- A Word to the Wives… at IMDb
- A Word to the Wives… is available for free download at the Internet Archive
How two women trick a husband into buying a new kitchen.
A comical film where one housewife devises a plan for another to get a new kitchen. It is a happy age of shopping, but Jane’s husband George doesn’t understand the urgency in their need for a new house with a new kitchen. Much of the film is a voice-over by the housewife with the ideal kitchen — who shows off her counters, clothes washer and dryer and invites Jane for a shopping spree, experiencing the «freedom to go shopping when the urge hits you» instead of being stuck in the kitchen. She devises a plot for Jane to leave George to take care of himself for two days and therefore win Jane a new house and kitchen.
The husband George goes through a sequence of kitchen adventures: Mixing and overcooking on the stove, manly lemon squeezing for lemonade, wrestling with an overcrowded refrigerator, garbage bag breaking as he struggles to take it out, yelling a tirade at the son for using the hot water while he was doing dishes, and struggling to open the kitchen cabinets which need to be tapped underneath with a hammer.
The other housewife invites them over for dinner and the husbands discuss the garbage incinerator and the hot water heater and sell George on the idea of a new house.
Good ideal kitchen shots
Shots of cars driving up to homes
Ends with George’s narration about being tricked or not and encouraging the viewer to have «Happy Homebuilding!»
Ken Smith sez: Svelte, perfect-looking Jane Peters and her equally svelte, perfect-looking friend are sipping coffee in their Paris original housedresses in the unnamed friend’s modern kitchen. «I’m so proud of it it’s almost indecent!» Jane’s friend proclaims, wiggling one of her perfectly-shaped nails. She suggests that Jane go shopping with her on a spur-of-the-moment «small spree» (to buy more stunning housedresses, no doubt), but Jane sadly refuses. «I haven’t got a dream kitchen to make things easier,» she sighs. «Mine’s strictly the nightmare-type.»
Jane’s friend is shocked, arching her perfectly-shaped eyebrows, shaking her perfectly-coiffed hair, and turning the corners of her perfectly-shaped lips down into a pout. Why doesn’t Jane’s husband move her out of that «older house» of theirs and into a freshly-built new one?, she asks, one with a modern kitchen that offers «freedom from uneccesary drudgery to go shopping when the urge takes you»? He certainly should, they agree, and the two women concoct a «plot» to make it happen. Jane has to visit her sick mother in Cleveland; she’ll be gone for a couple of days. «Don’t get TOO far ahead in your housework,» Jane’s friend winks. «Oh, no!» Jane replies. «I COULDN’T….»
Now we cut to George Peters as he struggles in Jane’s kitchen. George — brilliantly played by Darren McGavin — is a slack-jawed mouth-breather who prefers to communicate either through grunts and ughs or by yelling at the top of his voice. His Neanderthal nature is understandable; after all, George doesn’t have the priviledge of working in a kitchen «designed for efficiency and convenience.» After two days of battling an outdated stove and water heater, sticky cabinets and ice cube trays, and a garbage disposal system that isn’t automatic, George not only buys Jane her new kitchen, but a whole new «dream house» to go with it! The film ends happily for all, and Darren encourages viewers to visit a representative of their local homebuilder’s association. «Believe me,» he chuckles, «a few minutes now can lead to a whole lifetime of happiness. Happy homebuilding!»
Features appliances and equipment from Republic Steel Kitchens, Caloric, Whirlpool, Ruud Manufacturing Company, and The Formica Company.
Promotes an all-gas kitchen and laundry. American Gas Association offered prints of this film for sale to gas utilities to help them coax builders to incorporate kitchens into their new homes.
Sexism Gender stereotypes Houses and homes Appliances Cooking Spouses Husbands Wives Couples Marriage
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Reviews
Reviewer:
Dodsworth the Cat
—
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite —
January 13, 2023
Subject:
Wife’s In the Kitchen
All that’s missing in this stereotype romp of the 1950s is the women’s bridge club and hubby’s pipe and slippers.
Darren McGavin hunted vampires on TV in «Kolchak.» Here, he can’t even open a kitchen cupboard door because, well, ’50s husbands are breadwinners and helpless at anything else.
The mousey wife doesn’t want to leave her husband and son because it’s her duty to take care of them, but her scheming glamour-puss friend, who can’t stop gabbing about her modern 1950s kitchen, basically tells her to go away for a few days so wifey’s male-folk can suffer. Wives plotting against a husband? All that’s missing is the word » ‘splainin’ .»
1950s comedy means a precocious child. This one doesn’t even get screen credit.
I wonder if wifey ever got that new hat on her ’50s shopping trip.
What’s confusing is what it is this short is selling. At first, the subject appears to be GAS kitchen appliances because we hear about GAS dryers and GAS this and thats. And the kitchen won an award from the LADIES HOME COMPANION. But at the end, it seems Mr. Pre-Kolchak is induced to get someone to build wifey a whole new house. (Ah! Maybe the old one was too small for a bridge club).
The ’50s stereotypes here are just too much.
George owns a ’53 Chevrolet.
The American Gas Association Monthly wrote about the film in its Sept. 1954 edition with plenty of pix.
The opening and closing music is Ernie Fiorito’s «Rambling Along» from the Sam Fox music library.
Reviewer:
Tru Leigh
—
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite —
December 8, 2011
Subject:
Hysterical
Now I know how Darren McGavin got the role in «A Christmas Story».
Reviewer:
ERD.
—
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite —
November 20, 2009
Subject:
Fun to watch
«Word to the Wives» was fun to watch. Lifestyles have changed a great deal since that era. Of course a kitchen like that must have been very expensive to have, but many people of the 1950’s hoped that someday they could achieve such affleunce.
Reviewer:
proacting
—
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite —
November 10, 2009
Subject:
Missing Janet Riley
Janet Riley is one of the most talented actresses to ever work on Broadway. She opted for a family life after magnificent performances on The Moon is Blue and The Tender Trap. It is a delight to have this visual memory of her elegance and beauty, although the clip certainly does not show the range her histrionic talent.
Reviewer:
blackpimp
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite —
April 15, 2008
Subject:
Hottest Housewife of the 50’s!
When I read «Marsha Hunt» I couldn’t get this video fast enough! I first saw her in 1959’s ‘Blue Denim’ and immediately fell in love with her. She’s been in over 100 movies. from the 1930’s to 2006. In my opinion, one of the most beautiful women ever.
Thank you, Mr. Prelinger, for adding this bit of ephemera to the world.
Reviewer:
BondoFox
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite —
November 12, 2007
Subject:
Interesting, if not stereotypical
Typical, the wife — who has no job — assumes the money grows on trees for new appliances and anything else she wants. She should be lucky she has a roof over her head and the means she has now to chill or cook food. Lucky for her George is a good husband, otherwise she would’ve been punished big time.
Reviewer:
Wakashimazu
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite —
July 18, 2007
Subject:
Egads…
Talk about 1950s stereotypes! So Jane wants to have a modern kitchen just like her friend does, in order to have more time to go shopping (Gods forbid they use the extra time to, say, take some college courses? Get a career?).
You also have the stereotypical bumbling husband (played by Darren McGavin of ‘A Christmas Story’) who is clueless in the kitchen (like making rice is that complicated?)
It does have good historical value, as why I gave it 5 stars…
Reviewer:
Insanity Poop
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite —
May 15, 2006
Subject:
Anoter fine example of the 1950s mentality
Opening Credits:
A Woman’s Home Companion presents A Word to the Wives
Starring Marsha Hunt, Darren McGavin, Janet Riley, and Scott McKay.
Produced by Telamerica, Inc.
Producer: Edmund M. Tate
Director: Norman Lloyd
Writer: Jerome Brondfield
Camera: William Steiner
The movie opens with an exterior shot of a 1950s home, with the following narration: «It wasn’t really a plot against George Peters, but I’ll admit, it might have looked that way the morning his wife Jane stopped by for coffee. We just been in our house two weeks and I was still ecstatic over everything. Especially my dream kitchen.»
The two wives discuss their lives and kitchens. Jane cant go on a shopping spree to cheer herself up because she doesnt have a dream kitchen to make her life as easy as her friends. The two come up with plot to leave Janes husband George and son home for a couple of days while she watches a relative. This way, George will see just how badly she needs a new kitchen and home.
George is then left to his own devises, which is to say, not much. He boils his rice, fails to wash the dishes, and cant figure out why the cabinet refuses to open with his arm in front of it.
After two days, Jane returns to open arms and a mop. Later that evening the couple visit Janes friend for a dinner party and meet the person who built their dream home. George arranges a home of his own and the story ends happily every after.
Closing dialog:
«Well folks, I’ll leave it up to you whether the gals tricked me or not. But that’s another story. This new dream house is a happy ending to our story. Why don’t you drop around and talk to the men who can make your dream of a new home, come true. The best and most reputable builders in your area are here to help you. They are standing by right now in the booth, sponsored by your local home builder’s association to discuss plans and prices with you. Believe me, a few minutes now can lead to a whole lifetime of happiness. Happy home building.»
Ending Credits:
The kitchen and laundry in this film were featured in The Woman’s Home Companion.
Cabinets by Republic Steel Kitchens
Built-in automatic gas range and disposal by Caloric
Automatic washer and gas dryer by Whirlpool
Monel Duo-Temp automatic gas water heater by Ruud Mfg. Co.
Counter tops by The Formica Co.
Some memorable quotes:
«Whatever it is, Ive got just the cure for it! There’s a sale at Watsons. A new hat would be an ideal tonic for you. I’m going down this afternoon for a small spree.»
«Freedom from unnecessary drudgery. Freedom to go shopping when the urge hits you—or when there’s a sale going on.»
«Now why should you have to lay out everything all nice and ready for George and Jimmy, down to the last egg and can of salmon.»
«Automatic flour dispenser. Very handy. Let me show you how it works.»
Reviewer:
Spuzz
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite —
March 4, 2005
Subject:
Waaa waa waaaaaaaaa….
A young houswife shows off her curiously looking kitchen (watch those shades!) to a Nicole Kidman look-a-like named Jane Peters. Her friend loves her new kitchen, and Jane is envious of it. Instead of killing her, Jane and her friend think of the novel idea of leaving her husband and her son alone to fend for themselves and realize what a new kitchen would do for them. The husband of course, can’t cook, and is prone to amusing pratfalls. The husband in this piece overacts broadly just to get some yuks from the men in the audiece no douvt, while the women cluck their tongues in agreement. Soon afterwards, the husbands all agree that a new kitchen will be just what the house needs! What, will he learn how cook all of a sudden?? Very curious..
Reviewer:
typoman
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite —
March 3, 2005
Subject:
that’s the guy from a christmas story
The goofy, easily frustrated husband is the same guy from the movie A Christmas Story: Darren McGavin (I think) if nothing else this is fun to watch and realize it is him and virtually the same character.
Anyways, this is really one that shows the stereotypical stupid-around-the-kitchen man.
Reviewer:
PreliViewerKid86
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite —
October 20, 2004
Subject:
Oh George!
Was it just me, or did George seem downright homicidal after his wife left. I was especially frightened when junior decided to hand the hammer over to his father. This film was real keen though. So keen that it almost seems indecent.
—Taylor
Reviewer:
Steve Nordby
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite —
December 14, 2003
Subject:
«I’m so proud it’s almost indecent of me»
Drab Jane Peters drops by for coffee with her well dressed, stylish, and over-made-up friend. Jane marvels at her wonderful new house, so they cook up a scheme to get Jane’s husband to buy a new house. This 13 minute sitcom appears to have been intended to be shown at home shows to display the wonders of late 1950’s «dream homes,» you know, the ones with hot water and ice makers. The inept dad is played by very young Darren McGavin in a style similar to the dad he played in «A Christmas Story» in 1983.
Reviewer:
cashel
—
favoritefavoritefavorite —
December 12, 2003
Subject:
suburbia circa 1955
the makers of this film intended it be viewed seriously. But now 50 years later, it is hopelessly outdated. With changes in family roles and income distribution, I doubt that todays audience could identify with the fictional characters ,However the film is valuble in illustrating social history,,,On another level, the film can be enjoyed as a mildly amusing comedy.. Good photography.
| Слово к женам | |
|---|---|
| Режиссер | Норман Ллойд |
| Продюсер | |
| Автор | |
| В главной роли | Марша Хант. Даррен МакГэвин |
| Кинематография | Уильям Штайнер |
| Распространяется | Telamerica Inc. |
| Дата выпуска | 1955 (США) |
| Продолжительность e | 12 минут |
| Страна | США |
| Язык | Английский |
Слово к женам— спонсируемый комедийный фильм режиссера Нормана Ллойда с Маршей Хант и Дарреном Макгэвином.
в главных ролях.
Фильм, теперь в общественном достоянии, спонсируется Американской газовой ассоциацией, Национальной ассоциацией строителей дома и журналом Woman’s Home Companion, и в нем представлены продукты Caloric, Whirlpool Corporation, Formica Corporation, Republic Steel Kitchens и Ruud.
Содержание
Сюжет
Домохозяйка Джейн Питерс завидует новому ранчо своей подруги Алисы. По предложению Алисы она решает обманом заставить своего мужа Джорджа купить новую кухню. Джейн оставляет мужа и сына одних, пока она навещает свою мать в Кливленде.
Джордж совершенно некомпетентен, когда пытается готовить для себя и своего сына на их стареющей кухне. После возвращения Джейн Питерс навещает Алису и ее мужа и узнает больше о современных удобствах в их новом доме. Затем Джордж решает, что весь его дом нуждается в замене, и договаривается о покупке нового дома с кухней мечты его жены.
В ролях
- Марша Хант в роли Алисы, подруги Джейн
- Даррен МакГэвин в роли Джорджа Питерса
- в роли Джейн Питерс
См. Также
- Список Американские фильмы 1955 года
- Список фильмов, находящихся в свободном доступе в США
Внешние ссылки
- Слово женам… на IMDb
- Слово женам… доступен для бесплатной загрузки в Internet Archive
.
«A Word to the Wives» not only stars a hyperactive Darren McGavin, but was directed by none other than Norman Lloyd. Most short films that were made during the 1950s had some type of product promotion or useful advice. However, it’s not really all that clear what exactly is going on with this particular effort.
The plot? Jane (Janet Riley) is tired of her old house, so her friend Alice (Marsha Hunt) convinces her to take a few days off to see her mother and let Jane’s husband George (McGavin) and her son Jimmy (no actor credit) suffer in the old house by themselves.
Without giving anything away, the acting by McGavin is so over-the-top even for him that it’s rather perplexing. He is «acting» in the most obvious sense of the word and even looks into the camera at one point, breaking the fourth wall for no reason.
However, he is so bad, it’s very funny and it carries over into the rest of the short film. There is no obvious product placement, apart from the water heater (another unintentionally hilarious scene) and the advice seems to be that if a wife really wants something expensive from her husband, trick him into buying it.
This particular short received new life this year when it was riffed by Mary Jo Pehl and Bridget Nelson for Rifftrax. Their riffing, particularly for the live MST3K Reunion was hilarious, but they had plenty of bad material to work with.
| Слово женам | |
|---|---|
| Режиссер | Норман Ллойд |
| Произведено | Эдмунд М. Тейт |
| Написано | Джером Брондфилд |
| В главной роли |
Марша Хант Даррен МакГэвин |
| Кинематография | Уильям Штайнер |
| Распространяется | Telamerica Inc. |
|
Дата выпуска |
1955 (США) |
|
Продолжительность |
12 минут |
| Страна | Соединенные Штаты |
| Язык | английский |
Слово к Жене является 1955 спонсировали фильма комедии режиссера Нормана Ллойда и главной роли Марш Ханта и Даррен McGavin .
Фильм, который теперь находится в общественном достоянии , спонсировался Американской газовой ассоциацией , Национальной ассоциацией строителей жилья и журналом Woman’s Home Companion , и в нем представлены продукты Caloric , Whirlpool Corporation , Formica Corporation , Republic Steel Kitchens и Ruud .
Сюжет
Домохозяйка Джейн Питерс завидует новому ранчо своей подруги Алисы . По предложению Алисы она решает обманом заставить своего мужа Джорджа купить новую кухню. Джейн оставляет мужа и сына одних, пока она навещает свою мать в Кливленде .
Джордж совершенно некомпетентен, когда пытается готовить для себя и своего сына на их стареющей кухне. После возвращения Джейн Питерс навещает Алису и ее мужа и узнает больше о современных удобствах в их новом доме. Затем Джордж решает, что весь его дом нуждается в замене, и договаривается о покупке нового дома с кухней мечты его жены.
Бросать
- Марша Хант, как Алиса, подруга Джейн
- Даррен Макгэвин в роли Джорджа Питерса
- Джанет Райли в роли Джейн Питерс
- Скотт Маккей
Смотрите также
- Список американских фильмов 1955 года
- Список фильмов в общественном достоянии США
внешние ссылки
- Слово женам … на IMDb
- Слово к женам … доступно для бесплатного скачивания в Интернет-архиве.
Template:Infobox Film
A Word to the Wives is a 1955 sponsored comedy film about two women, one of whom wants a new kitchen, and decides to trick her husband, with the help of her friend, to buy that new kitchen. She leaves her husband alone as she visits a relative. He tries to prepare some simple meals while she is away, and learns how much the kichen is falling apart. It was produced by Telamerica and is now in the public domain.
Plot[]
Housewife Jane Peters is envious her friend Alice’s new ranch house. At her Alice’s suggestion, she decides to trick her husband, George, into buying a new kitchen. Jane leaves her husband and son alone while she visits her mother in Cleveland. George is completely incompetent when trying to cook for himself and his son in their aging kitchen. After Jane returns, the Peters visit Alice and her husband and find out more about the modern conveniences in their new home. George then decides that his entire home needs replacing, and he arranges to buy a new home, complete with his wife’s dream kitchen.
Cast[]
- Marsha Hunt as Alice, Jane’s friend
- Darren McGavin as George Peters
- Janet Riley as Jane Peters
- Scott McKay
External links[]
- A Word to the Wives (film download)
Template:Short-film-stub
Subtitles section
Play video
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>> Alice [narrating]: It wasn‘t really a plot against George Peters but I’ll admit it might
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have looked that way the morning his wife Jane
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We had just been in our new house two weeks and I was still ecstatic over everything,
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especially my dream kitchen.
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>> Alice: Well, how do you like it?
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>> Jane: There‘s only one word for it: terrific.
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>> Alice: You know I’m so proud of it it‘s almost indecent of me.
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I can hardly wait to show it off a week from Friday night.
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>> Jane: You go ahead and be indecent.
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A gal‘s got a right to enjoy her first housewarming party.
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Sure wish I was having one. Having many people?
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>> Alice: Well, not a mob if that‘s what you mean.
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Just you, the Crawfords, the Slagles, the Martins, and a couple of others.
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And this isn‘t the first time I’ve noticed it.
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>> Jane: Oh, nothing really.
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>> Alice: Not very convincing Jane girl.
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Whatever it is I’ve got just the cure for it.
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There‘s a sensational sale going on at Watson‘s.
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A new hat would be the ideal tonic for you.
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I’m going down this afternoon for a small spree.
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How about coming with me?
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>> Jane: I wish I could but it‘s just impossible.
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You‘ve no idea how much I’ve got to do.
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Remember, I haven‘t got your dream kitchen to make things easier.
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Mine‘s strictly the nightmare type And I wish George would do something about
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All he‘s done so far as talking and not with any real enthusiasm.
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We looked at a couple of older houses but that‘s no improvement.
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We‘ve got an older house.
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If only there was some way of really selling George on the idea.
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>> Alice: The fifth freedom maybe.
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Freedom from unnecessary drudgery; freedom to go shopping when the urge hits
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you or when there‘s a sale going on.
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>> Jane: Sale or no sale, I’m swamped.
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Besides, my mother‘s been quite ill in Cleveland and I’ve been thinking about
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taking the weekend off to visit her.
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>> Alice: Got to get my clothes in the dryer.
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I’ll show you a couple of my prize beauties.
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This setup makes any day wash day for me.
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And I can do my drying in any kind of weather: with a gas dryer it couldn‘t be easier.
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>> Jane: I remember seeing this washer in the magazine ad. Automatic too, isn‘t it?
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>> Jane: Isn‘t there a little colored guide light that follows the operations through
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I know exactly what‘s happening I don‘t even have to watch a clock.
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Wait a minute, you say you‘re going to visit your mother
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You know Janie, my girl, this might prove a very fortunate trip for you.
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And just for kicks, don‘t get too far ahead in your housework.
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Now why should you have to lay out everything all nice and ready for George
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and Jimmy down to the last egg and can of salmon.
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>> Jane: Oh no, I couldn‘t.
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I’d have to make things easy for them. After all…
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>> Alice: After all you‘ve been going through this might be the awakening for friend George.
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It might do him a world of good to be left all alone with Jimmy for two or
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three days in your kitchen.
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>> Alice [narrating]: Well Jane finally got off the Cleveland still not too certain she
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was doing right by leaving George and Jimmy by themselves
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even though George was absolutely sure they‘d get along just fine.
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That‘s what he said: «just fine.»
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>>Jane [narrating]: Of course when you leave a man to his own devices
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he‘s apt to think of something fancy like curried chicken with rice.
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But in this case George not only should have done a little more thinking about
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his recipe, but should have kept his eyes on the stove as well.
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Now if he just let his rice simmer instead of boiling.
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But frankly, I doubt if George knew how to bring things to a simmer.
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Well, maybe it was the mess, or maybe it was just the temperature outside
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but George thought he could use a little cooling off.
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A nice icy lemonade would be just right.
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>> George: What‘s with that ice tray here?
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>> Jimmy: Oh, I guess I forgot to fill it.
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>> Alice: Sometime you might ask George how far is a mile.
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He would tell you it‘s the distance from his sink to his backyard garbage pail.
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Now like many men tackling a problem, George was very efficient.
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The smart way to do dishes was two meals at a time.
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>> George: Jimmy! Did you have to take a bath at this time of day?
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I haven‘t got a drop a hot water in the sink!
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I’ve got a stack of dishes a mile high!
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I’m gonna be here til midnight! What‘s the matter with you!
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>> Alice [narrating]: Jane had been away for all of two and a half days but the way she
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was welcomed back by George you‘d think she‘s been gone a month.
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>> Jane: Oh, we‘ll be there early enough.
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The others aren‘t coming till seven.
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>> Alice: Look, I still have a couple of little things to do but it‘ll only take a minute or so.
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>> Jane: Ooh, you‘re famous sweet potato casserole.
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>>Alice: Only this time with shredded pineapple instead of orange juice.
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You two go over and sit at the table.
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Don will be back in a few minutes, George.
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He‘s doing some last—minute shopping for me
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Oh hey! I almost forgot the big news.
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I went out to Pond Ridge with Helen Baker today and I broke 50 for the first
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>> George: Hold on now wait a minute Alice.
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You mean to tell me that with this big shindig staring you in the face
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you still have time for golf?
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With this kitchen it‘s a breeze.
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Come on over look at some of the evidence.
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By the way, did you know that this kitchen won an award from the Woman‘s Home Companion?
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>> Alice: And really they thought of everything.
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I just love the convenience and modern styling of this built—in gas range.
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>> George: Hey Alice, aren‘t you going to light the oven?
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>> Alice: I don‘t have to it‘s completely automatic.
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You‘ll never guess what this sauce is for the baked ham.
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Equal parts of grape jelly and light mustard blended and simmered.
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And this burner it does it without scorching.
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Anyone care for a spot of grapefruit juice to tide you over?
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>> Alice: This is going to be one of the things I love about this refrigerator
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is that it turns out ice circles and puts them in a bowl for you.
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>> Jane: Continuous ice circles
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>> Jane: But you‘re taking a chance staining that counter with fruit juice?
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>> Alice: No danger with Formica.
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That‘s the greatest help George; hanging the things you need where you need them.
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In fact this whole kitchen was designed for efficiency and convenience.
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>> George: That‘s what I like, solid 30 inch steel.
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>> Alice: So easy to keep clean too.
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>> George: Hey what‘s this?
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>> Alice: Oh, automatic flour dispenser. Very handy.
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Here I’ll show you how it works.
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>> Don: What‘s going on here?
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>> George: Oh, hi Don, boy.
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>> Alice: I’ve been showing them around.
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>> Alice: Oh Don, will you get rid of these for me while I start this stuff?
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>> Don: Well, you might have pressed ol‘ George into service.
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Come on George show you how it works.
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This is really for me, chum.
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>> Don: Well it‘s a simple gas disposer.
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It takes care of all the waste.
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The brightest, shiniest bride could use this gizmo.
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>> Don: And that also goes for this automatic water heater.
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Two temperatures in the same tank at the same time.
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Now, and this pipe here, it gives you hot water for the bathroom and for the kitchen sink.
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But the other pipe, this one gives you really hot water for clothes
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and dishes to make them really clean.
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Now look, George if you‘re really interested in this layout,
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the man who set up for us is a good friend of ours, Ed Stevens.
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>> Don: He‘s gonna be here tonight and just in case you have anything to ask him.
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>> George: Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
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>> Alice: Well all I want to say is that Don‘s little suggestion turned into a rather
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interesting and provocative conversation, and Ed Stevens is a handy man with figures
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It certainly looked like progress was being made when we peeked in on them.
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Well, that‘s the way it worked out and as I mentioned before
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it wasn‘t a plot against George.
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Well, you don‘t think Jane and I would do something like that, do you?
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>> George: Well folks, I’ll leave it up to you whether the gals tricked me or not, but
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This new dream house is a happy ending to our story.
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Why don‘t you drop around and talk with the men who can make your dream of a new
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The best and most reputable builders in your area are here to help you.
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They‘re standing by right now in the booth prompted by your local Home Builders
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Association to discuss plans and prices with you.
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Believe me, a few minutes now can lead to a whole lifetime of happiness.
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A Word to the Wives encourages women to establish a modern home, in order to have more freedom. Jane’s friend’s automatic kitchen and household appliances allow her the time to shop and golf, activities of leisure she would not have been able to undergo, had she been limited to an antiquated domestic space. The short film reads like a commercial, as Jane’s friend and Tom convince Jane and George to upgrade to a new home, one that will give them happiness. A Word to the Wives is also narrated by Jane’s friend, her words overriding those of the men in the film. Sponsored by American Gas Association, National Association of Home Builders, and The Woman’s Home Companion, the short film presents consumerism and materialism as tickets to happiness. Unlike George, the wives control the kitchen, a now progressive space which pushes the boundaries of a feminine identity.
-Vareesha Khan