A Word to the Wives...

{{Infobox film

| name = A Word to the Wives

| image =

| caption =

| director = Norman Lloyd

| producer = Edmund M. Tate

| writer = Jerome Brondfield

| narrator =

| starring = Marsha Hunt
Darren McGavin

| music =

| cinematography = William Steiner

| editing =

| distributor = Telamerica Inc.

| released = {{Film date|1955|||US}}

| runtime = 12 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

}}

A Word to the Wives is a 1955 sponsored comedy film directed by Norman Lloyd and starring Marsha Hunt and Darren McGavin.[https://mubi.com/en/us/films/a-word-to-the-wives MUBI]

Production

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

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

Marsha Hunt as Alice, Jane's friend
Darren McGavin as George Peters
Janet Riley as Jane Peters
Scott McKay

Legacy

In historical context, this, alongside another sponsored film In the Suburbs, dealt directly with the growth of suburban capitalism.[https://books.google.com/books?id=BCDaDQAAQBAJ Teaching History with Newsreels and Public Service Shorts - Google Books (pg.90)]

Mary Jo Pehl and Bridget Nelson of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame parodied the film via RiffTrax on June 30, 2015 and again live on a MST3K reunion show a year later.[https://www.rifftrax.com/a-word-to-the-wives RiffTrax][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIEhWXDPn-k A WORD TO THE WIVES (preview clip) - RiffTrax on YouTube][https://www.flavorwire.com/582703/rifftraxs-mst3k-reunion-was-a-welcome-revival-and-necessary-transition Rifftrax’s ‘MST3K Reunion’ Was a Welcome Revival – and Necessary Transition - Flavorwire]

Justin Timberlake's 2013 song "Don't Hold the Wall" samples a small section of dialogue from the film.https://www.whosampled.com/sample/683704/Justin-Timberlake-Don%27t-Hold-the-Wall-A-Word-to-the-Wives-Well,-How-Do-You-Like-It%3F/