Oz' Stepford Wives Original Cut?

[frogboy4]

I just heard about an alternate version of Frank Oz' Stepford Wives that sounds better than the incongruent mess that was released theatrically. Does anybody have any details about this? I heard the ending was darker and the plotline made more sense. I’m thinking this was the film Frank wanted before he allowed it to be focus-tested to death. I am intrigued. I have greatly enjoyed every Frank Oz film with the exception of Stepford and Indian in the Cupboard.

 

[Beauregard]

I adored his film, Death at a Funeral. For an American, he had a handle of both British humour and black humour and it was just...fantastic.

I must confess I haven't yet seen Stepford...It just looks too annoying for words.

 

[Ilikemuppets]

I adored his film, Death at a Funeral. For an American, he had a handle of both British humour and black humour and it was just...fantastic.

well, I can see the black and dark humor, but he did mention that he has no idea what makes a British or an Amarican audience laugh. So that is weird that he got it right. That was a very big independent film I was keeping track of this film was plesenlty suprised to see it holing up week after week when it was out. Just proof hat if you make it good that people will want to watch and some see it!

 

[Super Scooter]

I must confess I haven't yet seen Stepford...It just looks too annoying for words.

It has it's moments. A director's cut would likely be so much better though.

The director's commentary is the only reason to buy the DVD... which I did. I don't have it any more, but Frank's commentaries are always good to hear. He's one of the few directors who actually knows how to do a commentary. Some will just state what's happening on the screen, which is extremely annoying, but Frank Oz tells you where something was shot, why he feels a joke works (or doesn't work), why he needed to cut something, he points out all the re-shoots and added scenes. It's what a commentary should be, and it makes the otherwise awkward Stepford Wives film much more enjoyable.

I did like Mike White's cameo in it, though. The whole opening was pretty funny. It's just a shame people were telling Frank how to make it, rather than just trusting in him. It could have been much, much better if he had been allowed to do what he wanted with it.