Black Widow (1987 film)

Last updated

Black Widow
Black widow film.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Bob Rafelson
Written by Ronald Bass
Produced by Laurence Mark
Harold Schneider
Starring
Cinematography Conrad L. Hall
Edited by John Bloom
Music by Michael Small
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • February 6, 1987 (1987-02-06)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10.5 million [1]
Box office$25.2 million [2]

Black Widow is a 1987 American neo-noir [3] thriller film directed by Bob Rafelson, from a screenplay by Ronald Bass. It stars Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Sami Frey, and Nicol Williamson. Dennis Hopper has a short role at the beginning of the film.

Contents

It is a crime drama about two women: one who murders wealthy men whom she has married for their money (and keeps moving west), and the other an agent with the Department of Justice who grows obsessed with bringing her to justice.

Plot

Justice Department agent Alexandra Barnes grows suspicious of the deaths by respiratory failure of several seemingly healthy wealthy men due to a rare condition called Ondine's curse, each married within months to younger wives. Comparing photographs, Alexandra determines the wives are the same woman, wearing different hair colors and styling to look older as a disguise.

One victim is Manhattan publishing magnate Sam Peterson, whose younger wife of six months, “Catharine” (her true name is never disclosed), inherits his estate. Next, Catharine relocates to Dallas, Texas, affecting a southern accent and posing as "Marielle". Seducing and marrying toy company owner Ben Dumers, she subsequently poisons a bottle of expensive liquor, which kills him while “Marielle” is on a trip away from home. After Ben's death, his sister, Etta, unsuccessfully attempts to contest his will, but is silenced by Catharine's gift of $500,000.

After extensive research, presenting herself as an anthropologist named “Margaret,” Catharine buys her way onto the board of directors of a local Seattle museum. “Margaret” dazzles wealthy curator William McCrory, who has a convenient allergy to penicillin, resulting in a whirlwind romance and marriage.

Tracking Catharine’s victims, Alexandra interviews their families and associates, ultimately tracking her to Seattle. Presenting her research to her skeptical superior, Bruce, Alexandra persuades him to send her to Seattle to investigate. Posing as a freelance reporter writing a story on powerful women, Alexandra interviews William, who tells her that his wife is private and will likely decline an interview. Meanwhile, Catharine obtains a prescription for penicillin, which she mixes into William's toothpaste, triggering a fatal heart attack. William's autopsy shows nothing unusual. Alexandra is dismayed but trails Catharine, who she has not yet met, to Hawaii.

In Hawaii, Catharine (now “Renni Walker”) seduces French hotelier Paul Nuytten. Posing as "Jessica Bates," Alexandra enrolls in a scuba diving class Catharine is taking, and the two partner during lessons and become friendly. Catharine grows suspicious on observing a meeting between Alexandra and a private detective, Mr. Shin. Contacting family and associates of previous victims in her pose as “widow,” Catharine learns of Alexandra’s interviews several months prior.

During a diving excursion several days later, Catharine saves Alexandra when her scuba gear malfunctions. Catharine confides in Alexandra that she amassed her wealth from marrying rich men and encourages Alexandra to pursue Paul. While Alexandra and Paul spend an afternoon alone, Catharine breaks into Alexandra's apartment and hires Shin to stalk her. Shin takes photos of Alexandra and Paul kissing. Though Catharine pretends to be upset, a short time later, Paul and Catharine are married.

At “Renni” and Paul’s wedding, Alexandra accuses Catharine of manipulating her and gifts Catharine a black widow spider brooch. Catharine responds by quickly kissing Alexandra on the lips and abruptly departing. Later, Catharine visits Shin, forcing him at gunpoint to administer himself a lethal overdose of heroin. Police find the photos of Paul and Alexandra in Shin's office. When Catharine goes on a trip to San Francisco—her modus operandi when poisoning— Alexandra warns Paul, revealing her investigation against Catharine. A skeptical Paul informs Alexandra that “Renni,” who is independently wealthy, insisted they both amend their wills leaving their entire estates to a cancer charity. At the subsequent notice of Paul’s death, police arrest Alexandra, having found poison that Catharine had planted in Alexandra's apartment, and attributing to her a motive of jealousy on being spurned.

Under Florida law, Paul’s bequest to charity can be invalidated by his wife within six months. A triumphant Catharine visits Alexandra in jail. Moments later, Paul appears, having faked his death to entrap Catharine. Believing the poison may have not been detected, Catharine warns Alexandra that she injected poison in the liquor bottle, revealing her concern that Alexandra not die accidentally. Alexandra informs her that they found the poison, and Catharine is arrested.

Cast

Release

Critical response

Film4 notes that Black Widow succeeds through Rafelson's "menacing direction" and Debra Winger's "convincing struggle with temptation," while Theresa Russell "steals the show as the sexily assured devil sitting on her tracker's shoulder." [4]

Vincent Canby of The New York Times writes that while the film promises more than it can deliver, its classy looks make it both soothing and "redeemingly funny, in part, at least, for not becoming mired in its own darker possibilities." He praises Winger for "the gift of seeming always to have hidden reserves of feeling that might erupt in chaos at any minute," while Russell "comes into her own" in the film, and has "a clear-eyed sweetness that adds unexpected dimension to the homicidal Catharine." [5]

Roger Ebert gave Black Widow a mixed rating of 2.5 out of 4 stars, praising the performances by the main actors yet lamenting that "The movie makes no effort to keep us in suspense," by revealing too much early on about Russell's character. [6]

As of February 2023, Black Widow holds a rating of 54% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 24 reviews. [7]

Home media

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released a DVD edition on February 3, 2004. [8] Twilight Time released a limited edition Blu-ray on October 13, 2015. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Terms of Endearment</i> 1983 drama film directed by James L. Brooks

Terms of Endearment is a 1983 American family tragicomedy film directed, written, and produced by James L. Brooks, adapted from Larry McMurtry's 1975 novel of the same name. It stars Debra Winger, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Jeff Daniels, and John Lithgow. The film covers 30 years of the relationship between Aurora Greenway (MacLaine) and her daughter Emma Greenway-Horton (Winger).

<i>Arthur</i> (1981 film) 1981 film by Steve Gordon

Arthur is a 1981 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Steve Gordon. It stars Dudley Moore as Arthur Bach, a drunken New York City millionaire who is on the brink of an arranged marriage to a wealthy heiress but ends up falling for a common working-class young woman from Queens. It was the sole film directed by Gordon, who died in 1982 of a heart attack at age 44.

<i>Enough</i> (film) 2002 thriller film by Michael Apted

Enough is a 2002 American thriller film directed by Michael Apted. The movie is based on the 1998 novel Black and Blue, by Anna Quindlen, which was a New York Times bestseller. It stars Jennifer Lopez as Slim, an abused wife who learns to fight back. Enough was released theatrically in the United States on May 24, 2002. It received largely negative reviews from critics but grossed $51.8 million. Since its release, Enough has been subject to critical re-evaluation, especially towards Lopez's performance, with some noting it as an underrated thriller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debra Winger</span> American actress (born 1955)

Debra Lynn Winger is an American actress. She starred in the films An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Terms of Endearment (1983), and Shadowlands (1993), each of which earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Winger won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress for Terms of Endearment, and the Tokyo International Film Festival Award for Best Actress for A Dangerous Woman (1993).

<i>Hiding Out</i> 1987 film by Bob Giraldi

Hiding Out is a 1987 American romantic thriller comedy-drama film starring Jon Cryer as a state's witness who disguises himself as a high school student in order to avoid being killed by the mob.

Black widow may refer to:

<i>The Serpent and the Rainbow</i> (film) 1988 American horror film

The Serpent and the Rainbow is a 1988 American horror film directed by Wes Craven and starring Bill Pullman. The script by Richard Maxwell and Adam Rodman is loosely based on the non-fiction book of the same name by ethnobotanist Wade Davis, wherein Davis recounted his experiences in Haiti investigating the story of Clairvius Narcisse, who was allegedly poisoned, buried alive, and revived with a herbal brew which produced what was called a zombie.

<i>The Changeling</i> (film) 1980 Canadian supernatural psychological horror film

The Changeling is a 1980 Canadian supernatural horror film directed by Peter Medak and starring George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, and Melvyn Douglas. Its plot follows an esteemed New York City composer who relocates to Seattle, Washington, where he moves into a mansion he comes to believe is haunted. The screenplay is based upon events that writer Russell Hunter claimed he experienced while he was living in the Henry Treat Rogers mansion in the Cheesman Park neighborhood of Denver, Colorado, in the late 1960s; Hunter served as a co-writer of the film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theresa Russell</span> American actress

Theresa Lynn Russell is an American actress whose career spans over four decades. Her filmography includes over 50 feature films, ranging from mainstream to independent and experimental films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo Rossi</span> American actor

Leo Rossi is an American actor, writer and producer. A character actor with over 100 credits to his name, he is known for his role as foul-mouthed EMT Vincent "Budd" Scarlotti in the 1981 horror film Halloween II, as the serial killer Turkell from the 1990 horror sequel Maniac Cop 2, and as Detective Sam Dietz in the Relentless franchise. His other films include Heart Like a Wheel (1983), River's Edge (1986), The Accused (1988), Analyze This (1999), One Night at McCool's (2001), and 10th & Wolf (2006).

<i>The Bride Wore Black</i> 1968 French film by François Truffaut

The Bride Wore Black is a 1968 French drama thriller film directed by François Truffaut and based on the novel of the same name by William Irish, a pseudonym for Cornell Woolrich. It stars Jeanne Moreau, Charles Denner, Alexandra Stewart, Michel Bouquet, Michael Lonsdale, Claude Rich and Jean-Claude Brialy. The costumes were by Pierre Cardin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Rafelson</span> American film director (1933–2022)

Robert Jay Rafelson was an American film director, writer and producer. He is regarded as one of the key figures in the founding of the New Hollywood movement of the 1970s. Among his best-known films as a director include those made as part of the company he co-founded, Raybert/BBS Productions, Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972) as well as acclaimed later films, The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) and Mountains of the Moon (1990). Other films he produced as part of BBS include two of the most significant films of the era, Easy Rider (1969) and The Last Picture Show (1971). Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces and The Last Picture Show were all chosen for inclusion in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. He was also one of the creators of the pop group and TV series The Monkees with BBS partner Bert Schneider. His first wife was the production designer Toby Carr Rafelson.

Audrey Marie Hilley, also known by the aliases Robbi Hannon and Teri Martin, was an American murderer and suspected serial killer. She was suspected in the death by poisoning of her husband and the attempted murder of her daughter, and spent three years as a fugitive from justice. Her life and crime spree are the subjects of the 1991 telefilm Wife, Mother, Murderer.

<i>Crazy in Alabama</i> 1999 American film by Antonio Banderas

Crazy in Alabama is a 1999 American comedy-drama film directed by Antonio Banderas and based on Mark Childress' 1993 novel of the same name. The film stars Melanie Griffith as an abused housewife who becomes an actress, while her nephew deals with a racially motivated murder involving a corrupt sheriff. It marked Dakota Johnson's film debut.

<i>Forget Paris</i> 1995 American film

Forget Paris is a 1995 American romantic comedy film produced, directed, co-written by and starring Billy Crystal as an NBA referee and Debra Winger as an independent working woman whose lives are interrupted by love and marriage.

<i>Searching for Debra Winger</i> 2002 American film

Searching for Debra Winger is a 2002 American documentary film conceived and directed by Rosanna Arquette. The film presents an interview with actress Debra Winger about why she suddenly retired from the film industry at the height of her career. It also features interviews with other leading actresses, who discuss the various pressures they face as women working in the film industry as well as their attempts to juggle their professional commitments with their personal responsibilities to their families and themselves. Debra Winger has since returned to acting.

<i>Black Widow</i> (2007 film) 2007 television film directed by Armand Mastroianni

Black Widow is a 2007 television film directed by Armand Mastroianni and starring Elizabeth Berkley, Alicia Coppola and Adriana DeMeo. Produced by RHI Entertainment, it is loosely based on the 1987 film of the same name starring Debra Winger and Theresa Russell.

<i>Rachel Getting Married</i> 2008 American film by Jonathan Demme

Rachel Getting Married is a 2008 American drama film directed by Jonathan Demme, and starring Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin, and Debra Winger. The film premiered at the 65th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2008, opened in Canada's Toronto International Film Festival on September 6 and released in the U.S. to select theaters on October 3. Hathaway received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her performance in the film.

<i>Bad Teacher</i> 2011 film by Jake Kasdan

Bad Teacher is a 2011 American comedy film directed by Jake Kasdan and written by the writing team of Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky. Starring Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Lucy Punch, John Michael Higgins and Jason Segel, the film tells the story of a middle school teacher who hates her job, her students, and her co-workers but returns to teaching after her wealthy fiancé breaks up with her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theresa Russell filmography</span> American actress

Theresa Russell is an American actress who began her career in a supporting role in Elia Kazan's The Last Tycoon (1976), playing the daughter of a prominent film executive. In 1978, she starred opposite Dustin Hoffman in the critically acclaimed crime drama Straight Time, following a lead role in the CBS miniseries Blind Ambition, portraying the wife of U.S. White House Counsel John Dean.

References

  1. "Black Widow (1987)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films . American Film Institute . Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  2. "Black Widow". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  3. Silver, Alain; Ward, Elizabeth; eds. (1992). Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style (3rd ed.). Woodstock, New York: The Overlook Press. ISBN   0-87951-479-5
  4. "Black Widow: Review". Film4. 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  5. Canby, Vincent (February 6, 1987). "Film: Black Widow, from Bob Rafelson". The New York Times . New York City. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  6. Ebert, Roger (February 6, 1987). "Black Widow". The Chicago Sun-Times . Chicago, Illinois: Sun-Times Media Group via RogerEbert.com.
  7. "Black Widow reviews". Rotten Tomatoes . San Francisco, California: Fandango Media . Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  8. "Black Widow (1987) – Bob Rafelfson – Releases". AllMovie . Archived from the original on May 19, 2023.
  9. Reimer, Justin (November 8, 2015). "Black Widow Blu-ray". DVD Talk . Archived from the original on May 19, 2023.